We are seeking a highly motivated, technically strong Process Engineer with 3+ years of hands-on experience in a reactive chemical manufacturing environment. This individual will bring proven troubleshooting skills, strong ownership, and the ability to hit the ground running in a fast-paced, safety-focused operation. In this role, you will serve as the primary technical resource for daily plant operations, providing guidance to operators, supervisors, and cross-functional partners. The ideal candidate combines deep technical aptitude with the drive to improve processes, elevate performance, and grow into roles of greater responsibility and accountability over time.
Your Responsibilities- Serve as the technical expert for daily production operations, proactively supporting safe, efficient plant performance.
- Engage closely with operators, supervisors, maintenance, and process engineers to ensure high-quality, consistent production.
- Act as the OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) champion, analyzing data, identifying losses, and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
- Provide hands-on troubleshooting support for production issues, alarms, and equipment performance concerns.
- Identify safety, quality, and process improvement opportunities; prioritize actions and implement sustainable long-term solutions.
- Ensure compliance and continuous improvement with safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements in all chemical process-related work, including, but not limited to, participation in process hazard analyses for hazardous processes, design of layers of protection barriers, auditing barriers, and development of preventive operating routines related to safety critical barriers.
- Support safe manufacturing and regulatory compliance (PSM, RMP) through PHA participation, MOC adherence, SOP development, and incident investigations.
- Lead and facilitate Root Cause Analysis (RCA) activities for production events, quality deviations, customer complaints, and safety incidents.
- Own production-related projects, ensuring they are delivered safely, on time, and within budget.
- Support new product development, scale-ups, and product modifications, acting as the technical point of contact.
- Provide backup support for DCS and process control troubleshooting as needed.
Required Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or related discipline.
- 3+ years of experience in a reactive chemical or similar process manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated ability to rapidly assess situations and make sound technical decisions.
- Strong problem-solving, analytical, and facilitation skills with the ability to drive measurable outcomes.
- Proven track record of initiating and leading process improvements.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings and process documentation.
- Strong computer skills (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to interface at all levels of the organization.
- Willingness to adjust schedule to support urgent production needs.
- Effective contributor in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.
Preferred Qualifications- Experience with Instrumentation and PLC systems (Allen Bradley, Siemens).
- Prior work with DCS systems.
- Experience in PSM-regulated facilities.
- Knowledge of SAP or similar ERP/MRP systems.
- Exposure to Lean / Six Sigma tools and methodologies.
- Functional knowledge of AutoCAD.
- Previous experience in emulsion polymerization or other reactive chemical processes.
Working Requirements- Monday through Friday, with occasional weekend or off-shift support as required.
- Flexibility to adjust work hours based on production demands.
DISCLAIMER:
The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, success profile characteristics or qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. Management retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the Job at any time.
Skills Required
- Bachelors in Chemical Engineering or related field
- Prior hands-on experience in a manufacturing environment
- Advanced problem solving and facilitation skills
- Ability to read engineering drawings
- Advanced computer skills (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Willingness to adjust work schedule to support production needs
- Function effectively in a team environment
What We Do
Synthomer is a business-to-business speciality chemicals producer. We create value for all our stakeholders by applying our expertise and innovation capabilities to provide high-performance water-based polymers and ingredients to a wide range of blue-chip customers in multiple attractive end markets. Synthomer are headquartered and stock listed in the UK. We have more than 30 operational sites across Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia including four innovation centres of excellence. The Company employs around 4,200 entrepreneurial, highly skilled employees with the expertise and experience to drive our success worldwide.
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