Production Engineer

JOB DESCRIPTION: Production Engineer, reporting to the Production Manager, a hands-on position overseeing multiple assigned Areas providing technical and engineering guidance. The role is critical to ensure that production teams operate safely while meeting goals related to product quality, productivity, and cost efficiency. Production Engineer applies technical skills to improve the batch processing of ion exchange resins and activated carbons by reviewing system performance, troubleshooting, collecting/analyzing data, resolving problems, developing/updating SOPs, training, and assisting in design enhancement. The Production Engineer drives operational and continuous improvements in collaboration with the SHE, Quality, Maintenance, and Technical Service Departments. The Production Engineer may participate in incident investigations, plant scale trials, and process/product startups.

Primary Responsibility

• Contribute to and support plant safety culture including prompt near-hit and incident reporting.
• Participate in preparation, conduct, and follow-up of SHE audits, initiatives, reviews, etc...
• Proactively identify and resolve safety concerns in assigned Area(s) to continuously improve plant safety.
• Maintain SHE compliance in assigned Area(s) by ensuring operation within regulatory limits.
• Support SHE compliance reporting via gathering, maintaining, and reporting process data.
• Participating in SHE root cause incident investigations including corrective action implementation.
• Track and analyze product quality trends, identify causes of departure from standard, initiate corrective action, and implement improvements to improve first pass quality.
• Participate in Quality non-conformance investigations including corrective action implementation.
• Develop in depth expertise on process equipment used in assigned Area(s)s including, but not limited to reactors, agitators, heat exchangers, pumps, filters, etc....
• Provide day to day production management of assigned Area(s) including, but not limited to, production and material planning, troubleshooting and problem solving of equipment/process issues, as well as tracking of process data, operating performance, production yield, and other KPIs.
• Monitor process data and conduct data analysis to identify causes of departure from standard, prioritize action to take, implement corrective actions, and continuously improve productivity, on stream time, yield, energy consumption, costs, and capacity.
• Collaborate w/ R&D for lab process/product development, manage scale-ups/trials in assigned Area(s).
• Develop new, review and refine existing, and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Implement change management via MOCs and PSSRs and manage process improvement projects.
• Train and coach plant employees on SOPs and proper use of existing/new equipment.
• Coordinate with cross functional teams (maintenance, engineering, customer service, supply chain) to schedule and plan down days for maintenance/capital upgrades while meeting customer expectations.
• Manage small capital projects in assigned Area(s), as assigned.
• Assist with development of large capital projects in assigned Area(s).

Secondary Responsibility

• Maintain Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) for assigned Area(s).
• Maintain Process Descriptions (PDs) for assigned Area(s).
• Develop working knowledge of instrumentation, controls, and control systems in assigned Area(s).
• Assist in updates, checking, and testing of control system programming in assigned Area(s).

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• BS degree in engineering from an accredited college or university; ChE preferred.
• 4+ years of chemical processing operations experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of process unit operations & process control systems.
• Working knowledge of pressure vessels, tanks, filters, pumps, etc...
• Proven analytical, troubleshooting, diagnostic, problem-solving, and process improvement skills as well as interpersonal and communication skills with ability to work in both self-managed and team environments.
• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) proficiency.
• Strong spreadsheet and data analysis skills.
• Familiarity with OSHA regulations.
• Experience with Continuous Improvement, P&IDs, RCI, and MOC preferred.
• US Citizen.

Physical Requirements

• This role requires extended time in a chemical manufacturing environment with routine standing, bending, stooping, crouching, lifting, walking, climbing, and carrying.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Must be able to be trained in respirator use and confined space entry.
• This role requires extended time in an office environment with computer work.
• Must be able to work in excess of eight hours per day or forty hours per week as needed in a manufacturing environment that includes high heat and humidity.
• Must be able to don Personal Protective Equipment including, but not limited to, hardhat, hearing protection, safety glasses/goggles/shield, apron, Tyvek suit, gloves, safety shoes/boots, harness, etc...

work environment

50% Office setting, 50% production plant area.