Chemical Process Engineer

Chemical Process Engineer

• Reports to: Project Development Manager

• Education and Experience:

  • A bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and 0-5+ years of relevant experience,
    OR

  • A Master’s or Doctor’s in Chemical Engineering and 3 years or more of relevant experience.

  • MS, MBA, PhD, PE are nice but optional.

• Experience in applied process development/process engineering and implementation for both batch and continuous processes.

• Process scale-up experience going from the lab, kilo lab, and pilot plant to plant scale.

• A sound understanding of fundamental economics relating to process design and project implementation, with the ability to conduct economic analyses on new technologies.

• Good communication skills with coworkers, subordinates, and customers.

• A broad knowledge of Process Safety Management, process safety, CPI practices and standards, and regulatory compliance

Work with process development, production, lab, sales & marketing, and safety groups to safely startup and establish new products and to reduce costs for existing products (yield/process improvements).

1. Evaluations (New & Existing Processes)

• Interfaces with external and internal customers on new processes.

• Translating Technology Transfer Packages into potential processes at Optima.

• Develop costing of new processes and evaluate profitability.

• Developing draft BFDs, and mass & energy balances.

• Evaluating Optima’s process capability and unit operation deficiencies for a new process.

• Generate specifications for raw materials and in-process samples.

• Generate PMNs.

2. Scale-up and Design

• Work with chemists on an ongoing basis to evaluate the practical technical aspects of their R&D work and provide guidance for the most practical path(s) for safe scale-up for pilot plant and commercial scale, including cost, safety, and workability considerations.

• Model unit operations and generate PFDs and P&IDs for “cradle-to-grave” processes.

• Scales-up transient unit operations in order to make products to the same specs as in the lab and pilot plant.

• Provide information to support air emissions submissions to regulatory bodies (for Emission Master computer system).

• Assist Engineering with Instrument/Automation/Control and Interlock strategies.

• Set high-level safety interlock strategies and Management of Change (MOC) strategies.

3. Equipment, Training & Operations

• New Process Equipment Testing: Model, rent, and test new equipment (e.g., filters, centrifuges, distillation equipment, and reactors) for various Unit Operations.

• Plant Tests

• Operator Training

• Develop Batch Sheets and Procedures (also campaign change-over).

• Conduct Hazard Reviews.

• Generate Pre-startup documents and shepherd sign-offs.

• Labor reduction projects.

• Inventory (raw materials & products) control projects.

• Generate Optima’s Technology Transfer Package and transition new processes to Operations.

4. Safety

• New & existing process chemistry and unit operations.

5. Troubleshooting

• Process issues in the commercial plant(s).

• Process improvements.

• Assisting Plant Engineering with Process Change Requests (PCR) and implementation.

• Maintenance coordination.

• Lifting: No lifting requirements.

• Mobility: Ability to climb ladders and enter confined spaces.

• Time Allocation & PPE:

  • 70% Plant time: Hardhat, safety glasses, safety shoes required. Other PPE as needed.

  • 25% Office time:
    Standard office environment.

  • 5% Lab time:
    Safety glasses required, gloves if handling chemicals. Other PPE as needed.