Process Engineer ; Chemical Engineer

Position Summary

We are seeking a Process Engineer I (Chemical Engineer I) for the EMG Group, APS Division at the Indianapolis manufacturing facility. This role is part of the APS Process Research & Development team supporting APS manufacturing plants in the US, Europe, and Asia. Under general direction, the Process Engineer I supports the industrialization, scale‑up, and optimization of chemical adhesive products, processes, and materials to enable safe, stable, high‑quality production.

The engineer executes process development work to improve capability, cost, and cycle time while minimizing rework and supporting robust manufacturing performance. This is a hands‑on role that spends approximately 80–90% of time in the laboratory and/or on the manufacturing floor, including observing plant chemical batches, supporting onsite manufacturing trials, and performing internal laboratory/analytical/QC testing. The role also supports customer root cause analysis (RCA), evaluates material alternatives and alternate sourcing/qualification options, documents results in technical reports, and works cross‑functionally to resolve manufacturing issues.

Some domestic travel is expected.

• Execute plant/scale‑up chemical batches, laboratory work, and analytical/QC testing.
• Support scale‑up of new or improved products and implementation into manufacturing.
• Troubleshoot and resolve escalated manufacturing/process issues with focus on safety, quality, capability, cost, and cycle time.
• Support customer RCA: translate problem statements into test plans; execute testing; analyze data; document findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Support material alternative sourcing/qualification by evaluating material substitutions and alternate sources to meet performance, quality, supply continuity, and manufacturing needs.
• Perform broad chemical, analytical, and QC testing to support product development, troubleshooting, quality investigations, and customer issues.
• Plan and support onsite plant trials in pilot plant/manufacturing operations.
• Apply statistics and DOE as appropriate; use instrumentation and support equipment repair/design needs.
• Perform routine and non‑routine lab assignments of moderate to high complexity; make sound day‑to‑day decisions with limited supervision.
• Select appropriate technical approaches using standard methods; develop/modify procedures when needed; communicate results clearly.
• Maintain laboratory readiness: manage equipment and supplies; support specification and purchasing of new equipment.
• Train staff as needed.
• Promote safe work practices; support development and improvement of lab safety procedures.
• Travel: domestic up to 5%; international travel is unlikely.

• Technical knowledge:
  Applies extensive technical expertise and has full knowledge of other related disciplines.
• Impact:
  Completes medium‑complexity projects; leads portions as a team member.
• Problem solving:
  Implements technical solutions to a variety of challenging problems; utilizes engineering tools, methods, processes.
• Discretion/Latitude:
  Works with considerable latitude in determining technical objectives.
• Liaison:
  Frequent inter‑organizational and outside customer contacts.

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Polymer Engineering, or similar; BS with 2 years relevant work experience; MS with 0 years relevant work experience; or an associate’s degree or no degree with 10 years experience.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety; adherence to company quality standards and ethics policies.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Adequate visual acuity to read chemical container labels and safely work with hazardous chemicals.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to produce clear technical documentation of methods, results, and conclusions.
• Ability to work effectively on cross‑functional teams (manufacturing, quality, technical).
• Working knowledge of basic statistics; ability to interpret and communicate results; familiarity with DOE concepts.
• Hands‑on lab and pilot plant experience, spending ~80‑90% in lab/manufacturing floor.
• Capability to support customer RCA: define problems,…