Senior Chemical Process Engineer

Senior Chemical Process Engineer

Final date to receive applications: 30 April 2026

Department: Engineering

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Newburyport, MA

Reporting To: Site Director

Compensation: $130,000 - $170,000 / year

Strem Chemicals, Inc., an Ascensus Specialties LLC company, is seeking a Senior Chemical Process Engineer to join our team in Newburyport, MA. This is a critical, high-impact role designed for a technical leader who can bridge the gap between complex engineering design and hands‑on operational excellence. This role will be responsible for leading the manufacturing, research, and development of specialty chemicals—primarily those involving high‑pressure autoclave systems
—used in life‑saving pharmaceuticals and cutting‑edge microelectronics.

• Culture of Safety:
  Lead by example by following all site safety procedures and policies, establishing safety as the highest operational priority.
• Integrity of High-Pressure Systems:
  Ensure all autoclave equipment is maintained and in peak safe operating condition prior to any experimentation or production runs.
• Specialized Training:
  Initiate, update, and train staff on high-pressure safety procedures and policies to maintain a secure working environment.
• Compliance Management:
  Maintain precise safety records and manage vendor testing/certification for high-pressure equipment and safety detector systems.
• Standardization:
  Develop and document rigorous Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all autoclave and high-pressure processes.

• Process Control & Programming:
  Utilize PLC (Siemens, Allen Bradley) or DCS software to control and monitor high-pressure equipment. This includes working with vendors to learn, modify, and optimize programming to enhance process efficiency.
• Data-Driven Optimization:
  Collect and analyze run data using logging instruments to troubleshoot the autoclave process.
• Capacity Innovation:
  Conduct reaction studies to identify opportunities for improvement, such as stopping reactions early or recharging and restarting to eliminate "dead time" and increase capacity.
• Equipment Design:
  Collaborate with engineering and construction vendors on capital improvements, facility upgrades, and the installation/commissioning of distillation columns.

• Production Leadership Path:
  Embark on a structured growth path to learn the end-to-end production process, with the ultimate goal of leading the production team within a 24‑hour operational environment.
• Manufacturing Oversight:
  Plan, organize, and supervise the manufacture of chemicals in autoclaves and associated equipment. Ensure raw material availability and monitor manufacturing costs to meet customer demand.
• Yield & Quality Improvement:
  Perform R&D on existing and new autoclave products—specifically high-volume electronics product lines (e.g., DCOC) and API pharmaceutical products—to improve yields and reduce production times.
• Resource Management:
  Responsible for the purchase of raw materials, equipment, and spare parts. Prepare and manage the high-pressure equipment budget.
• Chemistry Integration:
  Demonstrate a willingness to learn the specific chemical reactions (temperature and pressure requirements) to better bridge the gap between engineering design and chemical output.
• Other duties as assigned by the Site Director.

• BS in Chemical Engineering (preferred) or BS in Mechanical Engineering.
  Specialized Knowledge: If Mechanical, a strong background or coursework in chemistry is required to support autoclave synthesis operations.

• 5+ years in batch fine chemicals production. Previous experience with pressure vessels or autoclaves is highly preferred.

• Hands‑on experience with PLC/DCS automated process systems and statistical problem‑solving techniques.

• Ability to work in a plant environment, including climbing ladders, lifting up to 50 lbs, and wearing a respirator when required.

• Ability to support a 24-hour operation and adjust hours as necessary to meet the demands of the plant.