Production Engineer II

At Nouryon, we create innovative and sustainable solutions for our customers to answer society’s needs – today and in the future. We are looking for team members who bring ideas forward, champion others, and work together to do better. Does that sound like you?

We are looking for a Production Engineer II to support production operations by serving as a key technical resource for process monitoring, troubleshooting, process improvement, and operational excellence. In this role, you will work closely with production, maintenance, quality, and technical teams to identify opportunities for improvement, resolve process issues, optimize performance, and ensure safe, reliable, and efficient plant operations.

This position does not have direct supervisory responsibilities but plays a critical role in supporting production performance, process safety, inventory accuracy, and continuous improvement initiatives across the site.

• Serve as the primary process engineering contact for assigned production areas, monitoring performance and troubleshooting process issues.
• Lead and support root cause investigations to identify and resolve operational, quality, and reliability issues.
• Identify, prioritize, and implement process improvements that enhance safety, quality, productivity, and efficiency.
• Participate in all aspects of site Health, Safety, Environment, and Sustainability (HSES) activities, including audits, safety meetings, hazard recognition, and regulatory compliance initiatives.
• Support and maintain Process Safety Management (PSM) documentation and process safety information.
• Prepare, update, and maintain batch operating procedures and participate in process hazard analyses (PHAs) and safety reviews.
• Utilize the Management of Change (MOC) process for temporary and permanent process modifications.
• Support product scale‑up efforts and collaborate with cross‑functional teams to commercialize new products.
• Analyze process and production data to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
• Recommend and coordinate analyses of systems critical to business performance and equipment reliability.
• Monitor production performance and ensure accurate accounting of production gains, losses, and downtime.
• Manage non‑conforming materials, including root cause investigations, rework activities, and corrective actions.
• Monitor process order data and ensure accurate inventory and production postings to maintain financial and inventory accuracy.
• Support statistical process control initiatives and apply data‑driven decision‑making to improve operations.
• Assist with operator training and technical knowledge transfer.
• Support GMP‑related technical improvements and initiatives that maintain site certifications for personal care and cosmetic ingredient production.
• Lead or support engineering projects and continuous improvement initiatives as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering strongly preferred.
• Mechanical Engineering degree may be considered with significant relevant manufacturing or process engineering experience.
• Approximately 3–5 years of industrial experience required; candidates with 5+ years of experience in process engineering, process safety, or continuous improvement are highly preferred.
• Experience in chemical manufacturing, process operations, or related industrial environments.
• Strong understanding of process safety management, traditional unit operations, process equipment, and manufacturing technologies.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Experience with data analysis and statistical tools such as Minitab is preferred.
• Familiarity with SAP, MES, or similar manufacturing systems is beneficial; training will be provided.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification is preferred.
• Ability to analyze complex technical data and make sound decisions within business‑driven timelines.
• Strong troubleshooting, root‑cause analysis, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to organize and lead meetings, drive discussions, and achieve actionable outcomes.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong time‑management and prioritization skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and influence others without direct authority.
• Ability to retrieve, analyze, and present operational data through reports, charts, and graphs.

• Ability to work throughout a chemical manufacturing facility and access all areas of the plant.
• Ability to climb stairs and wear required personal protective equipment, including a respirator.
• Ability to visually monitor equipment, instruments, process data, and operational readouts.

This is a permanent position on a full‑time basis, reporting to the Operations Manager and will be based at our site in Salisbury, NC.