Chemical Engineer

Responsibilities

This challenging and exciting position is for an experienced chemical engineer to support large-scale capital projects along with a wide variety of scale-up growth projects within the Chemicals, Cellulose Esters, and Polymers Pilot Plants.  The position will have responsibility for the planning and execution of capital projects and experiments as well as troubleshooting and identifying maintenance needs to ensure safe, reliable operation.   

Job Responsibilities:

1) Lead a large capital project to build additional piloting capabilities at our Kingsport site.
2) Develop methods and strategies to scale up new products and processes from lab to pilot to manufacturing scales. 
3) Develop technical expertise in Chemicals pilot plant processes to identify opportunities to improve safety, cost position, quality, reliability, and/or capacity.
4) Propose and execute production trials and tests on pilot plant scale.  Includes leading teams through thorough hazard identification and pre-startup safety reviews and creation of procedures and batch sheets.
5) Monitor and troubleshoot daily operational issues - interface with operations and maintenance personnel to address issues with equipment reliability, operability, and safety. Will require on-call support by phone or text on nights and weekends.
6) Partner with colleagues as part of cross-functional teams including technology, manufacturing, businesses, HSES, and other functions to drive process improvement projects, growth programs, and business initiatives.
7) Provide project leadership for MOC and capital projects from design through construction and startup.
8) Drive excellence in Essential Operational Disciplines (EODs): assist in development of operations dashboards, alarm and interlock management tools, eLogbook applications, and other tools/aides to ensure operational excellence and drive operational discipline in assigned area.
9) Provide timely communications to management and project stakeholders by communicating project needs, value, priorities, and decisions to ensure project success.
 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering with capital project experience including project definition, design, and execution is required 
• Minimum 5 years’ experience related to process improvement, manufacturing, or piloting manufacturing process development.
• Commitment to high level of safety and environmental awareness. Includes knowledge of and commitment to process safety.
• Experience in pilot plant support and scaling small-scale processes to plant-scale equipment is a plus
• Exhibit good leadership attitudes and behaviors is essential. 
• Initiative and the ability to work in a team setting is crucial.
• Must be a self-starter with a focus on results. Ability to lead and drive challenging projects forward despite uncertainties.
• Comfortable challenging peers and supervision to develop creative solutions.
• Proven ability to engage well with technicians, operators, peers, and management.
• Excellent written, listening, and verbal communication skills
• Comfortable with new software tools and ability to learn quickly in order to assist with digitization and operational excellence efforts. General computer experience with relevant and Microsoft software packages (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)