Job Description

POSITION OVERVIEW

This role is focused on new product development for the Plastics Additives Business, with a focus on process development.  Additionally, support for process improvement/reinvention and manufacturing support for existing products is in scope.  Engagement with internal and external manufacturing partners to pilot and scale new chemistries and processes is required.  Limited travel may be required to support ongoing project work or to provide customer or manufacturing support.

The individual will report directly to the R&D leader and will be located at our Corporate Headquarters in Spartanburg, SC.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Collaborate with R&D chemists and engineers to develop conceptual process flow diagrams (PFDs) and heat & mass balances based on laboratory data and experiments.
Develop estimates of total product cost in alignment with Division processes, and revise throughout the project lifecycle. 
Develop process models and simulations, including sensitivity analysis for cost impact.
Develop P&IDs and related engineering drawings for lab and kilo-scale processes.
Translate engineering drawings into a Bill of Materials and specifications sheets for lab equipment and instrumentation.
Create formal cost estimates and capital funds requests for lab-scale processes.
Procure materials and construct lab and bench-scale systems within the allocated budget and schedule.
Operate the lab and bench-scale systems to evaluate route options and generate process data for process scale-up and design. 
Collaborate with the Chemical Division Process Development team and external engineering partners on full-scale process designs and estimates.
Create technical packages to transfer technology to internal and external manufacturing partners. 
Support pilot trails and scale-up work at internal and external plant sites. 
Create and maintain documentation for equipment, processes, and technical packages for internal and external use.
Provide accurate plans and status reports to the respective project manager.

QUALIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

BS or MS in Chemical Engineering
3+ years of experience in chemical process engineering.
Experience with distillation, hydrogenation, batch and continuous chemical reactors.
Experience with equipment sizing and specification.
Experiment with instrumentation and automation of lab-scale reactors and related equipment. 
Familiarity with ASPEN process simulation.

QUALIFICATIONS – PREFERRED

Experience leading a project to completion
5-10 years in a manufacturing environment or in process scale-up or development organization

The successful candidate will have strengths in the following:

Working independently and in a cross-functional environment
Experience in a manufacturing environment is highly valued
Excellent problem-solving abilities
Data-analysis and use of statistical methods (such as JMP); design-of-experiments
Flexible, high energy level, disciplined, high initiative
Written and verbal communication, including solid presentation skills