Chemical Engineering Co-op (Spring/Summer 2027)

The Lubrizol Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a specialty chemical company delivering sustainable solutions across mobility, wellbeing, and modern life. Founded in 1928, Lubrizol operates more than 100 manufacturing facilities, sales, and technical offices worldwide with approximately 8,000 employees. This Chemical Engineering Co-op (Spring/Summer 2027) is a temporary, on-site role located in Ohio (Wickliffe, Avon Lake, Painesville) and Texas (Deer Park, Bayport).

Responsibilities

• Production Support: Assist day-to-day operation of production units and help solve technical issues encountered in manufacturing. Work on projects involving process optimization (increasing capacity, reducing batch cycle time), safety improvements, new process and equipment start-ups, system troubleshooting, capital project design, and recommending and/or implementing equipment changes. Develop troubleshooting and problem-solving skills while applying classroom knowledge. Interact with a variety of departments within the plant, throughout Lubrizol, and in outside organizations. Use tools and methods employed by production engineers to keep production moving. May be asked to work shifts mirroring those of operators during the term.
• Process Development: Design lab and pilot scale experiments, implement equipment changes, develop and evaluate analytical tests, collect and analyze data, and make recommendations based on results. Help develop and scale up new products and assist plants in optimizing quality and processing of existing products. Expand on classroom studies and think creatively to expand Lubrizol’s technology base for new and innovative products.
• Other Available Terms: Depending on student interest and business need, additional rotations may include Safety, Environmental, Capital Project Management, Research & Development, Commercial, New Product Development, and Quality — providing diverse career-path exploration while still in school.

Requirements

• Must be authorized to work in the United States without requiring work authorization sponsorship now or in the future.
• Currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from an accredited university, with graduation between December 2028 and May 2030.
• Completion of two co-op terms required (40 hours per week); three or more terms strongly preferred, with at least one scheduled in a fall or spring semester.
• Students with GPA > 3.0 given priority consideration.
• Responsible for reliable transportation to and from work location; some sites may require a transportation method during work hours to reach various plant locations.
• Safety & Physical Requirements:
  • Able to work in a fixed position, standing or sitting, for long portions of the workday.
  • Completion of work hours on shift schedule (e.g., swing shift, second shift, third shift — maximum of 6 weeks per term).
  • Requires use of appropriate PPE (safety footwear, safety apparel, eye protection, hard hat, hearing protection, respiratory protection).
  • Physically able to climb and work in elevated areas (repeatedly climbing and descending stairs during shift).
  • Willing/able to work outdoors in inclement weather.
  • Exposure to nuisance odors, noise, heavy machinery from chemical processes, testing/laboratory facilities.
  • Handle glassware and equipment for laboratory work.
  • Operation of equipment and/or handling of chemicals when properly trained.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Holiday pay for holidays that fall within the work period
• Tuition reimbursement for fees associated with co-oping
• Housing assistance and relocation assistance offered to students with a permanent residence greater than 35 miles from their assigned work location(s)
• Diverse experiences with the stability of one employer — co-ops encouraged to work at several locations across the country for deeper understanding of different businesses, products, processes, and people
• Fun events and activities (e.g., sports events, paid volunteering days, CEO-hosted picnic)
• Professional growth — all co-ops present their work at the end of each work session, improving public speaking skills and learning from peers
• Full-time opportunities after graduation — the engineering co-op program is a key vehicle for hiring full-time engineers at Lubrizol