Chemical Manufacturing Engineer

About the role

The Manufacturing Engineer plays a critical role in ensuring the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of an assigned manufacturing unit. This position drives operational performance by optimizing production, raw material consumption, energy usage, product quality, and equipment reliability.

Responsibilities

• Champion Ascend's zero-incident safety culture by promoting safe work practices and active operator engagement.
• Lead or participate in Process Hazard Analysis (PHA), Layers of Protection Analysis (LOPA), and Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) activities.
• Lead Management of Change (MOC) processes to ensure safe implementation of process modifications.
• Facilitate Root Cause Analysis (RCA) investigations and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Quantify safety and environmental risks associated with equipment and process failures and develop effective mitigation strategies.
• Ensure compliance with applicable environmental, safety, and Process Safety Management (PSM) requirements.
• Maintain and improve production performance, product quality, raw material efficiency, energy consumption, and overall unit reliability.
• Analyze process data and implement optimization initiatives that improve operational performance and reduce manufacturing costs.
• Track daily operating performance and develop action plans to achieve key performance indicator (KPI) targets.
• Support implementation of new technologies and process improvements that drive sustainable performance gains.
• Coordinate with Operations, Maintenance, and Reliability teams to safely plan and execute equipment outages and maintenance activities.
• Partner with Site Engineering to develop and implement cost-effective capital improvement projects.
• Support equipment reliability initiatives through engineering analysis and continuous improvement efforts.
• Provide engineering support outside normal business hours as required to maintain safe and reliable operations.
• Ensure manufacturing processes consistently meet product quality requirements.
• Represent Manufacturing during investigations of customer complaints and lead efforts to identify and eliminate root causes.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives that enhance product quality and customer satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering.
• Minimum of three years of experience in chemical manufacturing or a related continuous process manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting manufacturing operations through process optimization, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement.
• Experience leading or participating in Process Hazard Analysis (PHA), Management of Change (MOC), and Root Cause Analysis (RCA) activities.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional projects involving Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, and Engineering.
• Experience supporting capital projects and equipment reliability initiatives is preferred.
• Six Sigma certification is preferred.

Skills

• Strong commitment to safety, environmental stewardship, industrial hygiene, and operational excellence.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex technical issues and communicate recommendations clearly to all organizational levels.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Effective leadership and collaboration skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and SAP enterprise resource planning (ERP) software.
• Knowledge of Process Safety Management (PSM) regulations and Title V environmental permitting preferred.
• Experience with DeltaV or Provox distributed control systems (DCS) preferred.

Benefits

Ascend Performance Materials offers competitive compensation and benefits packages designed to support the health, wellness, and financial security of our employees. Details will be provided upon hire.

Pay

Competitive salary based on experience and qualifications.

Schedule

Full-time position with flexible scheduling to accommodate the demands of the manufacturing environment.

Company Information

Ascend Performance Materials is a global leader in high-performance chemicals, fibers, and plastics. We are committed to enhancing quality of life through innovation and operate responsibly while delivering value through cutting-edge technologies and industry expertise.