Process Engineer (Polymers)

Role details

HTI is recruiting two experienced

Process Engineers

for a global manufacturing company at their Spartanburg, SC plant. This is a full-time, direct hire position.

• Salary range is

$85,000 - $140,000 / year, depending on experience and education

• Work hours: Monday – Friday 8am-5pm or 7am-4pm
• Local candidates are preferred, but relocation assistance is available for candidates located within the Southeastern U.S.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Polymer Engineering or Materials Engineering
• 3+ years of manufacturing experience with the below job duties; must have experience with polymers, specialty chemicals, plastics, resins, and/or compounding processes.
• Experience with polymerization reactors, extrusion systems, compounding lines, or pelletizing operations.
• Strong understanding of chemical process operations and polymer manufacturing processes.
• Experience analyzing manufacturing data and implementing process improvements.
• Knowledge of process safety principles and industrial safety practices.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Effective communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• SAP/ERP experience
• Familiarity with Statistical Process Control (SPC) preferred
• Lean/Six Sigma certification or training preferred
• Experience with Minitab, Aspen Plus, Aspen HYSYS, JMP, or similar analytical tools.

Job Duties

Support and optimize manufacturing operations within a specialty polymers production facility. This role is responsible for improving process efficiency, product quality, safety performance, and manufacturing reliability while supporting the production of high-performance polymer products used in diverse industrial and consumer applications.

Process Optimization & Manufacturing Excellence

• Monitor and optimize polymerization, extrusion, pelletizing, and solid-state polymerization operations.
• Analyze production data to improve yield, throughput, process capability, and overall equipment effectiveness.
• Identify and implement process improvements that reduce waste, increase productivity, and enhance product consistency.
• Support process scale-up activities from pilot production to full commercial manufacturing.
• Develop process models, mass balances, and production performance metrics.

Production Support & Troubleshooting

• Coordinate with production operators and supervisors, providing daily support to manufacturing operations.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action initiatives.
• Investigate process deviations, non-conforming material, equipment issues, and customer quality concerns.
• Support production startups, shutdowns, grade changes, and new product launches.

Quality & Product Performance

• Partner with Quality and Technical Service teams to ensure products meet customer specifications.
• Evaluate critical polymer properties including viscosity, molecular weight, melting point, density, particle size, and mechanical performance characteristics.
• Support product qualification efforts and process validation activities.
• Drive initiatives that improve product consistency and reduce quality defects.

Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain compliance with all company safety standards and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in Process Hazard Analyses (PHA), HAZOP studies, Management of Change (MOC), and Process Safety Management (PSM) programs.
• Identify and mitigate process safety risks associated with chemical reactions, raw materials, and polymer processing equipment.
• Promote a strong safety culture throughout the facility.

Capital Projects & Engineering Support

• Support capital improvement and equipment installation projects.
• Develop process flow diagrams (PFDs), P&IDs, equipment specifications, and operating procedures.
• Collaborate with maintenance, engineering, contractors, and equipment vendors.
• Participate in commissioning and startup activities for new equipment and process modifications.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma initiatives.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities related to raw materials, utilities, production efficiency, and waste reduction.
• Enhance process reliability and reduce manufacturing downtime.
• Support sustainability initiatives focused on energy efficiency, recycling, and emissions reduction.

Benefits include

• Medical/vision/dental
• Annual bonus opportunity
• 401K with company match
• PTO
• Paid holidays
• EAP
• HSA/FSA
• Life insurance
• Fitness, health and wellness discounts
• Growth and development opportunities