Principal Process Development Engineer

Orbia; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A global materials solutions company is seeking a Principal Process Development Engineer to advance manufacturing capabilities at their Thornton Science Park facility in Cheshire, UK. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in chemical engineering, specifically in fluorinated compounds and process optimization. This role requires hands-on leadership to ensure safe and efficient commissioning of new plants while advancing innovative production techniques.

Benefits

Inclusive workplace culture

Opportunities for professional development

Collaborative work environment

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in process optimization and plant design.
• Chartered Chemical Engineer.
• Experience with high hazard, full-scale plants.

Responsibilities

• Lead safety, health, and environmental tasks.
• Support commissioning of new manufacturing plants.
• Develop production flowsheets for fluorinated materials.

Skills

Process modeling

Engineering fundamentals

Leadership

Communication

Fluorination processes

Education

BEng in Chemical Engineering

MEng or PhD in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Aspen Plus

MATLAB

Python

Job description

You are purpose driven. Growth minded. Ready to stretch your potential. That's the spirit of the community you will find at Orbia: where the purpose to advance life around the world drives our global team of over 23,000 every single day.

From creating solutions to deliver clean water, secure food supplies and reliable information to steering material advances that power the future of green and smart cities, transportation, and healthcare, we never settle for "good enough" when there's an opportunity to make life better. Where purpose comes to life, it changes lives. This is what we live for.

Fluor and Energy Materials, an Orbia business, is hiring a Principal Process Development Engineer to be based at Thornton Science Park, Cheshire, UK.

Main Purpose

Provide technical expertise on plant operation, troubleshooting and fundamental design philosophy to ensure safe and efficient commissioning of new, full-scale manufacturing plant and equipment. The application of process modelling tools to characterize and optimize plant performance. Independently lead process development activities to manufacture fluorinated compounds, including the hands-on laboratory and pilot set up and execution of research and development studies, and scale-up of such to full manufacturing scale.

Main Responsibilities

• Leadership and delivery of Safety, Health, Environmental and Quality requirements associated with process development. Maintain and promote a safe working environment.
• Application of operational experience to support the safe and efficient commissioning of new, full-scale manufacturing plant and equipment. Use of modelling tools, combined with a detailed understanding of underlying engineering principles, to characterize and optimize plant performance.
• Application of engineering fundamentals, process modelling and experimental tools to develop flowsheets to safely and economically produce fluorinated materials of interest at scale.
• Critical assessment of alternative manufacturing options (technical and economic) to ensure the optimum route is selected.
• Conceptualize, design, build and operate lab and pilot scale equipment. Combine a strong interest and understanding of chemical engineering fundamentals with a lightweight approach to advancing ideas through production.
• The ability to thrive in fuzzy front-end projects by providing clarity for the development pathway, develop relationships across groups, application of internal and external resource to complete tasks, generate and interpret high quality data, and to clearly communicate direction and results to stakeholders.
• Become a recognized company expert in all aspects of process engineering, with specific knowledge of fluorination processes. Develop a network with other engineers and operations to encourage interactions.
• Provide process development and technical expertise input into the project management process.
• Capability and flexibility to advance multiple projects simultaneously.

Qualifications

• Minimum: BEng in Chemical Engineering.
• Desirable: MEng or PhD in Chemical Engineering.

Knowledge/ Experience Required

• Chartered Chemical Engineer with at least 10 years' experience including full scale, high hazard, plant design and process optimization.
• Design, build, operation and scale-up of pilot equipment to demonstrate proof of concept and generate mass and energy balance.
• Critical techno-economic assessment of process options and communication of the preferred approach to obtain stakeholder support.
• Broad command of Chemical Engineering fundamentals including Separations design, Reaction Engineering, Fluid Dynamics, Heat Transfer, Mass Transfer, Thermodynamics and Process Control.
• Process modelling expertise including Aspen Plus.
• Specific knowledge of fluorochemistry would be desirable.
• MATLAB and Python programming would be desirable.
• Process safety management including HAZOP, SIL, LOPA would be desirable.

Behaviors that can help you succeed at Orbia:

• Develop yourself & Others
• Foster Collaboration & Inclusion
• Drive Results
• Provide Vision & Direction

We welcome purpose-driven dreamers, doers, and builders, recognizing that it takes difference to make a difference. If you're ready to bring your skills, talents, and perspective to moving your career, the company, people, and the planet forward, we'd like to hear from you.

We believe that every voice matters; every community deserves respect; and every challenge is an opportunity and united by empathy, we are stronger for our different perspectives. We are dedicated to building a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace that supports the needs of all our employees regardless of their role, location, identity, and background.