Chemical Engineer

Innospec Inc.; Salisbury (NC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Innospec Inc. in Salisbury, NC is seeking a Chemical Engineer to join our manufacturing team and lead both process engineering and CAPEX initiatives in a high-hazard, specialty-chemicals environment.

The role combines hands-on plant work with project leadership—from concept through commissioning—driving process performance, safety, and reliability across operations and capital projects. This position requires a strong foundation in reaction engineering, mass and energy balances, and process

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering.
• 5+ years of experience in chemical manufacturing (plant + project environment).
• Experience in fine or specialty chemicals strongly preferred.
• Strong foundation in reaction engineering, separations, heat/mass transfer, and process control.
• Proven experience in designing, building, and commissioning chemical processes or plants.
• Hands-on experience in process troubleshooting and optimization.
• Experience working in high-hazard, PSM-regulated environments.
• Knowledge of environmental and safety regulations related to chemical operations.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the site subject matter expert for chemical processes, supporting safe and efficient plant operations.
• Lead process design and development, including mass & energy balances, PFDs, and P&IDs.
• Drive process optimization to improve yield, throughput, quality, and cost.
• Troubleshoot complex process issues using data analysis and root cause methodologies.
• Provide expertise in reaction chemistry, thermodynamics, and unit operations.
• Support process scale-up, technology transfer, and plant modifications.
• Partner with Operations to improve process control strategies and instrumentation performance.
• Develop and manage a 3–5 year CAPEX roadmap aligned with business strategy.
• Lead projects from concept through design, construction, and commissioning.
• Define scope, develop cost estimates, and support project planning activities.
• Apply value engineering to optimize cost, efficiency, and long-term reliability.
• Manage external engineering firms and contractors.
• Provide clear reporting on cost, schedule, and project performance.
• Handle unplanned/urgent projects without impacting strategic priorities.

Skills

Process design

Mass & energy balances

PFDs & P&IDs

Process optimization

Reaction engineering

Thermodynamics

Unit operations

Process control

Troubleshooting

Instrumentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering

Job description

We are seeking a Chemical Engineer to join our growing manufacturing team in Salisbury, NC. This role combines capital project leadership with process engineering expertise, serving as a key technical authority for chemical operations in a high-hazard, specialty chemicals environment.

This position is ideal for a hands-on engineer who thrives both in the plant and in project execution, and who can lead from concept through commissioning while driving process performance, safety, and reliability.

Essential Functions

Process Engineering & Technical Leadership

• Serve as the site subject matter expert for chemical processes, supporting safe and efficient plant operations.
• Lead process design and development, including mass & energy balances, PFDs, and P&IDs.
• Drive process optimization to improve yield, throughput, quality, and cost.
• Troubleshoot complex process issues using data analysis and root cause methodologies.
• Provide expertise in reaction chemistry, thermodynamics, and unit operations.
• Support process scale-up, technology transfer, and plant modifications.
• Partner with Operations to improve process control strategies and instrumentation performance.

Project Engineering & CAPEX Leadership

• Support the senior engineer to develop and manage a 3–5 year CAPEX roadmap aligned with business strategy.
• Lead projects from concept through design, construction, and commissioning.
• Define scope, develop cost estimates, and support project planning activities.
• Apply value engineering to optimize cost, efficiency, and long-term reliability.
• Manage external engineering firms and contractors.
• Provide clear reporting on cost, schedule, and project performance.
• Handle unplanned/urgent projects without impacting strategic priorities.

Role Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering.
• 5+ years of experience in chemical manufacturing (plant + project environment).
• Experience in fine or specialty chemicals strongly preferred.
• Strong foundation in reaction engineering, separations, heat/mass transfer, and process control.
• Proven experience in designing, building, and commissioning chemical processes or plants.
• Hands-on experience in process troubleshooting and optimization.
• Experience working in high-hazard, PSM-regulated environments.
• Knowledge of environmental and safety regulations related to chemical operations.

Environmental Restrictions

• Ability to perform essential job duties in both indoor and outdoor environments, including offices, facilities, and external job sites.
• Regular exposure to varying weather conditions, noise, dust, moving equipment, and uneven terrain.
• Physical requirements may include sitting, standing, walking, lifting, carrying, bending, reaching, and operating tools or equipment as necessary to perform job responsibilities.
• Regular attendance and adherence to company safety policies are required.
• In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state laws, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.