Chemical Process Engineer (Polymers)

HTI; Spartanburg (SC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

HTI is recruiting two experienced Chemical Process Engineers for a global manufacturing company at their Spartanburg, SC plant. This is a full-time, direct hire position.

You will support and optimize polymerization, extrusion, and related processes to improve yield, product quality, and manufacturing reliability while collaborating with Operations, Quality, and Safety teams to ensure high-performance polymer products meet customer specs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Polymer or Materials Engineering.
• Minimum 3 years manufacturing experience in polymers, plastics, resins, or compounding.
• Experience with polymerization reactors, extrusion, compounding lines or pelletizing operations.
• Knowledge of process safety principles and industrial safety practices.

Responsibilities

• Support 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Drive initiatives that improve product consistency and reduce quality defects.
• Maintain compliance with all company safety standards and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Process Engineering

Data Analysis

Cross-functional Collaboration

Manufacturing Experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical/Polymer/Materials Engineering

Tools

SAP/ERP

Minitab

Aspen Plus

Aspen HYSYS

JMP

Job description

HTI is recruiting two experienced Chemical 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.


• 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.