Chemical Process Technician

Zekelman Industries; Rochelle (IL); On-site; USD 29,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with Company Match

Health, Dental & Vision Insurance

Tuition Assistance Program

Paid Vacation & Holidays

Employee Loyalty Awards

Job summary

Zekelman Industries is seeking a Chemical Process Technician to support Pickle House, Tanker operations, and chemical processing systems at our Rochelle site. The role emphasizes chemical safety, precise calculations, system maintenance, and proactive safety leadership.

The position follows a rotating schedule (5pm–5am) with a pay rate of $25 per hour plus production incentive bonus, and offers strong benefits, education support, and a path for career growth in a premier steel products

Qualifications

• Experience in a chemical maintenance or industrial manufacturing environment.
• Ability to perform calculations for acid adds, water adds, and caustic percentages.
• Knowledge of operating valves, pumps, and chemical storage systems.
• Strong attention to detail for handling paperwork and verifying tank inlets.
• Ability to troubleshoot equipment and perform visual inspections.

Responsibilities

• Operates and controls BETA systems, including starting up, shutting down, and utilizing manual controls.
• Performs maintenance on BETA units by changing filters, troubleshooting issues, and conducting visual inspections.
• Manages Scrubber operations, including turning scrubbers on/off, draining units, rinsing after emptying, and cleaning scrubbers.
• Changes empty caustic totes on fume scrubbers and adds defoamer as required.
• Pumps acid and rinse water to pickle tanks and transfers spent acid from sumps and tanks to spent storage.
• Adds ammonia chloride, liquid flux, and fresh water to pickle house tanks according to specifications.
• Operates diaphragm pumps and the main pump at the pumping station.
• Unloads acid and liquid flux tankers to appropriate storage or pickling tanks.
• Loads spent acid and ferric chloride onto tankers and manages paperwork for inbound third-party tankers.
• Calculates acid and water additions for pickle tanks and determines caustic percentages.
• Utilizes Kleinguard and maintains knowledge of storage locations for ammonia chloride and flux salt.
• Maintains a safe work environment, including knowledge of emergency shower locations and proper inlet usage per product.
• Leads and promotes healthy and safe work practices as required by regulatory agencies and Company policy.

Skills

Chemical maintenance

Industrial manufacturing

Acid/water calculations

Pumps and valves

Tank inlets paperwork

Job description

You may not know our name, but you know our products. What we make is part the places where we live, work and play - all day, everyday.

Zekelman is a family of companies - 100% domestic manufacturers - with a legacy dating back to 1877. We’re proud to be the largest independent steel pipe and tube manufacturer in North America and the leading innovator in multi-family housing development.

We believe in what we build and what we build, builds the world around us. Hospitals, hotels, schools, bridges, airports and more.

Come build a career you believe in.

About The Role

As a Chemical Process Technician at Zekelman Industries, you will play a key role in supporting the Pickle House, Tanker operations, and chemical processing systems. This position requires strong attention to detail regarding chemical safety, calculations, and equipment maintenance, and offers the opportunity to contribute directly to the efficiency and safety of our chemical maintenance operations.

Shift: Rotating schedule: 2 on, 2 off, 3 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off. (5pm - 5am)
Pay: $25 an hour plus production incentive bonus

What You’ll Do

• Operates and controls BETA systems, including starting up, shutting down, and utilizing manual controls.
• Performs maintenance on BETA units by changing filters, troubleshooting issues, and conducting visual inspections.
• Manages Scrubber operations, including turning scrubbers on/off, draining units, rinsing after emptying, and cleaning scrubbers.
• Changes empty caustic totes on fume scrubbers and adds defoamer as required.
• Pumps acid and rinse water to pickle tanks and transfers spent acid from sumps and tanks to spent storage.
• Adds ammonia chloride, liquid flux, and fresh water to pickle house tanks according to specifications.
• Operates diaphragm pumps and the main pump at the pumping station.
• Unloads acid and liquid flux tankers to appropriate storage or pickling tanks.
• Loads spent acid and ferric chloride onto tankers and manages paperwork for inbound third-party tankers.
• Calculates acid and water additions for pickle tanks and determines caustic percentages.
• Utilizes Kleinguard and maintains knowledge of storage locations for ammonia chloride and flux salt.
• Maintains a safe work environment, including knowledge of emergency shower locations and proper inlet usage per product.
• Leads and promotes healthy and safe work practices as required by regulatory agencies and Company policy.

Who You Are

• Experience in a chemical maintenance or industrial manufacturing environment.
• Ability to perform necessary calculations for acid adds, water adds, and caustic percentages.
• Knowledge of operating valves, pumps, and chemical storage systems.
• Strong attention to detail for handling paperwork and verifying tank inlets.
• Ability to troubleshoot equipment and perform visual inspections on machinery.

Physical Abilities

• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, stand or walk for extended periods, and perform bending, twisting, kneeling, and other physical activities as required.

What You’ll Get

Zekelman Industries offers competitive compensation and excellent benefits, including low-cost, high-quality medical and dental benefits. In addition, we have an amazing tuition assistance program, a bonus plan, a 401(k) plan with a generous company match, loyalty awards, and much more:

• Competitive Compensation
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Comprehensive Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Paid Vacation & Holidays
• Employee Loyalty Awards

Zekelman Industries offers competitive compensation and excellent benefits, including low-cost, high-quality medical and dental benefits. In addition, we have an amazing tuition assistance program, a bonus plan, a 401(k) plan with a generous company match, immediate vesting, and much more.

M/F/D/V

We are Zekelman Industries.

We manufacture superior quality tubular and related products, and provide outstanding service for our valued customers.

We seek to continuously advance the skills and opportunities of our employees, utilizing the latest technology and management tools available to consistently increase profitability and the enterprise value of Zekelman Industries and of our customers.