Principal Process Engineer

Evonik Industries AG; Lafayette (IN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The Evonik Corporation is seeking a Principal Process Engineer to provide engineering oversight for product chains, site systems, and major capital investments. You will apply your process expertise to support synthesis, scale-up, and safe, compliant operations.

You will lead process optimization, mentor project teams, and drive improvements across multiple facilities including small and large molecule manufacturing. Experience with capital projects >$15M is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering preferred; related engineering or chemistry degrees considered.
• 15 years of experience in chemical or pharmaceutical manufacturing and engineering preferred.
• Experience across multiple production facilities with varying scales and technology platforms.
• Strong technical expertise to resolve complex process engineering challenges.
• Proven ability to identify improvement opportunities and drive optimization.
• Knowledge of emerging technologies and ability to implement technical improvements.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in external customer engagement and relationship management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, teamwork, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct supervisory authority and make timely decisions with limited information.
• Strong computer skills to apply engineering and business principles for operations.

Responsibilities

• Provide process engineering support for established processes and analyze performance data.
• Manage ESHS, quality, cycle time, and equipment availability requirements.
• Oversee process chains and unit operations with cross-functional teams.
• Apply expertise in mixing, heat/mass transfer, filtration, and drying to optimize processes.
• Develop strategies for new process introductions, scale-ups, and complex product implementations.
• Assess site capacity, identify bottlenecks, and implement productivity improvements.
• Develop safety concepts and maximize project financial viability with stakeholders.
• Lead major capital projects above $15 million and mentor smaller project leaders.
• Maintain knowledge of regulatory requirements and engineering standards.
• Develop and approve technical documents, policies, and procedures.

Skills

Technical expertise

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Problem solving

Influence without authority

Computer skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering

Job description

What we offer

At Evonik, you're part of a global chemical company working in many sectors that go beyond chemistry. From lipids for tomorrow's medicines, biosurfactants for green detergents, additives for plastics recycling or membranes to help drive forward the energy transition, you'll play an essential part in helping the world's most essential industries succeed.

Our success hinges on a diversity of ideas powered by people, not egos. Whether you're a scientist or engineer, new to the team or established, in business, production, or anything in between – we cheer each other on. Because we believe we can do anything. Explore everything. And Be Part of Something Special!

Find out more about the many benefits we offer:

https://www.evonik.com/en/careers/why.html

Meet the team and get to know the people behind Evonik:

https://www.evonik.com/en/news/meet-the-team.html

The principal process engineer is responsible for providing process engineering oversight for product chains, site systems, and overall operational responsibility for major capital project investments. They will apply process engineering knowledge and skills to support the synthesis of starting materials, pharmaceutical intermediates, final bulk products, and associated site service systems in a safe, quality, efficient, and environmentally responsible manner. Specifically, the principal process engineer is responsible for process understanding, monitoring, and improving process performance. They will also advise and drive others towards those objectives, specifically other process engineers and individuals that are Project Responsible for smaller projects. This may include work in small molecule manufacturing (SMM) and/or large molecule manufacturing (LMM).

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide process engineering support for established processes, analyze performance data, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage ESHS (Environment, Safety, Health, and Security), quality, cycle time, and equipment availability requirements.
• Oversee process chains and unit operations, collaborating with customers and cross-functional project teams.
• Apply technical expertise in mixing, material science, heat transfer, mass transfer, filtration, and drying to optimize processes.
• Develop technical strategies for new process introductions, scale-ups, process modifications, and complex product implementations.
• Assess site capacity constraints, identify bottlenecks, and implement solutions to improve productivity and operational efficiency.
• Develop safety concepts and maximize project financial viability in collaboration with site and business line stakeholders.
• Lead major capital projects exceeding $15 million and mentor project leaders responsible for smaller capital investments.
• Maintain expertise in regulatory requirements, engineering standards, best practices, and plant-specific systems.
• Develop, review, and approve technical documents, production policies, and procedures while supporting team development and execution excellence.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering preferred; equivalent degrees in a related engineering or chemistry discipline will also be considered.
• Preferred 15 years of experience in chemical or pharmaceutical manufacturing and engineering.
• Experience working across multiple production facilities with varying scales and technology platforms.
• Strong technical expertise and practical experience in resolving complex process engineering challenges.
• Proven ability to identify improvement opportunities, overcome challenges, and drive process optimization.
• Knowledge of emerging technologies and the ability to recommend and implement technical improvements.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in external customer engagement and relationship management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, teamwork, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct supervisory authority and make timely decisions with limited information.
• Strong computer skills and the ability to apply fundamental engineering and business principles to solve problems and support operational objectives.

The Evonik Group adopts an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) approach. Candidates are assessed based on their educational qualifications, experience, job competencies and potential and shall not be discriminated against on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, nationality, disability or sexual orientation or other classifications protected by local, state, or provincial regulations.

Evonik Corporation