Principal Process Safety Management (PSM) Engineer

Veranova; West Deptford Township (NJ); On-site; USD 125,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness

401(k) with company match

Tuition Assistance

Mentorship & Learning

Job summary

Veranova is seeking a Principal PSM Engineer to serve as the site technical authority for process safety, driving governance and independent assurance across operations, engineering, maintenance, projects and EHS. You will lead PHAs, risk studies, and incidents, while mentoring process safety professionals across the network.

The role reports to site leadership, oversees one direct report, and ensures compliance with OSHA PSM, EPA RMP, and internal standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or related discipline; advanced degree preferred.
• Professional Engineer or equivalent credential preferred.
• 12+ years of process safety experience in chemical/pharma manufacturing.
• Experience as a technical authority with governance of PHAs, MOC, investigations, audits.
• Expert knowledge of OSHA PSM, EPA RMP, and recognized engineering practices.
• Hazard evaluation and risk management skills including HAZOP and LOPA.
• Ability to influence senior leaders and lead across organizational boundaries.
• People leadership or mentoring experience.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the site technical authority for process safety with governance and independent assurance.
• Interpret and govern OSHA PSM, EPA RMP, internal standards and other applicable practices.
• Advise site leadership on risk acceptance, safeguards, investment priorities, and escalation.
• Lead complex PHAs and risk studies (HAZOP, What-If/Checklist, LOPA, siting, human factors).
• Govern MOC and pre-startup safety reviews for technical, training, and emergency impacts.
• Provide process safety leadership for capital projects from concept through handover.
• Own process safety performance reporting and lead continuous improvement.
• Lead investigations of process safety events and near misses with corrective actions.

Skills

Governance

Technical leadership

HAZOP/LOPA

PHAs

Risk management

Leadership coaching

Influence senior leaders

Regulatory interpretation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

At Veranova, we believe people are our most important asset, and we are dedicated to building the most talented workforce in our industry. Our commitment to uncompromising focus on quality, compliance, safety, and excellence in delivery shapes everything we do. We are not just looking for skills; we are seeking innovative individuals who have a mindset open to learning and growth, and a desire to make a difference.

Veranova is a global leader in the development and manufacturing of complex active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for pharma and biotech customers. With deep technical expertise and impressive flexibility, we develop solutions and processes that support and accelerate innovation.

Join us on our mission to enable current and next-generation therapeutics to improve and save the lives of patients.

Every role at Veranova plays a part in delivering an exceptional customer experience through ownership and integrity.

Role Overview

The Principal Process Safety Management (PSM) Engineer serves as the site technical authority for process safety and provides governance, independent technical assurance, and escalation of significant process risks. The role establishes the technical direction and standards needed to prevent major accidents, ensures that the site PSM management system remains compliant and effective, and advises site leadership on risk acceptance, resource priorities, and corrective actions.

The Principal PSM Engineer combines deep technical expertise with strategic leadership across operations, engineering, maintenance, projects, and EHS. The position leads complex hazard evaluations, governs risk-based decision-making, assures the integrity of all PSM elements, sponsors continuous improvement, and represents the site in network and regulatory process safety matters.

This position provides line management for one direct report within the site EHS team and technical mentorship to process safety professionals across the network.

Core Responsibilities

• Serve as the site technical authority for process safety, providing governance and independent assurance for decisions that could materially affect major accident risk.
• Interpret and govern compliance with OSHA PSM, internal standards, recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices, and other standards as needed (i.e. EPA Risk Management Program, NJ TCPA).
• Advise site leadership on risk acceptance, operating constraints, safeguard adequacy, investment priorities, and escalation of significant or unresolved process risks.
• Lead and assure complex PHAs and risk studies, including HAZOP, What-If/Checklist, LOPA, facility siting, human factors, and other fit-for-purpose methods.
• Govern the quality of MOC and pre-startup safety review activities, ensuring that technical, procedural, training, maintenance, and emergency-response impacts are addressed.
• Provide process safety leadership for capital projects and complex modifications from concept through commissioning, startup, and handover.
• Own process safety performance reporting, identify systemic weaknesses and weak signals, and lead sustainable improvement programs.
• Lead or oversee investigations of process safety events and high-potential near misses, ensuring systemic lessons and effective corrective actions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or a related engineering discipline; an advanced degree is preferred.
• Professional Engineer, Certified Process Safety Professional, Certified Safety Professional, or comparable recognized credential is preferred.
• Typically, 12+ years of progressively responsible process safety experience in chemical, pharmaceutical, or another high-hazard manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated success operating as a technical authority or program leader—not solely as an individual contributor—including governance of complex PHAs, MOCs, investigations, audits, and major risk-reduction initiatives.
• Expert knowledge of OSHA PSM, applicable EPA Risk Management Program requirements, and recognized engineering practices.
• Advanced capability in hazard evaluation and risk management, including HAZOP and LOPA, with the judgement to evaluate safeguards, residual risk, and risk-acceptance decisions.
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders, challenge decisions constructively, communicate complex risk clearly, and lead through others across organizational boundaries.
• Demonstrated people leadership, coaching, or technical mentoring experience.

The salary range for this role is $125,000-$140,000. This range represents a good-faith estimate of the compensation we expect to offer for this position at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be based on factors such as relevant experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity. In exceptional cases, compensation may exceed the stated range.

All full-time employees are eligible to participate in our annual incentive bonus program. Bonus targets vary by career level and are based on individual and company performance.

Our Commitment

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive health & wellness benefits. Access to mental health resources and wellness programs. Generous PTO and holiday pay policies.
• Financial Wellness: Veranova is committed to fair and transparent compensation practices. This includes a competitive base salary, eligibility for performance-based bonuses, and an attractive 401(k) Plan with company match. Salary ranges reflect the scope and expectations of the role, and are based on market data, internal equity, and role-specific factors. Final compensation may vary depending on experience, skills, education, and business needs.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning through LinkedIn Learning, workshops, conferences, and mentorship. Tuition Assistance for Undergraduate and Graduate degree programs.
• Inclusive Culture: At Veranova, an inclusive culture is integral to our values. We welcome people with diverse experiences and perspectives who share our mission to improve and save lives. Even if you don’t meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. Veterans, first responders, and those transitioning from military to civilian life bring valuable skills that strengthen our team.

Agency and Search Firm Representatives: Veranova does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies and/or search firms for this job posting.

Additional Information

Applicants for this role must be authorized to work in the United States without further employer sponsorship.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Veranova is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of Veranova to provide equal employment access and opportunity to all persons regardless of age, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, physical or mental disability, genetic information, citizenship, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

All applications are carefully considered, and your details will be stored on our secure Application Management System. This is used throughout Veranova for the selection of suitable candidates for our vacancies as they arise. Veranova respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. For more information about how your personal data is used please view our privacy notice.

If you have any doubts or concerns about the authenticity of a job posting, please reach out to our HR department: [e-mail] (US.