Process Development Engineer

4142 Evonik Corporation_4142; Blair (NE); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Evonik invites a Process Development Engineer to advance fermentation and downstream manufacturing at the Blair, Nebraska facility. You will lead continuous improvement initiatives, analyze process data, and partner across R&D, Production, and Quality to boost throughput, yield, and reliability in a safe, compliant environment.

The role emphasizes technical leadership, mentoring teammates, and supporting capital projects, with opportunities to drive meaningful improvements across the site.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, or related field; equivalent experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Drive continuous improvement to increase plant throughput, yield, efficiency, and reliability while reducing variability and costs.
• Analyze process performance using SPC, data historian tools, mass and energy balances, and other engineering methods.
• Initiate and manage pilot- and full-scale plant trials and support implementation of improvements into production.
• Lead process optimization and debottlenecking projects involving processes, equipment, and product quality.
• Support and execute capital projects focused on process efficiency and plant performance.
• Facilitate root cause analyses to identify and resolve operational and process issues.
• Coordinate development activities and collaborate with R&D, Technology, Production, Engineering, Quality, and other Evonik sites.
• Prepare and analyze monthly plant mass balances and identify improvements.

Skills

Process engineering

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology or Chemical Engineering

Tools

Data historian tools

SPC

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 Process Development Engineer is responsible for driving continuous improvement and optimization of fermentation and downstream manufacturing processes at Evonik’s Blair, Nebraska facility. This role analyzes process performance, leads improvement initiatives and plant trials, supports capital projects, and partners with cross-functional teams to improve throughput, yield, efficiency, safety, and reliability.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to increase plant throughput, yield, efficiency, and reliability while reducing process variability and production costs.
• Analyze process performance using statistical process control, data historian tools, mass and energy balances, and other engineering methods.
• Initiate and manage pilot- and full-scale plant trials and support the implementation of process improvements into production.
• Lead process optimization, de-bottlenecking, and efficiency improvement projects involving processes, equipment, and product quality.
• Support and execute capital projects focused on process efficiency and plant performance.
• Facilitate root cause analyses to identify and resolve operational and process issues.
• Identify process bottlenecks and develop solutions to maintain high plant throughput while mitigating implementation risks.
• Coordinate process development activities and collaborate with R&D, Technology, Production, Engineering, Quality, and other Evonik sites.
• Prepare and analyze monthly plant mass balances and use results to identify and implement improvements.
• Provide technical leadership, guidance, and mentoring to process development and engineering team members while supporting site safety, environmental, quality, and regulatory requirements.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• 3+ years in process engineering or in production management or process engineering of industrial chemical processes preferred.
• Experience with complex fermentation processes and process data analysis.
• Knowledge of processing technologies such as drying, materials handling, and chemical processes.
• Demonstrated experience improving plant availability, reliability, efficiency, and process performance.
• Experience leading cross-functional improvement initiatives, troubleshooting processes, and supporting or managing capital projects.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and project management skills, with the ability to provide technical leadership and develop others.

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.

This is your opportunity to join a thriving global organization that combines cutting-edge science, technology and engineering with world-class business services to create solutions that answer real-world problems. If you join us, we’ll expect you to take ownership of your work, team up with other great minds, and add your name to creations that make a positive difference for generations. As one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals operating in more than 100 countries with over 32,000 employees, we need your diversity of thought to make us better. In return for your passion, initiative and creativity, you’ll enjoy opportunities to improve and to be respected for your contribution.