Process Engineer

Avantor; Phillipsburg (NJ); On-site; USD 78,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Wellness programs

401(k) plan with company match

Employee stock purchase program

6 weeks of paid parental leave

Job summary

Avantor is hiring a Detail-driven Process Engineer for our Phillipsburg, NJ site. You will support daily technical operations, optimize unit operations, and lead continuous improvement across production lines including salts synthesis and high-purity acids handling.

Collaborate with operations, maintenance, quality, and EHS teams to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant batch and continuous manufacturing processes. Strong emphasis on PSM, cGMP, and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or related field.
• 5+ years of related experience in chemical manufacturing preferred.
• 2+ years in chemical manufacturing environment preferred.
• Hands-on experience with PSM, OSHA regulations, and/or cGMP environments.

Responsibilities

• Monitor daily plant performance and troubleshoot processing issues.
• Drive process optimization and improve yields.
• Investigate OOS events and implement CAPA actions.
• Support safety analyses (PHAs/HAZOP) and MOC reviews.
• Develop and maintain SOPs, batch records, and procedures.

Skills

Chemical engineering

Process safety

Troubleshooting

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulatory compliance

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering

Tools

P&IDs

PSM protocols

CAPA

Job description

The Opportunity:

This position will be located onsite: Phillipsburg, NJ

JOB SUMMARY

We are seeking a detail-driven and safety-focused Process Engineer to join our specialty chemical manufacturing facility. In this role, you will provide daily technical support, optimize unit operations, and drive continuous improvement across our production lines, which specialize in the synthesis of cGMP salts, and purification and packaging of high-purity acids and solvents. You will work closely with operations, maintenance, quality, and EHS teams to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant batch and continuous manufacturing operations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Process Optimization & Troubleshooting: Monitor daily plant performance, troubleshoot chemical processing issues, and resolve equipment or yield bottlenecks involving reactors, crystallizers, centrifuges, dryers, distillation units, etc.
• Quality Improvement: Investigate non-conformances due to out of specification (OOS) events or other quality-related events; and implement and document corrective and preventative actions (CAPA).
• Safety & Regulatory Compliance: Champion plant safety by participating in Process Hazard Analyses (PHAs), Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) studies, Management of Change (MOC) reviews, and ensuring strict adherence to OSHA PSM (Process Safety Management) and cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practices) guidelines.
• Capital Projects: Design, scope, and manage capital improvement projects from conception to commissioning, including developing P&IDs, equipment specifications, and operating procedures.
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Write, review, and maintain technical documentation, batch records, and SOPs for chemical handling and processing operations.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering or a related field required
• Minimum of five (5) years of related experience required
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience working in a chemical manufacturing environment required
• Hands‑on experience with Process Safety Management (PSM), OSHA regulations, and/or cGMP compliance environments.
• Strong working knowledge of chemistry and high purity chemical processing/engineering.
• Experience working in salts synesis or liquid purification preferred.
• Excellent problem‑solving abilities, strong cross‑functional communication skills, and a proactive, safety‑first mindset.
• Demonstrated application of SPC tools and implementation Experience working in a FDA regulated, cGMP manufacturing environment preferred.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS/SCOPE

The Process Engineer reports directly to the site Engineering Manager. He/she interfaces with both management and union personnel from various levels. The Process Engineer works closely with manufacturing, understanding the processes and the cause‑and‑effect‑relationship of the manufacturing cycle.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The work environment is a manufacturing facility, and the appropriate PPE will be required in designated areas.

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position.

Avantor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Why Avantor?

Dare to go further in your career. Join our global team of 14,000+ associates whose passion for discovery and determination to overcome challenges relentlessly advances life‑changing science. The work we do changes people's lives for the better. It brings new patient treatments and therapies to market, giving a cancer survivor the chance to walk his daughter down the aisle. It enables medical devices that help a little boy hear his mom's voice for the first time. Outcomes such as these create unlimited opportunities for you to contribute your talents, learn new skills and grow your career at Avantor. We are committed to helping you on this journey through our diverse, equitable and inclusive culture which includes learning experiences to support your career growth and success. At Avantor, dare to go further and see how the impact of your contributions set science in motion to create a better world.

Pay Transparency

The expected pre-tax pay for this position is $78,000.00 - $125,350.00. Actual pay may differ depending on relevant factors such as prior experience and geographic location.

EEO Statement

We are an Equal Employment/Affirmative Action employer and VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/province, or local law. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case‑by‑case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address. For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the Know Your Rights poster.

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3rd Party Non‑Solicitation Policy

By submitting candidates without having been formally assigned on and contracted for a specific job requisition by Avantor, or by failing to comply with the Avantor recruitment process, you forfeit any fee on the submitted candidates, regardless of your usual terms and conditions. Avantor works with a preferred supplier list and will take the initiative to engage with recruitment agencies based on its needs and will not be accepting any form of solicitation.

Benefits

• Medical coverage
• Dental coverage
• Vision coverage
• Wellness programs
• Health savings and flexible spending accounts
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Employee stock purchase program
• 11 paid holidays
• Accrue 18 PTO days annually
• Eligible for volunteer time off
• 6 weeks of 100% paid parental leave (except in states that offer paid family leave)

About Avantor

Avantor®, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading global provider of mission‑critical products and services to customers in the biopharma, healthcare, education & government, and advanced technologies & applied materials industries. Our portfolio is used in virtually every stage of the most important research, development and production activities in the industries we serve. One of our greatest strengths comes from having a global infrastructure that is strategically located to support the needs of our customers. Our global footprint enables us to serve more than 225,000 customer locations and gives us extensive access to research laboratories and scientists in more than 180 countries. We set science in motion to create a better world.