Process Engineer (Polymers)

HTI; Spartanburg (SC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation allowance

Job summary

HTI in Spartanburg, SC is recruiting two experienced Process Engineers for a global manufacturer. These are full-time, direct-hire roles focusing on polymer production, extrusion, and process optimization of specialty polymers/polyesters.

You will analyze data to improve yield, throughput, and product quality while ensuring safety and regulatory compliance. The roles involve supporting scale-up, capital projects, and collaboration with QA, maintenance, and operations teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Polymer, Mechanical, Manufacturing or Materials Engineering.
• 3+ years of manufacturing experience with polymers, polyesters, plastics, and/or resins.
• Experience with extrusion systems and polymerization reactors; compounding lines and pelletizing experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of chemical process operations and polymer manufacturing processes.
• Experience analyzing manufacturing data and implementing process improvements.
• Knowledge of process safety principles and industrial safety practices.
• Strong communication, problem-solving and analytical skills.
• SAP or similar ERP experience.
• Familiarity with Statistical Process Control (SPC).
• Lean/Six Sigma certification or training.
• Experience with Minitab, Aspen Plus, Aspen HYSYS, JMP, or similar analytical tools.

Responsibilities

• Support and optimize manufacturing operations within a specialty polymers production facility.
• Improve process efficiency, product quality, safety performance, and manufacturing reliability.
• Support production scale-up activities from pilot to full commercial manufacturing.
• Develop process models, mass balances, and production performance metrics.
• Coordinate with operators and supervisors to provide daily production support.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action initiatives.
• Investigate process deviations, non-conforming material, equipment issues, and customer quality concerns.
• Support capital projects, equipment installations, and process modifications.
• Champion Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to reduce costs, energy use, and waste.

Skills

Polymer processing

Extrusion systems

Polymerization reactors

SPC

Lean Six Sigma

Minitab

Aspen Plus

Aspen HYSYS

JMP

SAP ERP

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Polymer, Mechanical, Manufacturing or Materials Engineering

Tools

Pelletizing equipment

Job description

HTI is recruiting two experienced Process Engineers for a global manufacturing company at their Spartanburg, SC plant. These are full-time, direct hire, salaried positions, and the company offers comprehensive benefits. This facility produces specialty polymers/polyesters.

• Salary range is $85,000 - $150,000 / year, depending on experience and education
• Work hours: Monday – Friday 8am-5pm or 7am-4pm
• Local candidates are preferred, but relocation allowance is available

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Polymer, Mechanical, Manufacturing or Materials Engineering
• 3+ years of manufacturing experience with the below job duties; must have experience with polymers, polyesters, plastics, and/or resins
• Must have experience with extrusion systems and polymerization reactors; experience with compounding lines and pelletizing operations preferred
• Strong understanding of chemical process operations and polymer manufacturing processes
• Experience analyzing manufacturing data and implementing process improvements
• Knowledge of process safety principles and industrial safety practices
• Strong communication, problem-solving and analytical skills
• SAP or similar ERP experience
• Familiarity with Statistical Process Control (SPC)
• Lean/Six Sigma certification or training
• Experience with Minitab, Aspen Plus, Aspen HYSYS, JMP, or similar analytical tools.

Job Duties

Support and optimize manufacturing operations within a specialty polymers production facility. This role is responsible for improving process efficiency, product quality, safety performance, and manufacturing reliability while supporting the production of high-performance polymer products used in diverse industrial and consumer applications.

Process Optimization & Manufacturing Excellence

• Monitor and optimize polymerization, extrusion, pelletizing, and solid-state polymerization operations.
• Analyze production data to improve yield, throughput, process capability, and overall equipment effectiveness.
• Identify and implement process improvements that reduce waste, increase productivity, and enhance product consistency.
• Support process scale-up activities from pilot production to full commercial manufacturing.
• Develop process models, mass balances, and production performance metrics.

Production Support & Troubleshooting

• Coordinate with production operators and supervisors, providing daily support to manufacturing operations.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action initiatives.
• Investigate process deviations, non-conforming material, equipment issues, and customer quality concerns.
• Support production startups, shutdowns, grade changes, and new product launches.

Quality & Product Performance

• Partner with Quality and Technical Service teams to ensure products meet customer specifications.
• Evaluate critical polymer properties including viscosity, molecular weight, melting point, density, particle size, and mechanical performance characteristics.
• Support product qualification efforts and process validation activities.
• Drive initiatives that improve product consistency and reduce quality defects.

Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain compliance with all company safety standards and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in Process Hazard Analyses (PHA), HAZOP studies, Management of Change (MOC), and Process Safety Management (PSM) programs.
• Identify and mitigate process safety risks associated with chemical reactions, raw materials, and polymer processing equipment.

Capital Projects & Engineering Support

• Support capital improvement and equipment installation projects.
• Develop process flow diagrams (PFDs), P&IDs, equipment specifications, and operating procedures.
• Collaborate with maintenance, engineering, contractors, and equipment vendors.
• Participate in commissioning and startup activities for new equipment and process modifications.
• Lead Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma initiatives.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities related to raw materials, utilities, production efficiency, and waste reduction.
• Enhance process reliability and reduce manufacturing downtime.
• Support sustainability initiatives focused on energy efficiency, recycling, and emissions reduction.