Process Engineer - Recycled Papermill

Smurfit Westrock; Dublin (GA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock, a leading sustainable packaging company, seeks a Process Engineer to lead technical projects for product/process improvements, cost reduction, and profitability enhancements. You will support mill departments with continuous improvement initiatives.

The role focuses on Lean Six Sigma, data-driven problem solving, and collaboration with operations, maintenance, and engineering to optimize efficiency and reduce variability while driving stable, predictable processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Paper Engineering or Paper Science required.
• 4+ years of experience in a process engineering role preferred.
• Work experience in the paper or related industry is preferred.
• PI Training is preferred.
• Proficient with MS Office (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word).
• Strong problem-solving and cross-department communication skills.
• Ability to lead and collaborate across mill teams and vendors.

Responsibilities

• Improve operating efficiency and minimize process variation, reducing waste.
• Partner with operations, maintenance, and engineering to meet process targets.
• Provide analytics support and problem-solving services to the mill.
• Deploy Lean Six Sigma to drive continuous process improvement and cost reductions.
• Set up trials, document results, and report conclusions and recommendations.
• Develop technical expertise and occasionally lead shift operations initiatives.

Skills

Excellent problem-solving ability

Clear communication of technical data

Strong organizational and leadership

Time management and multi-tasking

Collaborate across departments

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Paper Engineering or Paper Science

Job description

Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW) is the go-to leader and partner of choice in sustainable packaging. We are dedicated to creating efficient and scalable paper and packaging solutions to help solve complex packaging challenges. Guided by our values of safety, loyalty, integrity and respect, we are committed to delivering meaningful value for shareholders, customers, employees and the communities where we operate.

THE OPPORTUNITY:

The Process Engineer is responsible for managing technical projects aimed at product and process problem-solving and/or improvements, cost reduction, and profitability enhancements.

Process engineers provide technical assistance to each of the mill’s departments to achieve the mill’s goals and objectives through deployment of continuous improvement processes.

HOW YOU WILL IMPACT SMURFIT WESTROCK:

• Improve operating efficiency and performance while minimizing process variation. Reduce or eliminate waste-generating streams.
• Partner with operations, maintenance, and engineering to understand targeted mill processes. Seek to assist teams with achieving system design.
• Provide operators, operations leadership, engineering and other resources with analytical support and problem-solving services.
• Drive continuous process improvement deploying Lean Six Sigma principles, tools and procedures.
• Close the gaps in production inefficiencies by reducing variances of process inputs, flow, and performance targeting sustainable costs and profitability.
• Deploy Lean Six Sigma methodologies to eliminate waste and process variation with the intent to make our processes stable and predictable.
• Use appropriate technical tools and instrumentation to gather field data.
• Serve as the owner and subject matter expert for OSI PI Server and Aveva PI System.
• Use the system support tools to provide analyses and process graphics. Develop, deploy and train personnel in the use of specific PI Vision pages.
• Troubleshoot specific unit operations around the mill to determine possible improvements.
• Set up trials, MOC’s, trial plans, and PAS documentation. Take ownership of results by summarizing and reporting findings, publishing and communicating conclusions and recommendations, and following-up action items.
• Develop and apply technical expertise to become a specific subject matter expert.
• Willingness to learn how to lead mil personnel as a shift operations manager, from time to time.

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED:

• Chemical Engineering or Paper Engineering and Paper Science, or related bachelor’s degree.
• 4+ years of experience in a process engineering role preferred
• Work experience in the paper or related industry is preferred.
• PI Training is preferred
• Proficient computer skills including experience with Microsoft Office – Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Excellent problem-solving ability.
• Ability to communicate technical data and statistics in verbal, written, and presentation styles effectively across all departments and levels of personnel.
• Strong organizational and leadership skills.
• Ability to collaborate across all relevant internal mill colleagues, with corporate EMS teams, and with OEM / materials vendors.
• Demonstrated time management and multi-tasking skills.
• Deliver presentations to operations team and leadership providing an executive-level summary of Process Excellence projects.

Keywords: Process Engineer, process engineering, chemical engineer, chemical engineering, recycled paper, recycle mill, paper mill, OCC, process improvement, data analysis, SOP, chemical trials, paper science, paper machine, paper machines, kraft paper, PI, containerboard, linerboard, liner, box board, paperboard, corrugated medium, medium, paper mill, paper, lean, six sigma, troubleshooting

Candidates are required to undergo a drug screening after receiving a conditional job offer, but before starting employment.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law.