Process Engineering

Umicore; Pasadena (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Umicore is seeking a Project Engineer to manage capital projects from conception through completion, focusing on process improvements, capacity expansion, and asset reliability. You will lead multi-disciplinary teams across operations, maintenance, engineering, and procurement to deliver projects on time and within budget.

Ideal candidates have a BS in Engineering (Mechanical/Industrial/Chemical), 4–6 years in manufacturing, and strong skills in data analysis, problem solving, and communication.

Qualifications

• BS Engineering required or equivalent; mechanical, industrial, or chemical focus preferred.
• Experience in manufacturing environments (4–6 years) and project execution.
• Strong data analysis, problem solving, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead capital projects from concept to completion (typically $1M–$3M).
• Manage all project lifecycle phases: concept, scope, design, procurement, construction, startup, closeout.
• Coordinate with operations, maintenance, engineering, quality, procurement, and contractors.
• Monitor progress, risks, and budget; implement mitigations to protect cost and schedule.
• Prepare updates, business cases, and capital requests for leadership.
• Ensure contractor performance aligns with safety, quality, and project requirements.

Skills

Project management

Data analysis

Problem solving

Communication

Leadership

Education

B.S. Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, or Chemical)

Tools

Microsoft Office

SAP

CAD

Job description

About Umicore

Powering the cars of today and tomorrow. Reducing harmful emissions. Giving unique properties to high-end applications. Giving new life to used metals. As a global advanced materials and recycling group, we develop, produce, and recycle materials for a better life.

About Umicore

Powering the cars of today and tomorrow. Reducing harmful emissions. Giving unique properties to high-end applications. Giving new life to used metals. As a global advanced materials and recycling group, we develop, produce, and recycle materials for a better life.

About Fuel Cell And Stationary Catalysts

High-performance stationary catalysts. Next generation fuel-cell technologies. With clean air and green mobility playing a vital part in protecting the world of tomorrow, our design and production of these sustainable solutions has never been more crucial. Developing innovative products for a broad range of industries, we’re creating a better future by helping customers reach zero emission mobility and power supply. To keep improving the way the world moves we cannot stand still. We need to find new ways to do things, discover new solutions and develop new ideas. Which is where you come in.

Job Purpose

The Project Engineering role manages engineering projects from conception to completion, ensuring they are delivered on time and within budget.

Strategic Focus

• Capacity Expansion and Debottlenecking: Increase plant throughput to support business growth while maximizing utilization of existing assets.
• Product Portfolio Growth: Enable the introduction of new products and manufacturing capabilities that support business diversification and growth.
• CapEx Execution Excellence: Build a disciplined project execution model that consistently delivers projects safely, on schedule, and within budget.
• Reliability and Asset Improvement: Improve plant reliability and reduce unplanned downtime through strategic investments.

Key Responsibilities

Project Management

• Lead the development and execution of capital projects ranging from $1MM to $3MM, focused on process improvements, capacity expansion, operational reliability, and new product innovations.
• Manage all phases of the project lifecycle including concept development, scope definition, engineering design, procurement, construction, commissioning, startup, and project closeout.
• Use project management skills to ensure projects are delivered safely, on time, and within budget.
• Coordinate activities among operations, maintenance, engineering, quality, procurement, contractors, and external engineering firms.
• Monitor project progress, identify risks, and implement mitigation strategies to minimize impacts to cost, schedule, and plant operations.
• Prepare and present project updates, business cases, and capital appropriation requests to corporate leadership.
• Manage contractor performance and ensure adherence to safety, quality, and project execution requirements.

Process Improvement

• Identify and implement process optimization opportunities to improve throughput, product quality, equipment reliability, and operating efficiency.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Root Cause Analysis, and other operational excellence methodologies.
• Collaborate with operations teams to troubleshoot process issues and implement sustainable corrective actions.

Engineering & Technical Leadership

• BS Engineering; Preferred Mechanical, Industrial, or Chemical focus
• 4-6 Years Experience in manufacturing environment
• Computer literacy (Microsoft Office, SAP, CAD)
• Familiarity with Project Management principals
• Must be able to manage multiple deadlines with competing priorities
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Proven ability to analyze/interpret data and compile reports

Qualifications

• Delivers expert work in Process Engineering with high quality and timeliness, applying best practices and standards.
• Executes process engineering and/or industrialization projects by applying knowledge and expertise. - Builds knowledge and expertise within core competence subdomain.- Owns complex tasks in process engineering, safety standards, producing accurate outputs and identifying risks or anomalies proactively.
• Analyzes problems, recommends options, and implements improvements in methods, tools, or data flows.
• Collaborates with adjacent teams and stakeholders, communicating insights and recommendations clearly.
• Collaborates cross-functionally to deliver high-quality outcomes and knowledge sharing.
• Contributes to continuous improvement by identifying and implementing process enhancements.

Personal skills

• Ability to communicate effectively across all levels of the organization
• Ability to prioritize and work independently with minimal supervision
• Safety and Quality mindset to achieve results
• Self-motivated and goal oriented
• Work within Umicore Core Values (Courage, Collaboration and Accountability)
• Capable of taking leadership responsibilities while maintaining relationships with colleagues and direct reports
• Capable of mediating between employees and managers to maintain good relationships
• Conflict management

What We Offer

We aim to lead the way. Not just for our customers, but for our employees too. That is why we strive to create a collaborative environment in which we can all succeed, and a culture through which we can all share ideas, develop our expertise and advance our careers.

We engage in building an inclusive work culture that offers equal opportunities for all employees irrespective of their diverse backgrounds.

As you would expect from a world-leading organisation, we will also reward your contribution with a competitive salary and benefits. With all this and more, imagine what you could do?