Process Hazard Safety Engineer

FutureFuel Corporation; Batesville (AR); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A specialty and fine chemical manufacturer is seeking a Process Hazard Safety Engineer to evaluate and optimize chemical processes. This role entails conducting hazard evaluations, supporting R&D and production teams, and leading process optimization initiatives. Candidates should possess a degree in Chemical Engineering and have a strong background in process safety and modeling. The position is located in Batesville, Arkansas and offers opportunity for growth within a company known for its safety compliance and innovation.

Qualifications

• Strong background in process hazard evaluation and optimization.
• Ability to apply technical knowledge to assess process safety.
• Experience in batch and continuous production of chemicals.

Responsibilities

• Conduct hazard evaluations for reactive chemistry issues.
• Perform process modeling using ASPEN.
• Support process scale-up activities.
• Lead process optimization initiatives.

Skills

Process hazard evaluation

ASPEN process modeling

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Problem-solving skills

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Mettler RC1 Calorimeter

Differential Scanning Calorimeter

Reactive System Screening Tool

CHETAH

ASPEN

Job description

FutureFuel Chemical Company is seeking a Process Hazard Safety Engineer to join our PHES Laboratory. This role involves process hazard evaluation, modeling, scale-up, and optimization of specialty chemical processes. The engineer will support R&D and production teams by assessing process safety, conducting calorimetry and modeling studies, and driving improvements from lab to commercialization.

About The Position

The Process Hazard Safety Engineer will play a critical role in ensuring the safe development, scale-up, and optimization of specialty chemical processes at FutureFuel Chemical Company. Working within the Process Hazard Evaluation, Scale-up, and Optimization (PHES) Laboratory, this engineer will bridge research, process design, and production operations to support both innovation and compliance. The position offers the opportunity to work with advanced tools and technologies, collaborate across multidisciplinary teams, and contribute directly to process safety, efficiency, and cost improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct hazard evaluations of compounds and entire process systems for reactive chemistry issues, including OSHA PSM requirements, facility siting, vapor release modeling, vapor cloud/dust explosion analysis, and calorimetry studies.
• Perform process modeling (batch and continuous) using ASPEN.
• Support process scale-up activities including mixing studies, agitator and reactor design, and kinetics evaluation.
• Lead process optimization initiatives focused on raw material conversion, yield, mass/energy balances, cycle time, throughput, and cost reduction.
• Collaborate with R&D chemists, engineers, technicians, and production managers from bench scale through commercialization.
• Document hazard, scale-up, and optimization findings in technical reports.
• Serve as a member of the Process Safety Review Committee.
• Provide coaching, supervision, and development to technologists and technicians.
• Remain flexible in work assignments, contributing independently or as part of multidisciplinary teams.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering.
• Strong background in process hazard evaluation, ASPEN process modeling, air emission estimates, process scale-up, and process optimization.
• Ability to apply technical knowledge to assess process safety situations and alternatives.
• Strong technical and business writing skills.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills with initiative and follow-through.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in Chemical Engineering.
• Experience with batch and continuous production of complex organic specialty chemicals.
• Familiarity with tools such as Mettler RC1 Calorimeter, Differential Scanning Calorimeter, Reactive System Screening Tool, CHETAH, and ASPEN.
• Supervisory or mentoring experience with technologists and technicians.

About FutureFuel

FutureFuel Chemical Company (FFCC) is a specialty and fine chemical manufacturing producer with an over forty-year successful plant history. FFCC has three business segments: custom/toll manufacturing, performance chemicals, and biodiesel. FFCC serves a wide variety of markets including pharmaceutical intermediates and products, nylon and polyester fibers, cleaning products, agricultural products, paints and coating, and fuels and energy.

FFCC is a small publicly traded company with approximately 500 employees that has a rich history of complex organic chemistry innovation, excellent environmental stewardship, and excellent health and safety compliance. We are a growing U.S. manufacturer of specialty organic chemicals and premium biofuels. Our company is headquartered in Clayton, St Louis and publicly listed on the NYSE under "FF". We have a world class integrated biofuels and specialty chemicals manufacturing facility in Batesville, Arkansas.