Production Engineer

Nouryon; La Porte (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Nouryon in La Porte, Texas is seeking a Production Engineer to own a production unit with a hands-on engineering approach. You will improve safety, reliability, quality, yield and efficiency through data-driven problem-solving and close collaboration with Operations and Technical teams.

The role emphasizes field ownership, start-up support, and continuous improvement across complex chemical processes in a multi-unit site.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering required.
• Minimum 4 years of relevant production/manufacturing experience.
• Experience with hazardous chemicals and a PSM environment.
• Hands-on field work and ownership of a production unit.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the assigned production unit, improving OEE, yields, rates and quality.
• Lead process, quality, yield and maintenance reliability improvements.
• Troubleshoot process and product issues with Operations and technical teams to identify root causes.
• Support unit startups, project commissioning and small capital projects.
• Develop and improve unit SOPs and document engineering changes (MOC).
• Support HSSE, environmental, quality and process-safety objectives in a PSM environment.

Skills

Fieldwork

Troubleshooting

Process optimization

Data analysis

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering

Job description

Production Engineer At Nouryon, our global team takes positive action every day, to reach higher collectively and individually. We create innovative and sustainable solutions for our customers to answer society’s needs – today and in the future. We are looking for a Production Engineer who brings strong chemical engineering fundamentals, a hands‑on approach to manufacturing, and a passion for solving complex production challenges. You will take ownership of an assigned production unit and work closely with Operations and other technical teams to improve safety, reliability, quality, efficiency and yield. Does that sound like you?

About the job

As a Production Engineer at our Battleground manufacturing site in La Porte, Texas, you will have direct ownership of the performance of an assigned production unit in a technically complex chemical manufacturing environment. This is a hands‑on engineering role where you will combine field troubleshooting, data analysis, process optimization and continuous improvement to make a measurable impact on plant performance. The Battleground site primarily manufactures metal alkyls and High Purity Metal Organics (HPMO). Its portfolio includes more than 30 metal alkyl products used in applications such as polyethylene, polypropylene and EPDM production, as well as HPMO products for the semiconductor and LED industries.

In your future role as Production Engineer, you will

• Take ownership of the assigned production unit, providing oversight and direction to improve OEE, material yields, production rates and product quality.
• Identify and lead process, quality, yield, safety and maintenance reliability improvements using Continuous Improvement principles and tools.
• Troubleshoot process and product issues firsthand, partnering closely with Operations and other technical teams to identify root causes and implement sustainable solutions.
• Provide technical and operating support for unit startups, project commissioning and other plant needs, and manage smaller capital projects within your assigned units.
• Develop and improve unit‑specific SOPs and technical documentation and identify and lead engineering Management of Change (MOC) activities.
• Support the site’s HSSE, environmental compliance, quality and process‑safety objectives in an OSHA PSM‑covered manufacturing environment.

We believe you bring

• A Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering.
• At least 4 years of relevant experience, preferably within a chemical manufacturing environment.
• Strong experience in a production/manufacturing environment involving hazardous chemicals.
• Experience working within a PSM environment and strong knowledge of process safety principles.
• A hands‑on approach, with the ability and willingness to work in the field and take ownership of production‑unit performance.
• Experience with process and product troubleshooting, process optimization, and design/project implementation.
• Knowledge of chemical/process engineering fundamentals, including heat and material balances, equipment sizing, relief‑valve calculations, and raw‑material yield calculations.

Great if you have

• Direct experience supporting or owning chemical manufacturing production units, particularly reactor‑based processes.
• Strong knowledge and practical application of Lean/Six Sigma and Continuous Improvement tools.
• Experience leading MOC, commissioning, reliability, yield, quality or smaller capital improvement projects within a manufacturing environment.

We believe you are

• Hands‑on and proactive, with the initiative to go into the field, understand equipment and processes firsthand, and investigate problems at their source.
• Results‑oriented and accountable, taking ownership of production performance and following issues through to resolution.
• Analytical and solution‑oriented, with strong troubleshooting skills and the ability to translate data and observations into practical improvements.
• Collaborative, with the ability to work effectively across Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, Quality, HSE and Engineering.
• Continuous‑improvement focused, always looking for opportunities to improve safety, quality, reliability, OEE and yield.

We offer you

We offer you At Nouryon, you will join a collaborative and technically experienced manufacturing organization where Production Engineers are given meaningful ownership of their areas. The Battleground site has approximately 13 production units/reactors, supported by a team of 5 Production Engineers, giving you the opportunity to work closely with Operations while developing broad technical expertise across complex chemical processes. This position provides exposure to a broad range of responsibilities, including production optimization, troubleshooting, process safety, reliability, Continuous Improvement, MOC, commissioning and capital projects. You will have the opportunity to directly influence the safety, quality, reliability, efficiency and performance of your assigned production units.

This is a permanent, full‑time position reporting to the Production Manager and based at our Battleground site in La Porte, Texas.

We have already chosen our sourcing channels for this recruitment and kindly ask not to be contacted by any advertisement agents, recruitment agencies or staffing companies.

About Nouryon

Explore careers and life at Nouryon If you’re looking for your next career move and join Nouryon’s worldwide team in providing essential solutions that our customers use to manufacture everyday products such as personal care, cleaning, paints and coatings, agriculture and food, pharmaceuticals, and building products. Our employees are driven by the wish to make an impact and actively drive positive change. If that describes you, we will gladly make way for your ambitions. From day one, we support you with your personal growth through challenging positions and comprehensive learning and development opportunities in a dynamic, international, diverse, and proactive working environment.

Visit Nouryon and follow us on LinkedIn.