Senior Process Development Engineer/Chemist

Evonik; Allentown (Lehigh County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Evonik is seeking a Senior Process Development Engineer to join our innovative team in Allentown, PA. In this role, you will spearhead R&D efforts for sustainable process technologies, leveraging your experience to drive product development and collaborate with cross-functional teams. If you are passionate about chemical engineering and have a proven track record in process scale-up, we invite you to apply and help shape the future of sustainable solutions.

Benefits

Performance-based remuneration

Occupational health benefits

Hybrid and flexible working environments

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years of industrial experience in a research setting.
• Demonstrated experience scaling processes from lab to commercial.
• Strong verbal and written skills for diverse stakeholder communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead R&D projects and scale-up sustainable processes.
• Execute and analyze experiments to support technology transfer.
• Mentor junior engineers and guide troubleshooting on manufacturing challenges.

Skills

Leadership

Curiosity

Process Development

Communication

Education

MS or PhD in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering

Tools

JMP

Minitab

Aspen

Python

Job description

Senior Process Development Engineer/Chemist page is loaded

Senior Process Development Engineer/Chemist

Apply locations Allentown, PA time type Full time posted on Posted Yesterday job requisition id R37961

What we offer

Explore a world of opportunities with us. Look ahead with us and help shape innovative solutions to make our world more sustainable and life healthier, more vibrant and more comfortable. At Evonik, you have the chance to explore, thrive, and grow alongside 33,000 colleagues. Among attractive career paths and high-quality development programs, we not only offer performance-based remuneration and occupational health benefits but also hybrid and flexible working environments with #SmartWork. Bring your fresh perspective, develop your strengths, break out your mold, and find a career that fits your dreams with us.

Click on the link to learn more about Evonik from our employees:

https://careers.evonik.com/en/about/meet-the-team/

Your Purpose at Evonik

Join our global efforts to drive sustainable solutions in an enriching and innovative workplace. As a Senior Process Development Engineer, you'll play a critical role in scaling up innovative chemistries and delivering sustainable process technologies from lab to production. Working within Evonik's Global Process Research team, you will lead complex development projects and collaborate across R&D, business, and manufacturing to shape new products, optimize processes, and bring impactful ideas to market. This is an opportunity to lead with purpose, make a tangible difference, and grow in a supportive, forward-thinking environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES

As a Senior Process Development Engineer, you will:

• Lead research, development, and scale-up of next generation, sustainable, and complex products across various assets.

• Design and execute experiments using reaction engineering, chemistry, and chemical engineering fundamentals, leveraging tools like DOE, chemical analysis, and data modeling, while encouraging diverse perspectives in problem-solving and decision-making.

• Use, refine, and interpret analytical techniques such as GC FID, GC/MS, NMR, and GPC to support experimentation and tech transfer.

• Develop and deliver accessible and comprehensive technical packages for product and process commercialization, incorporating techno-economic analysis and input from a broad range of stakeholders.

• Provide hands-on guidance and mentorship to junior engineers and lab technicians, including direct supervisory support on experimental execution, amine chemistry scale-up, and plant troubleshooting.

• Troubleshoot manufacturing challenges by applying chemistry and engineering principles to identify root causes and promote shared learning.

• Drive innovation by proposing and validating new process ideas that reduce carbon footprint, manufacturing cost, or increase capacity, and contribute to expanding Evonik's innovation pipeline, actively involving diverse teams in the ideation process.

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across R&D, manufacturing, engineering, EH&S, and business lines, while developing site-wide expertise in key tools and technologies.

REQUIREMENTS

Evonik values diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. We are seeking candidates who bring curiosity, leadership, and deep technical experience in process development.

Education and Experience

• MS or PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field

• Minimum of 7 years of industrial experience in a chemical laboratory research setting

• Experience in manufacturing or pilot plant settings strongly preferred

Technical Expertise

• Demonstrated experience with process scale-up from lab to commercial scale

• Required: Reaction engineering, organic synthesis, batch processing, or separations

• Preferred: experience in heterogeneous catalysis, alkoxylation, or amine chemistry

• Familiarity with JMP, Minitab, Aspen, Python, or similar modeling/design tools a plus

• Bonus: application of AI/ML tools to enhance experimental design or modeling

Collaboration and Communication

• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams in inclusive and collaborative environments

• Strong verbal and written communication skills to work across disciplines and explain complex ideas clearly to diverse stakeholders.

• Mentorship experience, particularly supporting junior engineers on scale-up projects

Your Career Path and Local Living

This position is a unique opportunity to launch a fulfilling and impactful career. Successful candidates will have the chance to grow within R&D, Process Technology, or move into other product business lines or adjacent roles that align with their evolving interests and strengths. Evonik’s Allentown site is Evonik’s core R&D hub for North America with a vibrant and diverse community working on a wide range of scientific research where growth, mentorship, and career development are at the forefront.

The Evonik hub is also located in the Lehigh Valley which has a rapidly expanding population and economy with a current GDP of ~$56 billion. This vibrant region is home to excellent restaurants, local breweries, wineries, entertainment venues, and hosts widely attended annual festivals and cultural events like Musikfest and Christkindlmarkt. Lehigh Valley is also conveniently located in short driving distance from Philadelphia, New York City, and Lancaster City/County, as well as surrounded by scenic landscapes and renowned locations for hiking, kayaking, skiing, and other outdoor opportunities. Fun opportunities abound for individuals, couples, and families alike.

The Evonik Group adopts an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) approach. Candidates are assessed based on their educational qualifications, experience, job competencies and potential and shall not be discriminated against on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, nationality, disability or sexual orientation or other classifications protected by local, state, or provincial regulations.

Your Application

To ensure that your application is proceeded as quickly as possible and to protect the environment, please apply online via our careers portal . Further information about Evonik as Employer can be found at https://careers.evonik.com .

Please address your application to the Talent Acquisition Manager, statingyour earliest possible starting date and your salary expectations.

Your Talent Acquisition Manager:

Wenda Cenexant [C]

Company is

Evonik Corporation

About Us

This is your opportunity to join a thriving global organization that combines cutting-edge science, technology and engineering with world-class business services to create solutions that answer real-world problems.If you join us, we’ll expect you to take ownership of your work, team up with other great minds, and add your name to creations that make a positive difference for generations. As one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals operating in more than 100 countries with over 32,000 employees, we need your diversity of thought to make us better.In return for your passion, initiative and creativity, you’ll enjoy opportunities to improve and to be respected for your contribution. Click here to learn more about Evonik from our employees