Senior Process Engineer

Airswift; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Airswift seeks a Senior Process Engineer for Houston to lead day-to-day plant operations, drive process optimization, troubleshoot issues, and support growth initiatives with hands-on ownership from concept through startup and sustained improvement.

You will collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, EHS, and Supply Chain to translate engineering calculations into practical operating improvements, spend time on the plant floor validating conditions, and deliver tangible benefits with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering.
• 7–10 years of process engineering experience in chemical or industrial manufacturing.
• Visible on the plant floor with strong operations engagement.
• Experience moving projects from concept to startup and sustained operation.
• Proficient with PFDs, P&IDs, calculations, and data analysis.
• Strong project-management and cross-functional communication.

Responsibilities

• Develop and improve manufacturing processes, operating methods, equipment configurations, and control strategies to improve safety, quality, reliability, capacity, and cost.
• Lead process optimization focusing on throughput, yield, raw-material utilization, product quality, labor productivity, cycle time, energy use, waste reduction, and process capability.
• Support capacity expansion and new technology initiatives from concept through design, installation, commissioning, operational support, and benefit realization.
• Develop and maintain PFDs, P&IDs, process narratives, heat and material balances, equipment datasheets, operating envelopes, and engineering calculations.
• Lead projects from problem definition through scope, design, cost estimate, procurement, installation, commissioning, startup, handoff, and benefit realization.
• Spend meaningful time on the plant floor observing processes and equipment, gathering data, engaging operators and technicians, and validating actual field conditions.
• Troubleshoot process, equipment, quality, yield, and production issues with Operations and Maintenance; define immediate containment and permanent corrective actions.
• Lead structured root-cause investigations and convert lessons learned into improved controls, procedures, training, documentation, and preventive actions.
• Lead or support Management of Change, process hazard reviews, pre-startup safety reviews, incident investigations, and corrective-action implementation.

Skills

Plant floor leadership

Process optimization

Data analysis

PFDs & P&IDs

Excel

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's in Chemical/Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Excel

Job description

The Senior Process Engineer will play a highly visible, hands-on role supporting day-to-day plant operations, process optimization, troubleshooting, and future growth initiatives. Operating within a lean process engineering team, this individual will bridge technical engineering capability with practical plant execution. The successful candidate will work closely with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, EHS, Supply Chain, vendors, and site leadership to diagnose issues, improve processes, support capacity expansion, and deliver projects from concept and calculation through implementation, startup, and sustained operational improvement.

The engineering function initially consisted of two Process Engineers. One engineer subsequently relocated, and recent additions include one experienced engineer from Linde and one recent graduate. The team currently lacks a highly hands-on engineering leader with broad operational ownership, creating an opportunity for this hire to bring autonomy, accountability, and practical plant leadership to the engineering function.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and improve manufacturing processes, operating methods, equipment configurations, and control strategies to improve safety, quality, reliability, capacity, and cost.
• Lead process optimization focused on throughput, yield, raw-material utilization, product quality, labor productivity, cycle time, energy use, waste reduction, and process capability.
• Support capacity expansion and new technology initiatives by providing end-to-end engineering ownership from initial concept through design, installation, commissioning, operational support, and benefit realization.
• Develop and maintain PFDs, P&IDs, process narratives, heat and material balances, equipment datasheets, operating envelopes, and engineering calculations.
• Lead projects from problem definition through scope, design, cost estimate, procurement, installation, commissioning, startup, handoff, and benefit realization.
• Spend meaningful time on the plant floor observing processes and equipment, gathering data, engaging operators and technicians, and validating actual field conditions.
• Troubleshoot process, equipment, quality, yield, and production issues with Operations and Maintenance; define immediate containment and permanent corrective actions.
• Lead structured root-cause investigations and convert lessons learned into improved controls, procedures, training, documentation, and preventive actions.
• Lead or support Management of Change, process hazard reviews, pre-startup safety reviews, incident investigations, and corrective-action implementation.

Candidate Profile:

Essential Skill Set, Education/Qualification, Certification Attainment Background:

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Seven to ten years of process engineering experience in chemical, petrochemical, specialty chemical, or industrial manufacturing.
• Strong preference for engineers who are visible on the plant floor, highly engaged with operations, and able to translate engineering calculations, modelling, and design work into practical operating improvements.
• Demonstrated experience in process design, manufacturing optimization, plant troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and project execution.
• Experience moving projects from concept and calculation through field implementation, commissioning, startup, and sustained operation.
• Strong capability in engineering calculations, data analysis, PFDs, P&IDs, technical documentation, and Microsoft Excel.
• Strong project-management, communication, prioritization, and cross-functional influence skills.
• Comfortable working in a lean environment with significant autonomy, accountability, and the expectation to challenge existing processes and identify better ways of operating.

Soft Skills:

• Entrepreneurial ownership and the ability to structure ambiguous problems.
• Hands-on plant orientation with strong field verification and practical problem-solving.
• Self-starter mindset with initiative, urgency, and disciplined follow-through.
• Practical collaboration across Operations, Maintenance, Quality, EHS, Supply Chain, vendors, and site leadership.
• Clear communication and influence through sound engineering, data, credibility, and ownership.