Senior Process Engineer

Georgia-Pacific LLC; Toledo (OR); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentorship opportunities

Job summary

Georgia-Pacific LLC in Toledo, Oregon seeks a Senior Process Engineer to lead safe, reliable operation of a Kraft linerboard mill and drive process optimization, quality improvement, and efficiency across mill systems.

You will partner with Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, Quality, Environmental, and Capital Projects teams to solve chronic issues and implement sustainable improvements, while mentoring engineers and supporting capital projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Paper Science, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline.
• Seven or more years of process engineering, production, or technical experience in paper, pulp, packaging, or continuous manufacturing.
• Demonstrated ability to use data to solve complex operational problems and deliver measurable results.
• Experience leading trials, process changes, root cause analysis, and cross-functional improvement projects.
• Working knowledge of safety, environmental, quality, and process control requirements in an industrial setting.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, DCS, historian, quality, and production reporting systems.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence operations, maintenance, technical, and leadership teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead process improvement efforts to increase productivity, runnability, first-pass quality, yield, and overall equipment effectiveness.
• Analyze process, production, quality, and DCS data to identify trends, losses, bottlenecks, and improvement opportunities.
• Troubleshoot issues related to basis weight, moisture, strength, formation, drainage, pressing, drying, chemical usage, broke handling, and sheet defects.
• Partner with Operations and Maintenance to conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Plan, execute, and document trials to improve fiber utilization, chemical performance, energy efficiency, water usage, productivity, and quality.
• Support grade development, customer quality requirements, process capability improvements, and operating standardization.
• Use structured problem-solving, statistical analysis, and process control tools to reduce variability and stabilize operations.
• Maintain process documentation, control plans, operating guidelines, and training materials.
• Mentor engineers, technical resources, operators, and team members on process fundamentals and best practices.
• Support capital projects through scope development, design review, commissioning, startup, and optimization.
• Ensure process changes meet safety, environmental, quality, and regulatory expectations.
• Track and communicate KPIs such as production rate, downtime, waste, reject rates, energy, chemical cost, and quality performance.

Skills

Data analysis

Problem solving

Communication skills

Cross-functional teamwork

Industrial safety knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Paper Science, Mechanical Engineering, or related

Tools

Microsoft Excel

DCS

Historian

Production reporting systems

Job description

Your Job

The Senior Process Engineer provides technical leadership for safe, reliable, and cost-effective operation of a Kraft linerboard facility. This role drives process optimization, quality improvement, production efficiency, waste reduction, and operating discipline across mill systems. The position partners with Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, Quality, Environmental, and Capital Projects teams to solve chronic issues and implement sustainable improvements.

Our Team

Georgia-Pacific’s Toledo, OR site manufactures linerboard and corrugated medium on three paper machines, using virgin and recycled fiber. The mill employs approximately 450 people and focuses on safe, sustainable, reliable operations. Our culture is grounded in integrity, respect, and mutual benefit. We expect all team members to hold themselves and others accountable for both results and behaviors.

What You Will Do

• Lead process improvement efforts to increase productivity, runnability, first-pass quality, yield, and overall equipment effectiveness.
• Analyze process, production, quality, and DCS data to identify trends, losses, bottlenecks, and improvement opportunities.
• Troubleshoot issues related to basis weight, moisture, strength, formation, drainage, pressing, drying, chemical usage, broke handling, and sheet defects.
• Partner with Operations and Maintenance to conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Plan, execute, and document trials to improve fiber utilization, chemical performance, energy efficiency, water usage, productivity, and quality.
• Support grade development, customer quality requirements, process capability improvements, and operating standardization.
• Use structured problem-solving, statistical analysis, and process control tools to reduce variability and stabilize operations.
• Maintain process documentation, control plans, operating guidelines, and training materials.
• Mentor engineers, technical resources, operators, and team members on process fundamentals and best practices.
• Support capital projects through scope development, design review, commissioning, startup, and optimization.
• Ensure process changes meet safety, environmental, quality, and regulatory expectations.
• Track and communicate KPIs such as production rate, downtime, waste, reject rates, energy, chemical cost, and quality performance.

Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Paper Science, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline.
• Seven or more years of process engineering, production, or technical experience in paper, pulp, packaging, or continuous manufacturing.
• Demonstrated ability to use data to solve complex operational problems and deliver measurable results.
• Experience leading trials, process changes, root cause analysis, and cross-functional improvement projects.
• Working knowledge of safety, environmental, quality, and process control requirements in an industrial setting.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, DCS, historian, quality, and production reporting systems.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence operations, maintenance, technical, and leadership teams.

What Will Put You Ahead

• Kraft linerboard or containerboard mill experience.
• Knowledge of fiberline operations, OCC systems, additives, starch, steam, vacuum, and water balance management.
• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, statistical process control, design of experiments, or structured improvement methods.
• Exposure to capital project development, process design, equipment installation, commissioning, and startup support.
• Demonstrated success mentoring engineers, technical specialists, or operating teams.

Hiring Philosophy

All Koch companies value diversity of thought, perspectives, aptitudes, experiences, and backgrounds. We are Military Ready and Second Chance employers. Learn more about our hiring philosophy here.

At Koch companies, we are entrepreneurs. This means we openly challenge the status quo, find new ways to create value and get rewarded for our individual contributions. Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data. The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location. If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy.

Who We Are

As a Koch company and leading manufacturer of bath tissue, paper towels, paper-based packaging, cellulose, specialty fibers, building products and much more, Georgia‑Pacific works to meet evolving needs of customers worldwide with quality products. In addition to the products we make, we operate one of the largest recycling businesses. Our more than 300,000 employees in over 150 locations are empowered to innovate every day - to make everyday products even better.

At Koch, employees are empowered to do what they do best to make life better. Learn how our business philosophy helps employees unleash their potential while creating value for themselves and the company.

Our Benefits

Our goal is for each employee, and their families, to live fulfilling and healthy lives. We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength - focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most. Our benefits plan includes - medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance. Specific eligibility criteria is set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy or guideline and benefits may vary by geographic region. If you have questions on what benefits apply to you, please speak to your recruiter.

Additionally, everyone has individual work and personal needs. We seek to enable the best work environment that helps you and the business work together to produce superior results.

Equal Opportunities

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, some offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E-Verify. Please click here for additional information. (For Illinois E-Verify information click here, aquí, or tu).