Sr. Manufacturing Engineer

Ascend Performance Materials Operations LLC; Pensacola (FL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Ascend Performance Materials in Pensacola, FL is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer to drive safe, reliable unit and utility operations. You will monitor production, energy use, and losses, troubleshoot issues, and lead improvement actions across steam systems, power distribution, and water treatment.

The role supports compliance with environmental permits, conducts PHAs and RCAs, mentors junior engineers, and collaborates with Process and Production teams to deliver productivity and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in chemical, electrical, or mechanical engineering.
• 7-15 years of relevant experience in industrial utilities or power/energy infrastructure.
• Experience with boilers, steam distribution, cogeneration, steam turbines, electrical distribution and protection.
• Experience implementing environmental permit requirements for wells, injections, stormwater, or surface water.
• Working knowledge of Aspen products, heat transfer, and hydraulics.
• Strong knowledge of process safety management (PSM).
• Green Belt Certification

Responsibilities

• Monitor unit performance and troubleshoot process issues.
• Collaborate with Production Engineering to apply entitlement models and productivity plans.
• Develop improvement projects with Process Engineering and raise high-priority issues.
• Track production losses and address KPI gaps.
• Support regulatory compliance and environmental permit requirements.
• Lead MOC reviews and coordinate follow-up actions.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide after-hours support as needed.

Skills

Technical analysis

Communication

Dynamic environment

Steam systems

Electrical distribution

Process improvement

P&IDs interpretation

Project execution

Stakeholder coordination

After-hours support

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in chemical, electrical, or mechanical engineering

Tools

Aspen

Job description

Job Description OVERVIEW Ascend Performance Materials is a global leader in high-performance chemicals, fibers, and plastics, committed to enhancing quality of life through innovation. With fully integrated manufacturing facilities across North America, Europe, and Asia, we develop essential solutions that drive safer vehicles, cleaner energy, advanced medical devices, and durable consumer goods. Guided by a strong focus on safety, sustainability, and customer success, we operate responsibly while delivering value through cutting-edge technologies and industry expertise.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Senior Manufacturing Engineer drives safe, reliable, and efficient unit and utility operations. The role monitors production, quality, material and energy use, and operating losses; troubleshoots performance gaps; and leads improvement actions. The engineer also provides technical support for site utilities, including steam generation and distribution, cogeneration, steam turbines, electrical distribution, compressed air, nitrogen, water systems, and deep-well injection. The role supports compliance with applicable environmental permits for wells, stormwater, and river water systems.

TARGETED OUTCOMES

Drive Unit Performance to operational entitlement with respect to yields, usages, reliability and quality. Achieve annual operating productivity targets by maintaining a unit performance tracking program. Maintain accurate account of all unit production losses and drive actions to correct. Drive safe, reliable, efficient, and cost-effective utility generation and distribution; identify and execute opportunities to reduce energy and water consumption, improve equipment reliability, and optimize operating costs. Maintain a proactive compliance program for applicable FDEP permits, including permit-condition tracking, monitoring/reporting coordination, recordkeeping, and timely escalation of deviations or potential noncompliance.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Monitor unit performance and troubleshoot process issues.
• Work with Production Engineering to apply entitlement models, improve tracking tools, implement technology, and deliver productivity plans.
• Work with Process Engineering to develop improvement projects and elevate issues requiring advanced analysis.
• Track and categorize production losses; address KPI gaps.
• Support unit regulatory compliance and understand applicable environmental permit requirements.
• Facilitate management-of-change (MOC) reviews for unit needs.
• Train operators and support production planning, tracking, and closeout.
• Maintain unit process safety information (PSI).
• Participate in process hazard analyses (PHAs) and coordinate recommendation follow-up.
• Review and improve preventive maintenance strategies.
• Lead root cause analyses (RCAs) for incidents.
• Cover for the Senior Production Manager as needed.
• Mentor junior manufacturing engineers.

REPORTS TO

Senior Production Manager - Powerhouse

TEAM

Senior Processors Control Room Board and Field Processors Operations Coordinators Production Manager Manufacturing Engineers Process Specialists Operations Manager

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's or master's degree in chemical, electrical, or mechanical engineering.
• 7-15 years of relevant experience, including at least five years supporting industrial utilities, a powerhouse, or comparable energy or water infrastructure in manufacturing or process industries.
• Experience with several of the following: boilers and steam distribution, cogeneration or power generation, steam turbines, electrical distribution and protection, compressed air, nitrogen, industrial water treatment, demineralized water, river water, and deep-well or underground injection systems.
• Experience interpreting and implementing environmental permit requirements for wells, underground injections, stormwater, or surface-water use.
• Working knowledge of Aspen products, heat transfer, and hydraulics.
• Strong knowledge of process safety management (PSM).
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• Green Belt Certification

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Strong technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Effective communication and cross-functional collaboration.
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment and provide after-hours support.
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written.
• Ability to perform in a highly dynamic work environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of Steam, Compressed Air, Water, and Electrical Distribution systems.
• Ability to analyze utility balances, equipment performance, energy usage, and operating data; translate findings into practical reliability, cost, and process improvements.
• Ability to interpret P&IDs, electrical one-lines, equipment datasheets, control narratives, operating procedures, and permit documents.
• Strong project execution and stakeholder coordination skills, including work with Operations, Maintenance, Process/Production Engineering, Environmental, and external service providers.

About Us:

Ascend Performance Materials is the premium provider of high-quality chemicals, fibers and plastics focused on improving quality of life and inspiring a better tomorrow through innovation. We are a fully integrated material solutions provider with manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and Asia. Our global workforce makes the materials used to make safer vehicles, cleaner energy, better medical devices, smarter appliances, and longer-lasting apparel and consumer goods. We are committed to safety, sustainability, and the success of our customers and our communities.

Why work at Ascend?

Our vision is to be the recognized leader in the nylon 6,6 value chain, creating new possibilities with PA66 for everyone, everywhere, every day. We achieve that through living our Ascend values: OARS. Our OARS values shape how we work, lead, and grow together. We take ownership, stay accountable, operate reliably, and support one another to deliver results safely and consistently. Through clear expectations, empowered decision-making, intentional communication, and continuous feedback, we create a culture built on action, visibility, and shared success. Together, OARS gives us a shared language and clear direction. These values guide our decisions, shape priorities and set expectations as we move forward – aligned, focused and committed to creating performance materials that improve lives today and inspire a better tomorrow.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, citizenship, genetic information or other protected status under federal, state or local laws.