Process Engineer

Process Engineer Bethlehem

Summary / Objective

The Process Engineer provides technical and economic oversight for an assigned process unit, working to improve product quality, production capacity, safety, and cost-efficiency through process and equipment improvements, testing, and data-driven recommendations. This role partners closely with operations, engineering, and management to support regulatory compliance, budget planning, and continuous improvement initiatives.


Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to provide technical service to an assigned unit through daily monitoring of operations
• Ability to identify opportunities to improve quality, reduce costs, enhance safety, and lower emissions, and to present well-substantiated recommendations to the unit team
• Skill in developing and conducting tests, and evaluating results, for proposed operating changes that improve product quality, capacity, or cost
• Working knowledge of the technical aspects of the assigned process area
• Ability to investigate the operating and economic feasibility of new technology, safety/operability improvements, and planned capacity changes
• Ability to collaborate with the unit team on annual budgets, operating reviews, and economic studies
• Knowledge of PSM/RMP and other applicable regulatory programs
• Ability to investigate and resolve production, safety, environmental, or quality issues
• Ability to work effectively across cultural lines in a diverse, cross-cultural workforce

Physical Demands

• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs
• Good mobility, including the ability to climb stairs multiple times per shift
• Ability to work shifts up to 12 hours in length
• Good hearing and sense of smell
• Ability to work in a potentially stressful environment

Typical Duties / Responsibilities

Process & Technical Engineering

• Responsible for the technical and economic aspects of process unit operations
• Provide technical support for the maintenance of existing equipment
• Improve existing processes and equipment for more efficient, cost-effective operation
• Design and document chemical processes required for the development of improved products
• Coordinate process development efforts with colleagues and management to achieve objectives
• Select equipment required for new product development and for scale-up from development to production, including the associated process design and documentation
• Select equipment and control devices to enhance process control
• Provide engineering assistance by troubleshooting and designing improvements that optimize operations and reduce costs
• Maintain design-change schedules and reduce costs by specifying equipment, assisting with purchases, and collaborating with outside contractors on installation of new equipment and systems
• Develop knowledge of the chemical, physical, and safe-handling properties of chemicals used in the assigned area
• Maintain awareness of, and report on, relevant emerging technologies

Safety, Environmental & Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain a safe and environmentally sound working environment, including in the design and operation of equipment to minimize environmental releases
• Direct and manage coordination between engineering and production to maximize equipment uptime and production quality in a safe, environmentally sound manner
• Assist with adherence to regulatory agency requirements
• Write procedures and provide training for the safe operation of new equipment

Budget & Cost Management

• Collaborate with the unit team to prepare the annual control budget
• Maintain departmental and plant objectives within fiscal budget constraints, striving for savings in material and labor costs
• Establish and implement engineering/maintenance cost-savings techniques, including reducing maintenance, material, and repair costs against budget where possible

Leadership & Team Coordination

• Perform leadership duties on assigned projects, including planning, activity coordination, and progress reporting
• Supervise technicians as required
• Evaluate, set goals, and determine priorities within the department
• Reinforce management's overall commitment to short- and long-term departmental concerns among engineering and maintenance personnel
• Maintain continuity and a proactive attitude among staff

Communication & General

• Interface with other engineers, managers, and stakeholders in group meetings and ongoing dialogue as required
• Perform other tasks as determined by the department manager to support departmental objectives
• Prompt, regular, and dependable attendance is an essential function of this role