Description

Gelest Inc., part of the Mitsubishi Chemical Group, is hiring a Research Engineer to join our expanding team.

The Research Engineer position supports two primary functions: developing new processes to meet company objectives and deploying new technologies to enhance ongoing or future operations. The position also supports continuous improvement activities in R&D and Production areas. Frequent interaction with Research & Development, Production, Quality/Analytical, Maintenance, and Business Development organizations is expected.

Job responsibilities include planning, executing, and assessing efforts focusing on technology transfer from R&D to Production. Activities underlying these responsibilities include documenting work performed and progress against goals; establishing operating methods and procedures; facilitating transfer through safety reviews, training, commissioning, and start-up activities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Work safely with lab and pilot scale equipment, hazardous materials, including, but not limited to, reactive, flammable, toxic, pyrophoric, and cryogenic materials.

• Work with staff to screen processes and effectively transfer technology, and vendors and contractors on design and fabrication during project execution.

• Develop formulas, processes, methods, and technologies to meet project objectives.

• Design, construct, commission, start-up, and trouble shoot demonstration processes.

• Design and execute testing protocols to optimize process performance, in lab, pilot and production settings.

• Design, manage, monitor, and interpret bench-scale experiments to facilitate scale up to pilot and production processes and provide training to Production staff where applicable.

• Test and evaluate equipment, products, and procedures with the objective of identifying improvements for scale-up and routinely document results and give oral presentations on project status as required.

• Coordinate trial batches in a production environment, including specification of raw materials, drafting procedures, monitoring the batches, and reporting the results while assist in assessing and specifying equipment to meet process objectives.

• Lead or assist troubleshooting activities for existing manufacturing processes and perform root cause analysis.

• Evaluate equipment and processes to identify opportunities to optimize performance or to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.

• Write procedures, Safe Work Practices, Design Hazard Reviews and Management of Change as needed.

• Solid commitment to EH&S principles.

• Sound technical skills in chemical engineering.

• Mechanical aptitude, ability to design and assemble laboratory and pilot scale equipment.

• Experience with chemical reactions and separations technologies and equipment.

• Proficiency with standard analytical techniques.

• Able to organize data for analysis and present cogent conclusions, both formally and informally.

• Works independently with minimal supervision and can work cross-functionally within the organization.

• Excellent habits to document work objectives and results.

• Must be self-motivated and capable of working both individually and within a team environment.

• Other duties as assigned.

Gelest, located in Morrisville, PA , is in close proximity to Interstate 95, Route 1 and the PA/NJ turnpikes. We offer a rewarding career with a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package including:

• Competitive time-off policy.

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Accident and Critical Illness plans for employee and family.

• 401k with a 50% company match.

• Company paid Life Insurance, AD&D Insurance, Short Term Disability and Long Term Disability.

• Annual Bonus.

Qualifications

• Minimum requirements include a B.S. in chemical engineering or related discipline, and 3to 5years of hands-on experience with an emphasis on process development and safety in a chemical industrial manufacturing environment is preferred. Master’s degree in engineering helpful.

• Familiar with the basic chemical process unit operations, for example batch and continuous reactors, heat exchangers, centrifuges, refrigeration & heating equipment, rotating machinery, electrically heated furnaces, dryers, crystallizers, and distillation columns.

• Experience with polymers and polymerization processes is a plus.

• Possess good problem solving and hands on troubleshooting skills.

• Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills to interact between various plant personnel such as operators and plant management.

• Able to work independently with minimal supervision.

• Able to interpret SDS and packaging code information and follow procedures.

• Familiar with packaging and handling moisture and air-sensitive solids, liquids and gases.

• Works effectively with multiple functions within the organization.

• Able to serve as a member of the safety committee or emergency response team if required.

• Proficient with O365 or equivalent software.

• Occasionally required to lift and / or move up to 50 pounds.

• Must be able to distinguish colors accurately.

• Pass respirator fit test as required by OSHA.

• Must be able to hear/see and respond to all communications and alarms.

• Wear personal protective equipment as needed.

• Work in various settings, including Lab, Pilot, and Production environments.