Production Process Engineer II

Why Work at Kaneka North America?
At Kaneka North America, you’ll find more than just a job—you’ll find a place to build a career. We offer a people‑first, safety‑focused environment where employees are encouraged to learn, grow, and contribute. Whether you’re early in your career or bringing years of experience, you’ll have the chance to do meaningful work, collaborate across teams, and support products and industries that make a difference every day. Your contributions are valued, and your development is supported.

Our Culture & Values
Our culture is built on respect, teamwork, and doing things the right way. We believe people do their best work when they feel supported, trusted, and empowered to speak up and share ideas. Safety, integrity & trust, quality, and innovation guide everything we do, and we invest in our employees through continuous learning, collaboration, and opportunities for growth. At Kaneka North America, you’re encouraged to take ownership of your work, grow your skills, and build a long‑term career in an environment that values both accountability and people.

JOB DETAILS

The Production Process Engineer II is responsible for monitoring, troubleshooting and working to improve plant processes. This includes improving equipment reliability, plant productivity, product quality, and process safety; reducing downtime, costs and utility usage and innovating solutions to recurring process issues. In monitoring and troubleshooting the process, the incumbent must collect the necessary data and information and use engineering techniques, statistical analysis, technical knowledge of the process, internet searches, and consultation with Production and Maintenance teams as well as vendors and field experts to ensure plant performance is optimized. For improving the process, the incumbent must evaluate assigned projects for their impact on safety, environmental compliance, product quality and production rates, and then make sure each project moves forward based on priority. 

Areas of responsibility will include, but are not limited to the following:

• Monitor and troubleshooting operating conditions, production rate, quality and yield to support Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) metrics and targets.
• Propose modifications to the process that improve plant performance and reduce costs.
• Ensure correct design and installation of new equipment.
• Execute special process studies, projects, and process safety projects.
• Propose and implement improvements to production procedures and record keeping.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Monitor process conditions for opportunities to improve safety, productivity, quality, and cost.
• Develop a functional knowledge of the process by reviewing Training Manuals, SOP’S, P&ID’S, and other PSI information.
• Interface with production supervision, technical personnel, maintenance, and operators to leverage operations and process knowledge.
• Use Pi or Statistical Process Control (SPC) tools to assist in process problem solving.
• Seek out innovative solutions to existing process problems.
• Read the daily shift reports and keep a radio tuned to the control room to look for opportunities to help the Production Team troubleshoot and resolve process problems.
• Plan, coordinate, and carry out new product/grade plant trails as required.
• Propose modifications to existing processes and execute the Management of Change (MOC’s) process where applicable.
• Update process safety information (PSI) records such as P&IDs, equipment information, safety systems, etc.
• Lead problem solving, What-If, and PSSR teams, and participate on HAZOP teams. Engineer solutions to action items from these studies.
• Design new vessels, equipment, piping and instrumentation or evaluate existing installations.
• Request quotes from vendors for new or replacement vessels, equipment, etc.
• Work with Project Engineering to scope out new capital projects, and coordinate the Production portion (commissioning, procedure revision, and other MOC tasks).
• Prepare environmental reports.
• Provide and maintain a safe work environment by participating in safety programs, committees, or teams and by conducting safety and housekeeping audits.
• Identify occupational and process safety hazards and proactively implement changes to reduce risk.
• Develop a functional knowledge of the plant process computer control systems sufficient to retrieve data, review trends, analyze alarms, and troubleshoot process problems.
• Conduct personnel training on new systems/equipment and procedures implemented through MOC’S
• Perform weekend duty coverage. Perform weekend and after-hours DCS support.
• Work with Engineering, Maintenance, Technical, and other groups as necessary to complete assigned projects.
• Must demonstrate the following emotional intelligence skills:

• Emotional Empathy
• Positive Attitude
• Excellent Communication Skills
• Flexibility / Adaptability
• Interpersonal Skills