What are the responsibilities and job description for the Production Engineer position at Cornerstone Chemical Company?
SUMMARY OF POSITION:
This role is responsible for providing production/process engineering support for the Utilities plant of a chemical manufacturing facility. This role will establish targets and drive to completion actions to reduce usage and energy consumption, improve yields, minimize waste and increase occupancy from a process engineering view while maintaining or improving safety and environmental compliance.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Monitor plant processes and product quality through daily observations, providing production and process engineering support for troubleshooting and issue resolution.
- Monitor plant operations, energy consumption, and material usage; provide process guidance to operators on production activities and operating conditions.
- Establish and maintain operating variable control ranges to support safe, reliable, and cost-effective plant operations. Communicate expectations and provide guidance on deviations and their operational impact.
- Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, and Supervision to identify and implement process adjustments that improve efficiency and yields, reduce energy and material consumption, and optimize operating costs.
- Execute plant experiments as designed by Process Engineering, document and report results, and implement approved process changes based on findings.
- Design and implement small-scale engineering projects and continuous improvement initiatives to improve plant performance and cost competitiveness.
- Review and validate engineering calculations, including process simulation inputs and outputs, to support accurate engineering analyses and sound process decisions.
- Provide process engineering expertise in root cause analysis (RCA), process hazard analyses (PHA), and process safety management (PSM) activities.
- Assist in resolving process upsets and troubleshooting equipment failures in collaboration with Operations, Maintenance, and other relevant departments.
- Support variable cost management by identifying, monitoring, and implementing opportunities to reduce material, energy, and other variable operating costs.
- Develop and maintain process flow diagrams (PFDs) and material and energy balances.
- Complete required environmental reporting and monthly site reports on energy consumption and chemical usage.
- Track departmental action items and ensure timely completion.
- Coach and support operations personnel in implementing process changes, continuous improvement initiatives, and related business process improvements.
KEY SKILLS:
- Must be a critical thinker and problem solver with the ability to innovate with exceptional focus on improving costs.
- A strong desire to teach; possess high energy leadership; and recognized as a skilled team player while achieving results.
- Clear track record of successful implementation of process improvement projects.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- 0-5 years of experience in process/production engineering.
- Experience related in a chemical, petrochemical or petroleum production/refining facility.
- Knowledge of environmental regulations, safety standards, computer software and services, and current chemical engineering technology.
- Knowledge of process modeling & simulation software such as ASPEN or HYSYS.
EDUCATION:
- Minimum Required: BS in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related degree