Chemical Process Engineer

EuropTec USA, LLC is a U.S. glass fabricator with a 75-year history of supplying fabricated glass and specialty items to the appliance market.  We were previously known under the names of Marsco Manufacturing and Engineered Glass Products.  With the recent acquisition by Glas Trösch Group, we now have the resources to significantly grow both domestically and overseas.  Glas Trösch Group is a family-owned glass company based in Switzerland with $2BN in revenue and 6000 employees worldwide. With two manufacturing facilities and a warehouse in the Bridgeport and Canaryville (Back of the Yards Industrial Stockyards) neighborhoods of Chicago, we provide a wide variety of products for the appliance (oven doors and microwave ovens) and lighting markets. We are now poised to leverage our relationship with Glas Trösch to enter the U.S. rail market by providing glass and frame assemblies.

The Chemical Process Engineer is responsible for helping us re-formulate our HB formula to provide a more clear (color-suppressed) formula with the most cost-efficient ingredients that still meets the necessary customer and ANZI requirements. He/she will be responsible for developing, designing, and optimizing chemical processes and systems to enhance production efficiency, quality, and safety. He/she will review and analyze production data to identify opportunities for process improvements and cost reductions  He/she will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including chemists, production staff, and quality control personnel, to ensure implementation of process modifications.  He/she will oversee the installation, operation, and maintenance of chemical processing equipment, ensuring compliance with safety and environmental regulations.  He/she will conduct simulations and modeling of chemical processes to predict outcomes and identify potential issues.

Key Responsibilities:

Formulation & Product Innovation

• Improve existing chemical formulas to:
  • Reduce cost per unit through smarter raw material selection and optimized formulation.
  • Enhance product performance.
  • Improve visual appearance of finished glass surfaces.
• Develop and test advanced surface treatments to enhance scratch resistance and longevity of glass.
• Improve the yield of the chemical. Implement chemical solutions that allow lower application weight (e.g., fewer ounces per square meter/mils per square foot) without compromising quality.
• Evaluate and adopt eco-friendly or low-VOC chemical alternatives that meet performance criteria.

Process Development & Optimization

• Lead the design, testing, and scale-up of new chemical processes from lab to production.
• Work alongside Engineering and Production to establish the most effective and consistent application methods for surface treatments.
• Identify and resolve bottlenecks or inefficiencies in chemical processing or application.

• Drive standardization of chemical procedures across all lines.

Cross Departmental Collaboration

• Partner with the Quality department to establish and maintain strict quality control measures for chemical usage.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Maintenance, and Production to develop new systems or improve the current method to apply the chemical over the surface of the glass. 
• Provide chemical expertise during new product development or process trials.
• Coordinate with Procurement and suppliers to continuously improve raw materials for cost savings and enhanced performance.

Regulatory & Environmental Compliance

• Serve as the key contact for EPA-related matters in the chemical department.
• Collaborate with EPA consultants and advisors to ensure full compliance with environmental regulations and reporting requirements.
• Maintain detailed documentation of chemical usage, testing, MSDS, and disposal procedures.
• Ensure lab testing and field trials align with current safety and environmental standards.
• Establish KPIs and strategic goals for the chemical engineering department that align with company-wide objectives.
• Prepare and present data-driven technical reports and proposals to management on cost savings, performance improvements, and risk mitigation.
• Oversee budgeting and forecasting for the chemical engineering department.

Documentation & Reporting

• Maintain comprehensive and accurate records of all formula changes, test results, experiments, and process modifications.
• Document and review SOPs, process maps, and troubleshooting guides to support knowledge sharing and consistency.
• Support internal and external audits with organized and transparent documentation.

Technical Skills:

• Strong knowledge of chemical process simulation and modeling software (e.g., Aspen Plus, ChemCAD)
• Proficiency in lab testing methods and analysis tools
• Experience with DOE (Design of Experiments) and Six Sigma methodologies is a plus

Leadership Skills:

• Strategic thinker with a continuous improvement mindset
• Strong communication skills to liaise between technical and non-technical teams
• Ability to lead and motivate cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, results-driven environment
• High attention to detail and data integrity

Requirements

• Must have a Bachelor's degree (BS) in Chemical Engineering from four-year college or university and three to five years chemical engineering experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience  
• Must have three to five years of environmental compliance experience
• Must have excellent attention to detail 

Must be able to communicate well with all levels of management