What are the responsibilities and job description for the Process Engineer position at OxyChem?
About the Company
We are seeking an experienced and self‑motivated Process Engineer to join our team at our corporate office in Ludington, Michigan, a lakeside community on the shores of Lake Michigan that is widely known as a popular summer destination.
Ludington offers a unique blend of professional opportunity and outdoor lifestyle. During the summer months, the area comes alive with beaches, boating, hiking and biking trails, local festivals, waterfront events, outdoor concerts, and farmers markets, along with easy access to Ludington State Park. This environment allows employees to enjoy an active, community‑focused lifestyle while working on meaningful and technically challenging engineering projects.
About the Role
The Process Engineer provides technical leadership and support to evaluate, design, and implement systems, tools, and procedures that optimize production processes. This role drives continuous improvement by leading process analysis, projects, studies, and structured problem‑solving efforts to improve safety, reliability, efficiency, and product quality.
Responsibilities
Safety, Environmental & Operational Excellence
- Maintain environmental stewardship and employee, customer, and community safety as the highest priority.
- Identify and implement opportunities to enhance process safety and environmental safeguards.
- Apply process chemistry and operational knowledge to eliminate environmental risks and improve operating reliability.
Process Improvement & Technical Support
- Identify, evaluate, justify, and implement process improvements that:
- Increase production capacity and operating rates
- Improve product quality and yields
- Reduce energy usage, raw material consumption, and manufacturing costs
- Analyze key process parameters and generate periodic performance reports.
- Utilize Measure‑Analyze‑Improve‑Control (MAIC) methodology for project execution.
- Perform energy balances, material balances, process studies, and equipment specifications/modifications.
- Lead or participate in installation and startup of process improvements.
Process Control & Automation
- Troubleshoot DeltaV process control issues, including reading and debugging control logic.
- Understand and apply process control narratives.
- Apply Statistical Process Control (SPC) and Advanced Process Control (APC) principles to improve asset utilization and product quality.
- Lead periodic reviews of process control strategies and recommend enhancements.
Cross‑Functional & Project Support
- Provide ongoing engineering assistance to operations through troubleshooting, testing, studies, and production reporting.
- Coordinate closely with Production, Maintenance, Project, and Corporate Engineering teams on capital project execution.
- Prepare and manage Authorization for Expenditure (AFE) documentation and track projects through completion.
- Support vendor evaluation, selection, and coordination for equipment, materials, and consulting services.
Continuous Improvement & Leadership
- Lead or support Root Cause Analyses and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Identify plant simplification, reliability, and cost‑reduction opportunities.
- Participate in or lead Continuous Improvement Teams and reliability efforts.
- Coach operations personnel on process, equipment, and engineering topics.
- Support efforts to address customer needs and concerns.
- Update or develop Operating Discipline Procedures as needed to close gaps in operations.
Additional Duties
- Perform other related responsibilities as required to support business needs.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Chemical, Mechanical, or Environmental Engineering
- 3–5 years of technically related engineering experience in an industrial plant environment
Required Skills
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in team environments
- Ability to read, write, and speak English
- Availability to work weekends, holidays, and respond to call‑outs as needed
Post‑Employment Technical Knowledge Expectations
- Advanced statistical analysis (e.g., JMP Discovery)
- Evaporation and drying technologies
- Steam properties and related equipment
- Heat transfer, thermodynamics, and material & energy balance analysis
- Process piping, pumps, and fluid flow
- Economic evaluation of improvement projects
- Calcium chloride properties
- SAP maintenance work processes
- Basic Distributed Control System (DCS) and process control knowledge
Physical Requirements
- Ability to climb multiple flights of stairs, ladders, scaffolding, and work at heights exceeding 100 feet
- Ability to lift up to 40 lbs and carry tools weighing 25 lbs
- Ability to stand, bend, kneel, and work around process equipment for extended periods
- Ability to work in all weather conditions, including extreme heat and cold
- Ability to work around industrial chemicals including hydrochloric acid, calcium chloride, magnesium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, oils, greases, and cleaning agents
- Ability to wear all required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)