What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Process Engineer (REQ865) position at Spartech?
Senior Process Engineer
Maryland Heights, MO
Spartech offers a competitive salary, incentives, and benefit programs!
Spartech, LLC, headquartered in Maryland Heights, Missouri, has over a dozen locations throughout the United States. We have a broad customer base with extensive product offerings and technologies. Many of our materials are used in products you might see every day - for example if you start your morning with a single serve yogurt, the container you ate from may be made from one of Spartech’s products or the refrigerator where the yogurt was stored could have Spartech products in its interior features. More unique uses of our products can be seen in military or security applications, for example in fighter jet canopies or bullet resistant windows. From routine daily-life to life-saving applications—we make a difference. Our broad scope of products and services keep our environment interesting and challenging with a culture focused on success. If you want to make a difference in a fast-paced environment with a company large enough to offer you room to grow but not so large that you become “just a number”, Spartech might be the ideal company for you.
General Summary and Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
The Senior Process Engineer is responsible for leading capital equipment projects that support the growth, modernization, safety, and optimization of plastics manufacturing operations. This position manages projects from concept through production startup, including identifying and developing equipment specifications, vendor evaluation, process design, commissioning, and ensuring compliance with all applicable safety and regulatory requirements.
Key Responsibilities:
Capital Planning & Equipment Strategy
- Evaluate manufacturing capacity requirements and identify capital equipment investments needed to support business growth.
- Develop equipment specifications for extrusion, cast acrylic manufacturing, resin handling, material conveying, blending, automated packaging, robotics, and secondary operations.
Equipment Procurement & Vendor Management
- Develop RFQs, technical specifications, and statements of work for capital equipment projects.
- Solicit, review, and compare vendor quotations, technical proposals, and commercial terms.
Project Management
- Lead capital equipment projects from concept through startup and full production validation.
Equipment Installation & Commissioning
- Manage equipment delivery, rigging, installation, utility connections, and startup activities.
- Coordinate facility modifications, electrical requirements, compressed air systems, chilled water systems, resin delivery systems, and process cooling infrastructure.
Process Optimization & Continuous Improvement
- Analyze production performance following implementation and identify opportunities for optimization.
- Support OEE improvement initiatives and manufacturing cost reduction programs.
- Partner with Operations and Process Engineering teams to improve machine utilization, efficiency, and product quality.
Safety, Regulatory & Compliance Responsibilities
- Lead the integration of safety requirements into all capital equipment projects from concept through startup.
- Ensure equipment designs comply with OSHA regulations, machine guarding requirements, lockout/tagout (LOTO) standards, electrical safety requirements, and applicable ANSI, NFPA, and industry standards.
Drive a zero-injury culture by promoting safe work practices and proactively addressing safety concerns throughout project execution.
Education & Experience Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical discipline.
- 7 years of experience managing capital equipment projects within a plastics manufacturing environment.
- Chemical manufacturing background.
- Experience with injection molding, extrusion, thermoforming, blow molding, or related plastics processing technologies.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Capital equipment acquisition and implementation
- Plastics processing technologies
- Injection molding and extrusion equipment
- Manufacturing process optimization
- Equipment validation and commissioning
- Project management and budget administration
- Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) implementation
- Machine guarding and safeguarding systems
- NFPA and ANSI standards compliance
- Safety leadership and culture development
We offer competitive salary, incentives, and benefit programs. – Most Benefits Start Day ONE!
Benefits include:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision.
- Flexible Spending Accounts.
- Company paid Life & Long-term/Short-term disability programs.
- 401(k) with strong company match.
- 120 hours Paid Time Off (pro-rated based on hire date).
- 11 paid holidays.
Spartech, LLC provides equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status, or other legally protected classification in the state in which a person is seeking employment. Spartech will use E-Verify to ensure employment eligibility of newly hired employees where required.