What are the responsibilities and job description for the Process Engineer position at VONORE FIBER PRODUCTS LLC?
Fiber Pulp Mill Process Engineer
Location: Genera /Vonore /Tennessee
Reports to: Mill Manager
Role Type: Full-time
Role Summary
The Fiber Pulp Mill Process Engineer is responsible for optimizing fiber preparation, pulping, cleaning, refining, and stock delivery processes to ensure safe, reliable, and cost-effective production of high-quality pulp. This role drives continuous improvement in yield, energy usage, chemistry, and fiber quality while supporting day-to-day operations and capital projects.
This engineer works closely with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and R&D to stabilize processes, solve chronic issues, and support new product and grade development.
Key Responsibilities
Process Optimization & Control
- Monitor and optimize pulping, washing, screening, cleaning, refining, and stock prep systems
- Improve fiber yield, freeness, strength properties, and consistency control
- Reduce variability through improved operating windows, SOPs, and control strategies
- Analyze process data to identify losses, bottlenecks, and quality risks
Cost, Yield & Energy Improvement
- Drive reductions in fiber loss, chemical consumption, water usage, and energy intensity
- Identify and implement variable cost reduction initiatives
- Support benchmarking and best-practice deployment across mill operations
Quality & Product Performance
- Partner with Quality and downstream operations to ensure pulp meets performance targets (strength, formation, runnability, OGR, stiffness, etc.)
- Support root-cause analysis of customer complaints and internal quality deviations
- Assist with grade changes, trials, and new product introductions
Troubleshooting & Continuous Improvement
- Use Lean / Six Sigma green or black belt certification for problem solving.
- Support up-time improvement by addressing process-related reliability challenges
- Serve as a technical resource during upsets, startups, and shutdowns
Capital Projects & Technical Support
- Provide process design input for capital projects and equipment upgrades
- Support commissioning, startup, and post-startup optimization
- Develop process specifications, mass balances, and performance criteria
Safety & Environmental Compliance
- Champion safe operating practices and MOC discipline
- Ensure processes comply with environmental permits and regulations
- Identify opportunities to reduce emissions, effluent load, and waste
Qualifications For Job Posting
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Pulp & Paper Engineering, or related discipline
- 3 years of experience in a pulp mill, fiber prep, or paper/packaging operation
- Strong understanding of pulping, stock prep, refining, and fiber quality drivers
- Data-driven mindset with strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Ability to work effectively on the plant floor with operators and technicians
Preferred
- Experience with recycled fiber or non-wood fiber (e.g., molded fiber, ag pulp, bagasse)
- Experience supporting thermoforming, paper, or molded fiber downstream processes
- Lean Manufacturing/ Green Belt or Black Belt Certification
- Experience with Minitab
- Familiarity with DCS/PLC systems, SPC, and process modeling
Key Success Metrics
- Fiber yield improvement
- Reduction in variable cost per ton
- Process stability and uptime
- Pulp quality consistency
- Successful execution of trials and capital projects
- Safety and environmental performance