Facility Process Chemist - Microsource
About The Position
microSource is seeking an experienced Facility Process Chemist to support the production of fertilizer and plant nutritional products at its Shakopee, Minnesota facility. This hands-on, process-focused role supports large-scale chemical reactions and ammoniation, and involves real-time troubleshooting of manufacturing and quality issues. The chemist works directly with production operators, maintenance, and management to help ensure safe, efficient, and consistent production. microSource manufactures, packages, and distributes crop nutrient products and is a private-label partner to agricultural sales and distribution companies. It is a division of MacroSource, LLC, a wholesale global distributor of bulk fertilizers. The role includes technical support for batch and continuous production, process and product-quality monitoring, investigation of quality deviations, and support for product scale-up and process improvements. The position is in person at the Shakopee facility. microSource provides hands-on training and opportunities to build skills and advance within the company. The role offers paid time off, medical, dental, and vision insurance available from day one, employer-paid short- and long-term disability and life insurance, a company-funded HSA, and a 401(k) with company matching. All interns and employees must undergo a drug test, background check, and motor vehicle report.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, or a related scientific discipline; a four-year degree is required.
- At least 10 years of experience in plant nutritional products, fertilizer manufacturing, or related chemical production.
- Strong hands-on experience with ammoniation and acid-based chemistry in large-scale systems.
- Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot chemical processes in a manufacturing environment.
- Solid understanding of fertilizer raw materials, intermediates, and finished products.
- Strong mathematical aptitude for formulation calculations, scaling, and process adjustments.
- Experience using and interpreting analytical instruments and techniques, including pH meters, density meters, viscometers, XRF, and HPLC.
- Ability to interpret analytical data and apply findings to process control and product quality.
- Practical knowledge of chemical processing equipment, including reaction vessels and neutralizers, pumps and piping systems, external cooling systems and heat exchangers, and mixing and blending equipment.
- Hands-on, self-motivated, and comfortable working in a production environment.
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills with a practical, operations-focused mindset.
- Effective communicator able to work closely with operators and leadership.
- Strong commitment to safety, quality, and environmental stewardship.
- Must undergo a drug test, background check, and motor vehicle report.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with liquid plant nutrition products such as UAN, KTS, phosphate-based products, and micronutrients.
- Familiarity with additives such as surfactants, defoamers, stabilizers, and inhibitors.
- Experience in continuous or semi-continuous fertilizer production systems.
- Background supporting process optimization and continuous improvement.
Responsibilities
- Oversee, support, and optimize large-scale production of plant nutritional products, including acid-based reactions and ammoniation.
- Monitor reaction parameters and product quality to ensure consistency with specifications.
- Troubleshoot process upsets, off-spec material, foaming, scaling, crystallization, and stability issues.
- Provide hands-on technical support on the production floor during batch and continuous production.
- Assist with formulation adjustments, raw material variability, and seasonal production changes.
- Investigate quality deviations and implement corrective and preventative actions.
- Support scale-up and implementation of new or modified plant nutritional products.
- Develop, maintain, and improve batch records, SOPs, and process documentation.
- Collaborate with operations, maintenance, and engineering teams to improve process reliability and efficiency.
- Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
Benefits
- Generous paid time off.
- Medical insurance available from day one.
- Dental insurance available from day one.
- Vision insurance available from day one.
- Employer-paid short- and long-term disability insurance.
- Employer-paid life insurance.
- Company-funded HSA account.
- 401(k) with company matching.
- Hands-on training and opportunities for career growth and advancement.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
