Facility Process Chemist - Microsource

MacroSource • Shakopee, MN

2d • $85,000 - $105,000 • Onsite

About The Position

microSource is seeking an experienced Facility Process Chemist to support the production of fertilizer and plant nutritional products at its manufacturing facility in Shakopee, Minnesota. This hands-on, production-focused role centers on large-scale chemical reactions, ammoniation processes, and troubleshooting manufacturing and quality issues. The chemist works directly with operators, maintenance, and management to support safe, efficient, and consistent production.

microSource manufactures, packages, and distributes crop nutrient products and serves as a private-label partner to agricultural sales and distribution companies. It is a division of MacroSource, LLC. The position is full-time and in-person, with a stated salary range of $85,000 to $105,000.

The role supports batch and continuous production, process and product quality, scale-up of new or modified products, and process documentation. The successful candidate brings practical experience in fertilizer or inorganic chemical production and applies analytical data and process knowledge to manufacturing control and improvement.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, or a related scientific discipline; a four-year degree is required.
• Minimum of 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 pH meters, density meters, viscometers, XRF, and HPLC.
• Practical knowledge of 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 nutritional products, including 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.
• Interpret analytical data and apply findings to process control and product quality.

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 to develop skills and advance within the company.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior