Junior Chemical Engineer

Alcoa • New Kensington, PA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

Alcoa is seeking a Jr. Chemical Engineer to join their breakthrough technologies team at Alcoa’s Technical Center in New Kensington, PA. This role will provide foundational chemical engineering support to technology development, plant support, and process improvement activities under close technical supervision. The position is designed to build strong technical fundamentals, safe work practices, and business understanding through hands-on execution, analysis, and learning. The Entry Engineer will apply established engineering principles to well-scoped or moderately complex problems while developing judgment, independence, and technical depth.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering (required).
• 0–3 years of engineering experience, including internships or co-op experience.
• Fundamental understanding of chemical engineering principles.
• Ability to analyze and interpret data using standard engineering tools.
• Familiarity with safe work practices and risk awareness.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to learn quickly, follow procedures, and incorporate feedback.

Nice To Haves

• Exposure to laboratory, pilot-scale, or manufacturing environments preferred.

Responsibilities

• Apply core chemical engineering principles including mass and energy balances, thermodynamics, transport phenomena, and reaction fundamentals.
• Execute defined experiments, trials, test plans, or process changes following established procedures and review requirements.
• Analyze experimental, process, and operational data and document methods, results, and conclusions.
• Support troubleshooting of process deviations using standard analytical tools.
• Contribute to technical documentation, calculations, reports, and knowledge capture.
• Support laboratory, pilot, or plant activities in compliance with safety, quality, and environmental requirements.
• Collaborate with technicians, operators, engineers, and cross-functional partners including EHS and Operations.
• Demonstrate continuous learning and development of technical and business knowledge.
• Contributes as an individual technical team member.
• Works under close functional supervision with regular technical review.
• Build effective working relationships within assigned scope.
• May provide informal assistance to interns, co-ops, or technicians as directed.
• Solves well-scoped or moderately complex problems using established engineering methods.
• Follows standard procedures, specifications, and engineering practices.
• Escalates ambiguous, novel, or high-risk issues appropriately.
• Demonstrates increasing autonomy as experience and competence develop.
• Supports defined portions of the process lifecycle including laboratory, pilot, plant support, optimization, or validation activities.
• Executes work within established scope and technical direction.
• Gains exposure to broader lifecycle phases through project participation.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation packages, including pay-for-performance variable pay, recognition and rewards programs, and stock-based compensation awards (3-year vesting schedule)
• Flexible spending accounts and generous employer contribution to the HSA
• 401(k), employer match up to 6%, additional employer retirement income contribution (no vesting period), and a non-qualified deferred compensation plan
• 12 paid holidays per year.
• 15 days of paid vacation (pro-rated from hire date).
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

What This Job Offers

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