Principal Process Safety Management (PSM) Engineer
About The Position
The Principal Process Safety Management (PSM) Engineer serves as the site technical authority for process safety and provides governance, independent technical assurance, and escalation of significant process risks. The role establishes the technical direction and standards needed to prevent major accidents, ensures that the site PSM management system remains compliant and effective, and advises site leadership on risk acceptance, resource priorities, and corrective actions. The Principal PSM Engineer combines deep technical expertise with strategic leadership across operations, engineering, maintenance, projects, and EHS. The position leads complex hazard evaluations, governs risk-based decision-making, assures the integrity of all PSM elements, sponsors continuous improvement, and represents the site in network and regulatory process safety matters. This position provides line management for one direct report within the site EHS team and technical mentorship to process safety professionals across the network.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or a related engineering discipline; an advanced degree is preferred.
- Professional Engineer, Certified Process Safety Professional, Certified Safety Professional, or comparable recognized credential is preferred.
- Typically, 12+ years of progressively responsible process safety experience in chemical, pharmaceutical, or another high-hazard manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated success operating as a technical authority or program leader—not solely as an individual contributor—including governance of complex PHAs, MOCs, investigations, audits, and major risk-reduction initiatives.
- Expert knowledge of OSHA PSM, applicable EPA Risk Management Program requirements, and recognized engineering practices.
- Advanced capability in hazard evaluation and risk management, including HAZOP and LOPA, with the judgement to evaluate safeguards, residual risk, and risk-acceptance decisions.
- Proven ability to influence senior leaders, challenge decisions constructively, communicate complex risk clearly, and lead through others across organizational boundaries.
- Demonstrated people leadership, coaching, or technical mentoring experience.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the site technical authority for process safety, providing governance and independent assurance for decisions that could materially affect major accident risk.
- Interpret and govern compliance with OSHA PSM, internal standards, recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices, and other standards as needed (i.e. EPA Risk Management Program, NJ TCPA).
- Advise site leadership on risk acceptance, operating constraints, safeguard adequacy, investment priorities, and escalation of significant or unresolved process risks.
- Lead and assure complex PHAs and risk studies, including HAZOP, What-If/Checklist, LOPA, facility siting, human factors, and other fit-for-purpose methods.
- Govern the quality of MOC and pre-startup safety review activities, ensuring that technical, procedural, training, maintenance, and emergency-response impacts are addressed.
- Provide process safety leadership for capital projects and complex modifications from concept through commissioning, startup, and handover.
- Own process safety performance reporting, identify systemic weaknesses and weak signals, and lead sustainable improvement programs.
- Lead or oversee investigations of process safety events and high-potential near misses, ensuring systemic lessons and effective corrective actions.
Benefits
- Comprehensive health & wellness benefits
- Access to mental health resources and wellness programs
- Generous PTO and holiday pay policies
- Eligibility for performance-based bonuses
- Attractive 401(k) Plan with company match
- Opportunities for continuous learning through LinkedIn Learning, workshops, conferences, and mentorship
- Tuition Assistance for Undergraduate and Graduate degree programs
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
