Process Engineer

Ascent Industries Co•Fountain Inn, SC

About The Position

The Process Engineer is responsible for improving the safety, efficiency, reliability, and overall performance of manufacturing operations. This role focuses on increasing Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), reducing cycle time, improving throughput and yield, and supporting new product and process development from concept through commercialization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or a related engineering discipline required.
2–7+ years of experience in batch chemical manufacturing or process engineering (experience level may vary by role level).
Strong knowledge of batch processes, chemical manufacturing operations, and process safety management.
Demonstrated experience improving OEE, cycle time, throughput, and yield in a manufacturing environment.
Experience with PSM, MOC, PSSR, and FMEA development.
Strong communication skills with the ability to work effectively with operations, commercial teams, customers, and leadership.
Critical thinking and data-driven problem-solving skills
Strong organization, prioritization, and follow-up skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and strong interpersonal skills
Strong documentation and change management discipline
Cross-functional leadership and influence
Continuous improvement focus

Nice To Haves

Experience in manufacturing, industrial, or regulated environments.
Experience supporting customer trials and commercial scale-up in a chemical manufacturing environment.
Project management experience, including capital project execution.

Responsibilities

Be actively engaged in and support a safety-focused work environment by upholding all company safety policies, procedures, and expectations.
Maintain a safe, clean, and organized work environment in accordance with company and regulatory requirements.
Participate and lead incident investigations and assist in the development and implementation of corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
Ensure compliance with all applicable environmental rules, laws, and regulations.
Conduct on-time PSM reviews and Pre-Startup Safety Reviews (PSSRs).
Support Maintenance and Safety teams in adhering to OSHA PSM and related regulatory standards.
Lead efforts to optimize core products and processes by improving cycle time, equipment utilization, throughput, yield, and overall OEE.
Identify and eliminate sources of downtime, variability, and inefficiency in batch operations.
Assist in tracking, analyzing, and improving plant performance metrics related, cost, quality, and productivity.
Develop, maintain, and improve manufacturing procedures and batch records for new product trials through commercialization.
Provide day-to-day technical support to Operations to resolve process issues and improve reliability.
Train and supervise technicians and operators in equipment setup, operation, and cleaning procedures.
Manage project and product development activities from initial scoping through design, execution, optimization, and commercialization.
Execute manufacturing trials according to published schedules while ensuring safety, quality, and efficiency.
Support the Commercial Team as a technical customer contact and liaison for all aspects of production trials.
Coordinate all aspects of trials with internal stakeholders, including Purchasing, Logistics, Shipping, Customer Service, and the QC Laboratory.
Assist in executing the annual capital plan, including project scoping, justification, management, and deployment of capital in the most efficient manner.
Provide technical input to Engineering and Plant Manager for new equipment and piping installations to ensure compliance with codes, standards, and best practices while minimizing downtime.
Support commissioning, startup, and optimization of new equipment and processes.