Research & Development Engineer

The Shepherd Companies•Norwood, OH

About The Position

The Shepherd Chemical Company manufactures metal-based chemicals that are essential to technologies for consumer safety, environmental sustainability, advanced product performance and industrial process efficiency. Partnering with industries from fragrance and personal care to petrochemicals and polyurethanes, Shepherd collaborates on both standard and custom co-developed metal chemistries. In collaboration with our customers, we are working to solve some of their most complex problems through the synthesis, scale up, and commercialization of inorganic and organic metal compounds. Our employees scale projects from “concept to container”, travel the world to visit customers and attend industry conferences, and participate in community initiatives for health, wellness, safety and philanthropy. Doing meaningful work with trusted, talented colleagues is our formula for being a great place to work. Every day, our employees relentlessly pursue Shepherd’s core purpose of Creating Value and Brightening Lives. The R&D Department at Shepherd Chemical exists to develop processes and commercialize products that help our customers create value and grow. Our customers love working with our team as their metal chemistry partners. Our team members love working together to solve challenging problems, to create innovative solutions and learn more about our field. Our new products are preferred by our customers as evidenced by improving margins and increasing market share. The goal of our process development is to provide robust, scalable procedures that work the first time and every time thereafter by having large and well-defined windows of successful operating parameters. As a Research and Development (R&D) Engineer, you will develop commercial processes for products coming through the R&D facility to the commercial facility, research and propose new and improved process technology, review and critique all proposed new process technology, and review all new product opportunities from an engineering standpoint before the first lab batch is made. You will also work with product groups, maintenance, EHS, supply chain, customer service, marketing, sales, senior management, contractors and customers to define and engineer the optimum process for manufacturing the desired product.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering is required
Two plus years of experience in process development and a record of successful implementation of new processes in manufacturing operations is preferred
Working knowledge of fundamentals of chemical engineering to include:
Reaction engineering and rate processes
Ability to conceptually define and evaluate all feasible process routes and the proven judgment to select the best route for implementation
Control strategies and design of process control systems
Material, energy and momentum balances
Health, safety and environmental management
Waste management
Process economics
Equipment selection and specification
Pilot plant design and operation
Troubleshooting
Ability to work with effectively with all plant and contract personnel colleagues and to function productively in a team environment
Self-motivated and self-directed
Demonstrated leadership and organizational problem solving/conflict resolution skills.
Demonstrate written, verbal, analytical, and communication skills
Ability to conceptually define and evaluate all feasible process routes and the proven judgment to select the best route for implementation
Strong organizational skills - demonstrated by the ability to manage multiple projects/priorities

Nice To Haves

Experience in a chemical manufacturing environment
Familiarity and experience in using process improvement methodologies - Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, Total Quality Manufacturing, etc.
Ability to use various software applications essential to technical performance
Familiarity with Statistical Process Reporting

Responsibilities

Develop mass and energy balances
Define the optimum sequence of unit operations
Develop a process model to support design efforts
Propose, test and determine equipment to achieve targeted production rates, product quality and conversions costs
Construct and operate pilot units to demonstrate process technology and to determine scale factors critical for full-scale plant design
Participate in hazards evaluation to establish Safety, Health and Environmental procedures and controls
Develop a technology transfer package for detailed plant design and work with engineering to assure construction meeting business goals
Provide startup and troubleshooting support for process equipment as production begins
Monitor and support activities necessary for compliance with ISO9001:2015, Responsible Care and all other applicable regulatory standards and requirements.
Assist with the management of projects, production activities, facilities and personnel as directed to achieve production, reliability and cost improvements that contribute to continued success of the business.