Senior Process Engineer

Koch•Toledo, OR

46d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Process Engineer provides technical leadership for safe, reliable, and cost-effective operation of a Kraft linerboard facility. This role drives process optimization, quality improvement, production efficiency, waste reduction, and operating discipline across mill systems. The position partners with Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, Quality, Environmental, and Capital Projects teams to solve chronic issues and implement sustainable improvements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Paper Science, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline.
Seven or more years of process engineering, production, or technical experience in paper, pulp, packaging, or continuous manufacturing.
Demonstrated ability to use data to solve complex operational problems and deliver measurable results.
Experience leading trials, process changes, root cause analysis, and cross-functional improvement projects.
Working knowledge of safety, environmental, quality, and process control requirements in an industrial setting.
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, DCS, historian, quality, and production reporting systems.
Strong communication skills with the ability to influence operations, maintenance, technical, and leadership teams.

Nice To Haves

Kraft linerboard or containerboard mill experience.
Knowledge of fiberline operations, OCC systems, additives, starch, steam, vacuum, and water balance management.
Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, statistical process control, design of experiments, or structured improvement methods.
Exposure to capital project development, process design, equipment installation, commissioning, and startup support.
Demonstrated success mentoring engineers, technical specialists, or operating teams.

Responsibilities

Lead process improvement efforts to increase productivity, runnability, first-pass quality, yield, and overall equipment effectiveness.
Analyze process, production, quality, and DCS data to identify trends, losses, bottlenecks, and improvement opportunities.
Troubleshoot issues related to basis weight, moisture, strength, formation, drainage, pressing, drying, chemical usage, broke handling, and sheet defects.
Partner with Operations and Maintenance to conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions.
Plan, execute, and document trials to improve fiber utilization, chemical performance, energy efficiency, water usage, productivity, and quality.
Support grade development, customer quality requirements, process capability improvements, and operating standardization.
Use structured problem-solving, statistical analysis, and process control tools to reduce variability and stabilize operations.
Maintain process documentation, control plans, operating guidelines, and training materials.
Mentor engineers, technical resources, operators, and team members on process fundamentals and best practices.
Support capital projects through scope development, design review, commissioning, startup, and optimization.
Ensure process changes meet safety, environmental, quality, and regulatory expectations.
Track and communicate KPIs such as production rate, downtime, waste, reject rates, energy, chemical cost, and quality performance.