Senior Process Engineer

GENERAL SUMMARY

The Senior Process Engineer will be responsible for the development, design, and implementation of the Company’s synthetic organic chemical manufacturing processes through the course of scale-up to commercial production. The Engineer will collaborate with the VP of Operations, and R&D and manufacturing teams to transition new products from R&D to pilot to manufacturing scale. The Senior Process Engineer will bring to bear engineering fundamentals, practical scale-up knowledge and operational skill, with particular know-how from fine chemical environments and multi-step fine chemical manufacturing, to ensure the success of our growing company.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Design

• Develops process flowsheets, performs capital and operating cost analyses of process options, and makes recommendations to the technical and business team.

• Leads and participates in the development and review of design packages, including the Design Basis Document, Process Narrative, heat and material balances, and process flow diagrams, P&IDs, through to fabrication

• Works with automation process control; hardware, software and instrumentation; Programmable Logic Controllers [PLC] or Distributed Control Systems [DCS]

• Specifies equipment, piping, and controls and develops plans to install, startup, and operate new manufacturing equipment

• Contributes to contractor selection by preparing design documents, bid documents, and reviewing bid proposals

• Applies process modeling skills to optimize the flowsheet and debottleneck the process

• Works with chemists to perform lab evaluations of new materials synthetic processes to determine the feasibility of use in manufacturing

• Applies statistical analysis to make sound decisions

Manufacturing

• Writes or supports process protocols and develops Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for implementation of new products and manufacturing processes

• Supports the integrity and improvement of processes at both pilot- and production-scale based on statistical and process control techniques to assess and reduce process variance

• Plans and sets up Design-of-Experiments to optimize processes, take measurements and interpret data for finalized process specifications

• Performs RCA (Root Cause Analysis) techniques to identify the cause-and-effect relationship, which are causing any process issues

• Leads efforts to reduce cycle times, improve quality, improve batch yields, and reduction in overall manufacturing costs

• Initiates and maintains contacts with key technical resources, including 3rd party manufacturers

• Assess toll manufacturing and qualify suppliers as needed to maintain required level of operations

• Creates and/or processes Engineering Change Notifications (ECN’s)

• Facilitates and supports improvement projects, maintenance projects and aids in process troubleshooting, including Process Control Systems, instrumentation and equipment

• Assists with training operators and staff when applicable

Safety, Health, Environmental, Quality Control

• Ensures that the full range of SHE & Quality aspects of capital projects are considered/ assessed and integrated into the design, construction, and commissioning

• Follows existing safety regulations, leads and/or participates in Process Hazard Analysis (PHA), safety reviews and HAZOP meetings

• Adheres to and supports the implementation and improvement of all safety, health and environmental guidelines and programs

QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree (Masters or Ph.D.) in Chemical or Industrial Engineering with 5 to 10+ years relevant industrial experience, or Bachelor’s degree with significant relevant industrial experience

• Must possess experience in process development, scale-up and manufacturing in a batch/fine chemical environment, particularly in organic chemical synthesis and manufacturing

• Experience with hazardous materials including flammables and corrosives required

• Demonstrated experience in scoping, designing of safe & robust chemical processes; procurement, installation, and operation of specialty chemical manufacturing equipment

• In depth knowledge of unit operations where mixing, temperature control, and material addition are critical; including reactions, extractions, evaporation, filtration, drying, crystallization, chromatography and the utilities that support them

• Ability to create process narratives, flow diagrams, P&IDs, and fabrication drawings

• Knowledge of Aspen Plus, SuperPro, or other simulation software is a strong plus

• Hands-on attitude and desire to work a lab/pilot plant environment

• Effective oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills

• Ability to effectively work individually and in a team with minimal supervision

• Ability to formulate and present ideas in a convincing and persuasive manner

• Knowledge and understanding of ISO and other relevant regulatory and quality requirements – specifically as related to the manufacture of specialty and fine chemicals

• Knowledge of Design for Manufacturing, Design of Experiments, and statistical methods

• Minor travel requirement to vendor, pilot, and 3rd party sites, largely in the US

Benefits include Health, Dental, Paid Time Off and 401K

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to do this job. The above is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required.

Disclaimers:

Applicants, as well as position incumbents, who become disabled as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act must be able to perform the essential job functions (as listed) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by management on a case by case basis.

Nano-C is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity. Applicants for employment and employees are reviewed on their individual qualifications for a position. Under no circumstances will Nano-C discriminate against qualified persons on the basis of race, color, religious creed, retaliation, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, disability, mental illness, genetics, choice of health insurance, marital status, age, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited under applicable law.