Chemical Engineer

Job Title: Chemical Engineer

Job Description

The Chemical Engineer serves as the site technical authority for chemical processes within a high-hazard specialty chemicals manufacturing facility. This role combines hands-on plant support with full lifecycle capital project execution, from early concept through detailed design, construction, commissioning, and startup. The engineer drives safe, reliable, and efficient operations by leading process design, resolving complex technical issues, and continuously optimizing chemical processes. In parallel, this position owns the development and execution of a multi-year capital expenditure roadmap, managing scope, cost, schedule, and contractor performance. The role partners closely with Operations, Process Safety, and Site Leadership as the go-to expert for process decisions, continuous improvement, and regulatory compliance in a PSM-regulated environment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the site technical authority for chemical processes in a high-hazard specialty chemicals manufacturing facility.
• Lead advanced process engineering activities, including mass and energy balances, development and review of PFDs and P&IDs, reaction engineering, separations, and heat and mass transfer analysis.
• Own end-to-end capital project leadership, from concept development through detailed design, construction, commissioning, and handover to operations.
• Define project scope, develop cost estimates, and apply value engineering principles to optimize capital investments.
• Develop and manage a multi-year CAPEX roadmap that aligns with site safety, reliability, capacity, and strategic growth objectives.
• Lead or facilitate HAZOPs and PHAs, ensuring robust hazard identification and risk mitigation for new and existing processes.
• Drive Process Safety Management activities, including Management of Change (MOC), and support OSHA PSM compliance for high-hazard chemical systems.
• Design and commission safe and reliable chemical systems that meet both safety and productivity requirements.
• Troubleshoot complex plant issues, perform root cause analysis, and implement sustainable solutions to improve yield, throughput, reliability, and cost performance.
• Optimize batch and continuous processes in fine and specialty chemicals manufacturing, focusing on process stability and product quality.
• Enhance process control strategies and instrumentation performance to improve operability, safety, and efficiency.
• Oversee external engineering firms and contractors, ensuring technical quality, schedule adherence, and cost control.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers, supporting their development in process engineering and project execution.
• Collaborate closely with Operations, EHS, Maintenance, and Leadership to align technical decisions with operational needs and business goals.
• Support environmental compliance by applying knowledge of environmental regulations affecting chemical operations in process and project design.
• Communicate clearly and effectively across operations, engineering, and leadership levels to support decision-making and gain alignment on key initiatives.
• Balance urgent, unplanned operational needs and projects with ongoing strategic initiatives and long-term CAPEX programs.
• Act as a visible technical leader on site, building trust through hands-on engagement, sound judgment, and data-driven recommendations.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering.
• 10+ years of experience in chemical manufacturing, combining plant operations and project work.
• Strong in process engineering within high-hazard chemical manufacturing environments.
• Proven experience in fine or specialty chemicals manufacturing, including batch and continuous processes.
• Demonstrated success commissioning new or modified chemical processes in an operating plant.
• Advanced skills in mass and energy balances, process flow diagrams (PFDs), piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), reaction engineering, separations, and heat and mass transfer.
• Direct experience leading or facilitating HAZOPs and process hazard analyses (PHAs).
• Strong understanding of OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) requirements and Management of Change (MOC) processes.
• Ability to design and commission safe chemical systems that meet rigorous process safety standards.
• Experience leading capital projects from concept through commissioning, including scope definition, cost estimation, and value engineering.
• Hands-on plant troubleshooting experience, including root cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions.
• Experience in process improvement focused on yield, throughput, reliability, and cost reduction.
• Familiarity with process simulation tools such as Aspen, HYSYS, or similar software.
• Knowledge of environmental regulations that affect chemical manufacturing operations.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and handle urgent or unplanned projects without compromising long-term strategic initiatives.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to engage effectively with operations, engineering, and site leadership.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working in a PSM-regulated, high-hazard specialty chemical environment.
• in both batch and continuous chemical processes in fine or specialty chemicals.
• Experience improving process control strategies and instrumentation performance.
• Experience overseeing external engineering firms and contractors on capital projects.
• Ability to provide mentorship and technical guidance to less experienced engineers.
• Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and support data-driven decision-making at the site level.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced environment that requires balancing long-term strategy with immediate operational needs.
• Interest in a high-impact technical authority role with significant influence on plant safety, performance, and capital investment decisions.
• Motivation to own projects end-to-end rather than focusing only on design or support phases.
• Desire for hands-on engineering responsibility in a complex manufacturing environment, with direct access to site and leadership.

Work Environment

This position is based on-site at a manufacturing facility in Salisbury, NC, supporting high-hazard, PSM-regulated specialty chemical operations. The work environment includes a combination of plant floor presence for troubleshooting and operational support, office-based engineering design work, and project execution activities. The role involves frequent collaboration with Operations, EHS, Maintenance, and Site Leadership in a fast-paced setting that balances long-term strategic initiatives with urgent operational priorities. The facility uses advanced process engineering tools, process control and instrumentation systems, and typical chemical plant equipment and utilities. The environment emphasizes safety, process safety management, and regulatory compliance while offering significant visibility and interaction with leadership.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Spencer, NC.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $70000.00 - $170000.00/yr.

PTO, 401k, High Growth Opportunity

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Spencer,NC.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 12, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.

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