Process Engineer at Huntsman in McIntosh, AL

Job Description:

The Process Engineer provides process engineering support for site production units and utilities while helping make manufacturing processes safer, more reliable, and more consistent. The position leads technical problem-solving, supports new product introductions, improves unit operations, and ensures compliance with site and corporate policies and procedures. The role may also supervise or provide backup support to Production Engineers as business needs arise and offers opportunities to grow into broader leadership responsibilities.

The successful candidate is expected to operate with minimal supervision, apply sound engineering judgment, influence priorities without direct authority, and demonstrate personal ownership for safety, quality, customer service, and operational excellence.

Essential Responsibilities, including but not limited to:

Safety, Environmental & Process Safety

• Drive a culture of EHS excellence within Operations by making safety an integral part of everyday work and decision-making.

• Ensure compliance with applicable federal and state EHS requirements, corporate standards, site policies, and procedures.

• Lead, participate in, and assign incident investigations; identify root causes and implement effective corrective actions.

• Participate in management of change (MOC), process hazard analyses (PHAs), pre-startup safety reviews (PSSRs), and PHA revalidations as a technical process resource.

• Gather and report environmental and regulatory data as required, including support related to Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulated materials and wastes.

Process Engineering & Production Support

• Provide technical support to production units and site utilities using sound chemical engineering principles and knowledge of unit operations.

• Track overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and lead root-cause analyses to eliminate major or recurring causes of efficiency loss, scrap, and downtime.

• Use statistical analysis and statistical process control (SPC) for critical process parameters to improve process capability and consistency.

• Propose and implement projects that optimize unit operations, improve process safety, increase reliability, and strengthen product quality.

• Serve as the technical owner for major site utilities, including the thermal oxidizer and refrigeration units.

• Support the transition of automation engineering initiatives into production and maintenance programs and procedures, including safety instrumented systems, alarm management, and flex-batch applications.

New Products, Projects & Capital Improvements

• Lead the safe and timely introduction of new products to production lines in collaboration with cross-functional teams.

• Develop scopes of work; initiate MOCs, PHAs, and PSSRs; prepare or revise costing estimates; review environmental and regulatory requirements; and develop SOPs and batch sheets.

• Coordinate training, plant introduction trials, production coverage, and communication of trial results and recommendations.

• Provide technical support to Project Engineering in developing project scopes and completing equipment and instrument sizing and specifications.

• Prepare return-on-investment documentation to justify capital improvements and leverage external vendor engineering expertise when needed.

Continuous Improvement & Customer Focus

• Develop strategies that strengthen customer service and continuously improve the reliability and capability of processes and products.

• Partner with the Quality Control Manager on customer-related technical matters and corrective actions.

• Participate in site-wide improvement initiatives by conducting engineering studies and providing technical and project support.

• Apply OEE, Lean, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement tools to improve safety, quality, productivity, and cost performance.

Leadership, Team Development & Communication

• Influence site priorities and improvements without direct authority while building effective relationships across functions and levels.
• Supervise and provide backup support to Production Engineers on a temporary basis when special needs arise.
• When applicable, develop direct reports by setting meaningful and measurable performance and development goals aligned with site and business priorities.
• Communicate technical information clearly through professional presentations, technical writing, and interactions ranging from the shop floor to management and third parties.
• Demonstrate ownership, decisive action, adaptability, business judgment, and a collaborative team mindset.

Qualifications

You must possess the minimum qualifications below to be initially considered for this position. Preferred qualifications are in addition to the minimum requirements and are considered a plus factor in identifying top candidates.

The candidate must have an unrestricted right to work for Huntsman in the United States.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering.

• 5+ years of relevant experience, preferably in process or production engineering within chemical manufacturing.

• Strong root-cause analysis skills with demonstrated ability to develop and implement corrective actions.

• Strong statistical analysis skills, including the implementation of SPC for critical process parameters.

• Proven understanding and practical application of chemical engineering principles in manufacturing unit operations.

• Practical knowledge of process safety requirements and applicable OSHA and EPA regulations.

• Demonstrated ability to organize incomplete or unstructured data, analyze problems, and implement practical solutions.

• Demonstrated project experience from concept development through field implementation and operating verification.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including technical writing and professional presentations.

• Proficiency with Microsoft programs, internet, and email tools, with the ability to learn and use SAP, LIMS, PI, and other engineering or mathematical applications as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous plant supervisory experience.

• Experience with OEE, continuous improvement, and Lean tools.

• Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma experience.

• Experience supporting SAP, LIMS, PI, process automation, SIS, alarm management, or batch manufacturing systems.

Success in This Role

• Demonstrate visible leadership and personal accountability for safe, ethical, and efficient manufacturing of high-quality materials valued by customers.

• Use sound engineering judgment and decisive, fact-based problem-solving to improve safety, reliability, quality, and process capability.

• Build trust and alignment across Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Project Engineering, EHS, and other site functions.

• Turn technical ideas into practical, sustainable improvements that can be implemented consistently in the field.

• Communicate tactfully and effectively while influencing priorities both vertically and horizontally across the organization.

• Remain flexible and self-motivated in response to changing instructions, site needs, and organizational priorities.

Working Conditions

The role requires frequent computer use and a combination of sitting, standing, and walking. The position may involve infrequent business travel, job call-in, lifting or carrying, bending, stooping, reaching, exposure to loud noise or chemicals, and work in elevated or confined spaces. Work requirements must be performed in accordance with site safety procedures and with appropriate training and personal protective equipment.

This position may involve materials regulated under RCRA. Required training, which may include computer-based, classroom, and on-the-job instruction, will be provided before involvement with regulated wastes.

Additional Locations: