[Hiring] Senior Process Engineer @Spartech

Role Description

The Senior Process Engineer is responsible for leading capital equipment projects that support the growth, modernization, safety, and optimization of plastics manufacturing operations. This position manages projects from concept through production startup, including identifying and developing equipment specifications, vendor evaluation, process design, commissioning, and ensuring compliance with all applicable safety and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Capital Planning & Equipment Strategy:
  • Evaluate manufacturing capacity requirements and identify capital equipment investments needed to support business growth.
  • Develop equipment specifications for extrusion, cast acrylic manufacturing, resin handling, material conveying, blending, automated packaging, robotics, and secondary operations.
• Equipment Procurement & Vendor Management:
  • Develop RFQs, technical specifications, and statements of work for capital equipment projects.
  • Solicit, review, and compare vendor quotations, technical proposals, and commercial terms.
• Project Management:
  • Lead capital equipment projects from concept through startup and full production validation.
• Equipment Installation & Commissioning:
  • Manage equipment delivery, rigging, installation, utility connections, and startup activities.
  • Coordinate facility modifications, electrical requirements, compressed air systems, chilled water systems, resin delivery systems, and process cooling infrastructure.
• Process Optimization & Continuous Improvement:
  • Analyze production performance following implementation and identify opportunities for optimization.
  • Support OEE improvement initiatives and manufacturing cost reduction programs.
  • Partner with Operations and Process Engineering teams to improve machine utilization, efficiency, and product quality.
• Safety, Regulatory & Compliance Responsibilities:
  • Lead the integration of safety requirements into all capital equipment projects from concept through startup.
  • Ensure equipment designs comply with OSHA regulations, machine guarding requirements, lockout/tagout (LOTO) standards, electrical safety requirements, and applicable ANSI, NFPA, and industry standards.
  • Drive a zero-injury culture by promoting safe work practices and proactively addressing safety concerns throughout project execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• 7+ years of experience managing capital equipment projects within a plastics manufacturing environment.
• Chemical manufacturing background.
• Experience with injection molding, extrusion, thermoforming, blow molding, or related plastics processing technologies.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Capital equipment acquisition and implementation.
• Plastics processing technologies.
• Injection molding and extrusion equipment.
• Manufacturing process optimization.
• Equipment validation and commissioning.
• Project management and budget administration.
• Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) implementation.
• Machine guarding and safeguarding systems.
• NFPA and ANSI standards compliance.
• Safety leadership and culture development.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision.
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Company paid Life & Long-term/Short-term disability programs.
• 401(k) with strong company match.
• 120 hours Paid Time Off (pro-rated based on hire date).
• 11 paid holidays.