Process Engineer (Polymer Manufacturing)

Engineering

Spartanburg, South Carolina

Professional Direct Hire

Sep 1, 2026

HTI is recruiting two experienced Chemical Process Engineers for a global manufacturing company at their Spartanburg, SC plant. These are full-time, direct hire positions.

Salary range is $85,000 - $140,000 / year, depending on experience and education

Work hours: Typically Monday - Friday 8am-5pm or 7am-4pm

Relocation assistance is available for candidates who would need to relocate.

Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Polymer Engineering or Materials Engineering

4+ years of Process Engineer experience in a plant that manufactured polymers, specialty chemicals, plastics, or resins.

Experience with polymerization reactors, extrusion systems, compounding lines, or pelletizing operations.

Strong understanding of chemical process operations and polymer manufacturing processes.

Experience analyzing manufacturing data and implementing process improvements.

Knowledge of process safety principles and industrial safety practices.

Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.

Effective communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

SAP/ERP experience

Familiarity with Statistical Process Control (SPC) preferred

Lean/Six Sigma certification or training preferred

Experience with Minitab, Aspen Plus, Aspen HYSYS, JMP, or similar analytical tools.

Job Duties:

Support and optimize manufacturing operations within a specialty polymers production facility. This role is responsible for improving process efficiency, product quality, safety performance, and manufacturing reliability while supporting the production of high-performance polymer products used in diverse industrial and consumer applications.

Process Optimization & Manufacturing Excellence

Monitor and optimize polymerization, extrusion, pelletizing, and solid-state polymerization operations.

Analyze production data to improve yield, throughput, process capability, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

Identify and implement process improvements that reduce waste, increase productivity, and enhance product consistency.

Support process scale-up activities from pilot production to full commercial manufacturing.

Develop process models, mass balances, and production performance metrics.

Production Support & Troubleshooting

Provide daily technical support to manufacturing operations.

Investigate process deviations, off-specification material, equipment issues, and customer quality concerns.

Lead root cause analysis and corrective action initiatives using structured problem-solving methodologies.

Support production startups, shutdowns, grade changes, and new product introductions.

Work closely with operators and supervisors to maintain stable and efficient operations.

Quality & Product Performance

Partner with Quality and Technical Service teams to ensure products meet customer specifications.

Evaluate critical polymer properties including viscosity, molecular weight, melting point, density, particle size, and mechanical performance characteristics.

Support product qualification efforts and process validation activities.

Drive initiatives that improve product consistency and reduce quality defects.

Safety & Regulatory Compliance

Maintain compliance with all company safety standards and regulatory requirements.

Participate in Process Hazard Analyses (PHA), HAZOP studies, Management of Change (MOC), and Process Safety Management (PSM) programs.

Identify and mitigate process safety risks associated with chemical reactions, raw materials, and polymer processing equipment.

Promote a strong safety culture throughout the facility.

Capital Projects & Engineering Support

Support capital improvement and equipment installation projects.

Develop process flow diagrams (PFDs), P&IDs, equipment specifications, and operating procedures.

Collaborate with maintenance, engineering, contractors, and equipment vendors.

Participate in commissioning and startup activities for new equipment and process modifications.

Continuous Improvement

Lead Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma initiatives.

Identify cost-saving opportunities related to raw materials, utilities, production efficiency, and waste reduction.

Enhance process reliability and reduce manufacturing downtime.

Support sustainability initiatives focused on energy efficiency, recycling, and emissions reduction.

Benefits include:

Medical/vision/dental

Annual bonus opportunity

401K with company match

PTO

Paid holidays

EAP

HSA/FSA

Life insurance

Fitness, health and wellness discounts

Growth and development opportunities

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