Process Optimization Engineer

Ecovyst is a materials science, catalyst, and services company dedicated to creating innovative technologies that play a critical role in supporting ecological health and help our customers solve complex challenges. 

Our cutting-edge solutions span across two industry-leading businesses, Ecoservices and Advanced Materials and Catalyst. 

• Ecoservices is dedicated to services that have a positive impact on our planet. Our Ecoservices business provides specialty grade high purity virgin sulfuric acid for a number of diverse and growing end uses. 
• Advanced Materials and Catalyst Technologies specializes in silica supports and catalysts. This business allows us to develop innovative technologies that enable our customers and value chain partners to create sustainable products.

At Ecovyst, we are ready for change, and we believe that each of our team members can be a catalyst for positive change. 

Process Optimization Engineer

Our subsidiary, Ecoservices, is on the hunt for a Process Optimization Engineer to be based at our Baton Rouge, LA plant.

Responsibilities

• Applies engineering principles to design, modify, or develop facilities, testing, machines, equipment or processes used in processing Sulfuric Acid and/or Treatment Services in regeneration sulfuric acid units.
• Analyzes existing acid process, equipment, and performance to determine optimal plant operations across the site.
• Utilize OSI PI software to provide advanced troubleshooting for plant problems and review unit performance improvements.
• Maintain up-to-date SUMO data for the Site. (SUMO = Performance data that determines overall plant “well being” with respect to plant rate and efficiency of process equipment.
• Utilize technical information concerning manufacturing or processing techniques, materials, properties, and process advantages and limitations to create long-term improvements in the plants.
• Completes small capital project SCOPE development and execution of small projects (
• Develops and implements cross-unit project activities through the coordination of efforts of subcontractors, maintenance, production departments, and other operational personnel. Perform Scope activities which include, design, design review, establishes timeline, material procurement, resource allocation, project execution, coordinate effort between all involved parties, monitor/track progress to ensure adherence to schedule. Attend status meetings to ensure safety, and quality compliance.
• Develop plant skills and knowledge of the Regen sulfuric acid process to provide technical support to Operations, Maintenance, and Project support functions.
• Works diligently to reduce variable expenditures of plant, primarily natural gas & Caustic consumption.
• Works with units to ensure plant goals are met safely and effectively.
• Attend quarterly/other mandatory safety meetings
• Perform required safety audits (My Check Five, GSWP, PSSR, etc.)
• Be professional and ethical at all times and treat employees, contractors and customers respectfully.
• Other responsibilities as assigned by Process Optimization Manager.

Health, Safety, And Environmental Responsibilities

• Reviews and discusses safety incident occurrences on the electronic incident database (Enablon) within the plant.
• Provide technical support for safety resolutions as needed (i.e. Technical Design, What if, PSSR, MOC, SOP…).
• Assists in development of the safety training within the department and for MOC and unit specific items.
• Attends causal tree investigation meeting for accident/incident occurrences.
• Conducts environmental testing, interprets data, and modifies process to ensure compliance.
• Conducts environmental release calculations for gases and liquids for unit.
• Issue safe work permits including gas testing.
• Attends monthly and quarterly safety meetings.
• Participate in HAZOP studies for area.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree (B.S.) in Chemical Engineering from a four-year college or university
• Min 3-5 years of process optimalization engineer experience
• Ability to obtain a Transportation Worker's Identification Card
• Interprets a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form.
• Applies principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establishes facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Interprets an extensive variety of technical instructions, in books, manuals, and mathematical form.
• Deals with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Will utilize shop math including practical application of fractions, percentages ratio, and proportion.
• Reads periodicals, journals, manuals, dictionaries, thesauruses, and encyclopedias.
• Prepares summaries, memos, electronic messages and reports, using prescribed format, and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style.
• Leverage technical data to create various communications (email, presentation, executive summary, etc) to support technical determinations used in critical decision making.
• Participates in panel discussions and debates. Speaks extemporaneously on a variety of subjects to employees within the company.