Junior Process Engineer

Job Title: Junior Process Engineer (Run Engineer)

Job Description

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the operations team, leveraging problem-solving skills and technical expertise to support safe and efficient production.
• Own day-to-day production troubleshooting and lead cross-functional teams to address and resolve production issues.
• Collect, categorize, and analyze lost production events that prevent achievement of the supply plan, and develop actions to reduce recurrence.
• Monitor and collect data on yield, energy usage, and sustainability metrics to achieve cost conversion and sustainability goals.
• Measure machinery uptime and identify maintenance problem areas to support reliable, low-cost, high-quality production.
• Respond urgently to plant issues and emergencies, providing timely technical support to restore safe and stable operations.
• Act as a unit technical expert during unplanned events and execute effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Provide expertise in diagnosing and optimizing plant raw material and utility usage, including yield improvement, waste reduction, and utility efficiency.
• Validate and improve the technical skills of operations team members through coaching, feedback, and on-the-job support.
• Support the maintenance of up-to-date and accurate standard operating procedures (SOPs) and other process documentation.
• Understand overall site integration and provide input to optimize the manufacturing process across units and systems.
• Learn and apply continuous improvement, value creation, and financial acumen skills to accelerate profitability and low-cost service.
• Drive high levels of safety, quality, responsiveness, and reliability for internal and external customers.
• Develop operator and supervisor training programs to support consistent, safe, and efficient operations.
• Mentor new engineers on site processes, technology, and best practices to support their development.
• Develop and maintain SOPs and related documentation in alignment with site and regulatory requirements.
• Lead or assist in root cause analysis (RCA) and corrective actions (CA) to improve site health, safety, and environmental (HSE) performance.
• Maintain and monitor key operating metrics, identify trends, and recommend improvements to enhance performance.
• Engage with operators to understand existing processes, identify what is working and what is not, and test new process changes, clearly explaining methods and results.
• Support optimization of waste management, utility usage, and compliance-related processes such as ISO documentation and regulatory requirements.
• Contribute to aging equipment assessments and obsolescence studies to support modernization and long-term reliability of the plant.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and external contractors on process implementation and improvement projects.

Essential Skills

• At least 1 year of experience in a chemical manufacturing plant environment, which may include strong co-op or internship experience, working with cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated experience leading change and influencing teams, even without direct reports.
• Experience with change control processes in a manufacturing or industrial setting.
• Hands-on experience utilizing lean processes or methodologies to drive improved key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Practical experience conducting or participating in root cause analysis (RCA) to resolve production or safety issues.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering is required (no associate's level degrees), with a preference for Chemical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering.
• Strong process improvement mindset, with the ability to assess existing processes, identify gaps, and implement improvements.
• Ability to work primarily on the manufacturing floor and remain engaged with operations and maintenance teams.
• Solid analytical and data interpretation skills for monitoring yields, energy usage, and other performance metrics.
• Effective communication skills to interact with operators, engineers, supervisors, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Proven ability to respond quickly and effectively to plant issues and emergencies while maintaining a safety-first approach.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Exposure to or knowledge of ISO 9000 or ISO 9001 compliance and documentation practices.
• Familiarity with regulatory documentation and processes in a chemical manufacturing environment.
• Awareness of environmental regulations and requirements, including those related to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• Experience with waste management and utility usage optimization in a plant setting.
• Experience working with or evaluating aging equipment and participating in obsolescence studies.
• Background in continuous improvement, value creation, or financial acumen related to manufacturing operations.
• Interest in and aptitude for mentoring peers and supporting training programs for operators and supervisors.
• Desire and capability to grow into a Senior Process Engineer role or similar advanced engineering position.
• Comfort working autonomously while collaborating with cross-functional groups such as operations, maintenance, reliability, and systems engineering.

Work Environment

You will spend approximately 75-85% of your time on the manufacturing floor, working hands-on with operations and maintenance personnel. The position involves frequent interaction with internal cross-functional teams and coordination with external contractors for process implementation and improvement projects. The work emphasizes safety, reliability, and continuous improvement, and offers a high level of autonomy, with clear opportunities to progress into more Senior process engineering roles.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Saint Louis, MO.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $41.00 - $48.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Saint Louis,MO.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 25, 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.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.