Associate Engineer

Overview:

As an associate engineer assigned to the Formulations Kilo Lab, you will be responsible for weekly scheduling, EHS compliance, mechanical integrity program development & execution, and be hands on with laboratory operations. The associate engineer is expected spend approximately 35% of their time on equipment validation and coordination/scheduling activities, 35% on EHS compliance & mechanical integrity, and 30% preparing and testing proprietary liquid and solid formulations.

Responsibilities:

•    Prepare large scale experimental agricultural chemical formulations for development testing using kilo lab equipment (mixers/blenders/mills/extruders etc.).
•    Assist lead engineer with process development on new formulations and formulation technologies.
•    Ensure Kilo Lab PHA’s are complete and up to date.
•    Support, populate and update formulation databases.
•    Coordinate and conduct the Formulations Kilo Lab permit to operate meetings.
•    Coordinate and participate in safety reviews and preparation of SOP’s for new kilo lab equipment or processes.
•    Ensure the Kilo Lab is in compliance with all site-wide and corporate EHS regulations including documenting safety concerns as well as near-miss incidents.
•    Establish and maintain Kilo Lab mechanical integrity program including the development of a preventative maintenance program.  Coordinate with Corporate Engineering and site facility maintenance as needed to execute.
•    When necessary, support start-up for formulations transferred to an FMC or contract manufacturing plant, including continued optimization work and troubleshooting when upsets occur.  

Required Education:

Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering

Qualifications:
•    A minimum of 3 years of operating experience with crop protection or specialty chemical formulations development or commercial production.
•    Experience in the agricultural chemical industry preferred.
•    Experience in a chemical laboratory, kilo lab, or pilot plant is highly desirable.
•    Experience with computer databases preferred. 
•    Knowledge and comfort with equipment maintenance and repair is desirable.
•    Accurate and complete record-keeping is critical for work to be in compliance with GLP and other regulatory standards. 
•    Strong interpersonal skills and willingness to work in a flexible environment with multiple competing priorities. 
•    Experience working under the Process Safety Code is desirable and a strong safety ethic.