Process Engineer, Entry Level

About the Role

The Entry-Level Process Engineer supports safe, reliable, and efficient operation of a Kraft linerboard facility by analyzing process performance, troubleshooting production issues, supporting improvement projects, and helping optimize quality, cost, throughput, energy, and environmental performance. This role works closely with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Environmental, Safety, and Engineering to learn mill systems and deliver practical solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor process data from pulp mill, paper machine, stock preparation, chemical recovery, utilities, wastewater, and finishing areas to identify trends, losses, and improvement opportunities.
• Troubleshoot production, quality, reliability, and environmental issues using engineering principles, data analysis, and structured problem solving.
• Support optimization of furnish quality, refining, drainage, basis weight, moisture, chemical usage, steam, water, energy, and machine efficiency.
• Participate in mill trials, audits, root cause investigations, and follow-up actions to improve safety, quality, productivity, cost, and reliability.
• Create and maintain process documentation, operating guidance, process flow diagrams, balances, dashboards, reports, and technical summaries.
• Partner with operators and supervisors to understand constraints, improve process control, and reinforce consistent operating practices.
• Support projects through scope development, data collection, cost justification, commissioning, and performance validation.
• Work in alignment with safety standards, environmental requirements, quality systems, and regulatory expectations.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Paper Science, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related technical field.
• Interest in manufacturing, process optimization, pulp and paper operations, and hands-on technical problem solving.
• Ability to analyze data, interpret trends, draw conclusions, and recommend practical actions.
• Basic understanding of process safety, environmental compliance, process control, statistics, heat and mass transfer, fluid mechanics, and unit operations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; willingness to learn mill information systems, data historians, control systems, and reporting tools.
• Ability to work in an industrial environment and build effective relationships with hourly and salaried team members.

Qualifications That Will Put You Ahead

• Internship, co-op, or project experience in pulp and paper, chemical processing, manufacturing, utilities, wastewater treatment, or heavy industry.
• Exposure to Lean, Six Sigma, Statistical Process Control tools, reliability improvement, root cause analysis, or structured problem-solving tools.
• Familiarity with Kraft pulping, chemical recovery, papermaking, linerboard grades, recycled fiber, wet end chemistry, or process control systems.