Process Development Engineer

Oil-Dri Corporation of America is a leading manufacturer and supplier of specialty sorbent products for consumer and business-to-business markets that has been voted as a Top 100 workplaces in the Chicago Tribune. Oil-Dris products are sold in the pet care animal health fluids purification agricultural sports field industrial and automotive markets. Oil-Dri controls millions of tons of specialty mineral reserves including calcium bentonite attapulgite and diatomaceous shale. The companys mines and manufacturing facilities are located in Georgia Mississippi Illinois and California. Oil-Dri is a family-controlled and operated organization that emphasizes honesty integrity and accountability. The company is dedicated to fulfilling its mission to Create Value From Sorbent Minerals.

Role Overview

Assist with and lead the process development of new product development projects to transition from laboratory concept to full commercial production at Oil-Dri manufacturing locations.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist/lead process development projects to scale up new products from lab sample sizes to full production loads.
• Design and conduct process studies on a pilot plant scale assembling the appropriate equipment team members and raw materials. Plan out projects with timelines projected costs and follow up with written reports on these projects. Clean all equipment and process area used (in the studies) right after the study is completed.
• Communicate project plans with all involved teammates and cross-functional members (via meetings emails phone calls etc.) so that all are aware of the deliverables and timelines.
• Collaborate and work with internal and external teams to design production plant process studies including managing team members timelines raw material acquisitions and projects costs.
• Assist Operations/Manufacturing with troubleshooting issues and/or process improvement projects with newly launched products or existing products.
• Manage and conduct projects with external teams including toll processors vendors and customers.
• Keep meticulous records of all internal and external process studies including process cycles equipment used raw materials results and test findings.
• Perform various physical and chemical characterization tests on prototypes and keep records on tests results.
• Provide support to internal and external teams by conducting various TSRs (Technical Service Requests) and follow up with written reports.
• Collaborate with the IC Safety Team to ensure all process and test studies are conducted according to Oil-Dri Safety Standards.
• Maintain all process and test equipment in the IC Pilot Plant and assist Facilities Specialist with any maintenance or other tasks.

• Perform other related duties as assigned to support business growth.

Qualifications

Education:

• BS Mechanical or Chemical Engineering and 2 5 years related experience.

Skills & Abilities:

• 2-5 years process experience with pumps spraying systems mixing technologies drying systems and other process systems.
• Proficient with MS Office.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.
• Ability to lift 50 pounds and work in a warehouse environment.
• Forklift experience is a plus but forklift training and certification will be provided.
• 25% - 50% travel possible.

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation

• Salary Range: $81275 - $101648

Benefits

• 401(k) with 6% match (Fully Vested at 2 Years)
• Annual Incentive Bonus
• Annual Merit increase opportunity
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• 11 Corporate Holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• Pre-Tax Transit
• Fitness & Gym Reimbursement
• Employer Contribution - Health Dental Vision

• Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Oil-Dri is committed to providing equal opportunity for all teammates and qualified candidates without regard to race color creed religion sex age sexual orientation national origin ancestry citizenship marital status mental or physical disability veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local laws. Accordingly all employment decisions and personnel actions or programs such as hiring promotion discipline compensation benefits transfers reductions in workforce and training etc. will be consistent with the principle of equal employment opportunity.