Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or related field
5+ years of experience in chemical or elastomer manufacturing
Strong process engineering experience in production and scale-up
Prior experience in elastomers or rubber processing
Knowledge of heat transfer, mass transfer, and reaction kinetics
Responsibilities
Own and optimize elastomer processing operations
Establish and maintain critical process parameters
Monitor process capability to improve yield and efficiency
Partner with chemists to transition lab formulations to production
Define process windows for new materials
Lead plant trials and process qualifications
Investigate and resolve process-related issues
Benefits
Relocation assistance for qualifying candidates
Full Job Description
The role of the site Chemical Engineer is to support and optimize the manufacturing processes used to produce electrical safety products, including insulating gloves and sleeves. This role is responsible for translating material formulations into stable, scalable, and efficient production processes, ensuring consistent product quality and compliance with safety standards.
This role will work closely with chemists and manufacturing engineers and serve as the technical bridge between formulation and production, with a strong focus on process engineering, equipment performance, and continuous improvement.
This is an onsite position in North Charleston, SC.
*Relocation assistance is available for qualifying candidates.*
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Process Engineering & Optimization
Own and optimize core processing operations involving elastomers, including mixing and compounding, dipping and curing.
Establish and maintain critical process parameters (temperature profiles, cycle times, viscosity control, cure conditions)
Monitor process capability and drive improvements in yield, throughput, and cost efficiency
Scale-Up & Process Transfer
Partner with Polymer Chemists to transition formulations from lab to production
Define process windows and operating envelopes for new materials
Lead plant trials, validation runs, and process qualification activities
Ensure repeatability and robustness of new product introductions
Manufacturing Support & Troubleshooting
Investigate and resolve process-related issues (e.g., defects, variability, scrap)
Conduct root cause analysis using structured problem-solving methodologies (e.g., DMAIC, 5-Why)
Support production teams in real-time troubleshooting and process adjustments
Quality, Safety & Compliance
Support the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of chemical safety standards, ensuring regulatory compliance and alignment with site operations.
Ensure processes consistently meet product specifications and applicable standards (ASTM/IEC for electrical PPE)
Support internal and external audits related to manufacturing processes
Collaborate with Quality to analyze trends and drive defect reduction
Continuous Improvement
Lead and or support initiatives to improve process efficiency, cycle time and yield
Lead root cause analysis and resolve complex, non-routine process and quality issues to ensure stable, efficient operations.
Utilize Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma principles to drive measurable improvements
REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or related field
5+ years of experience in chemical or elastomer manufacturing environments
Strong experience with process engineering in a production setting, scale-up and process validation.
Prior experience in elastomers or rubber processing (e.g., NR, butyl, EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer))
Working knowledge of:
Heat transfer, mass transfer, and reaction kinetics as applied to manufacturing
Continuous and/or batch processing systems
Preferred
Familiarity with dipping or coating processes
Exposure to vulcanization (sulfur/peroxide curing systems)
Experience with ASTM/IEC standards related to electrical insulation products
Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher)
About Protective Industrial Products
Protective Industrial Products (PIP) is a global leader in hand protection and PPE (personal protective equipment) solutions. With a mission to keep people safe, PIP offers a wide range of products including gloves, safety glasses, hard hats, hearing protection, and more. The company serves a variety of industries including construction, oil and gas, food processing, and healthcare. PIP has a strong commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, with initiatives focused on reducing waste, conserving energy, and supporting local communities.
