Back

Junior Process Engineer

Imerys

Location Pin Icon
Chesapeake, VA
LOCATION

Job Description

As posted by the hiring company

Job Overview:

The Company

Imerys is the world’s leading supplier of mineral-based specialty solutions for the industry with €3.6 billion in revenue and 12,400 employees in 40 countries in 2024. The Group offers high value-added and functional solutions to a wide range of industries and fast-growing markets such as solutions for the energy transition and sustainable construction, as well as natural solutions for consumer goods. Imerys draws on its understanding of applications, technological knowledge, and expertise in material science to deliver solutions which contribute essential properties to customers’ products and their performance. As part of its commitment to responsible development, Imerys promotes environmentally friendly products and processes in addition to supporting its customers in their decarbonization efforts.

Imerys is listed on Euronext Paris (France) with the ticker symbol NK.PA.

The Position

Junior Process Engineer

Job Summary

KEY TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES

Combustion & Process Control

· Combustion Management: Utilize an understanding of combustion principles to monitor the Kiln’s performance.

· Environmental Compliance: Perform regular stack (chimney) measurements and emission monitoring.

· Operator Guidance: Analyze real-time process data and immediately advise Kiln Operators on corrective actions if stack parameters or combustion efficiency drift out of compliance.

· Troubleshooting: Perform root-cause analysis on production issues (e.g., chemistry deviations, throughput bottlenecks) and propose corrective actions.

Field Inspections & Reliability

· Plant Inspections: Perform routine and shutdown inspections of major plant equipment, specifically Ball Mills, the Rotary Kiln, and the Cooler.

· Condition Assessment: Monitor refractory wear, liner conditions, and internal components. Gather data to predict maintenance needs and prevent unplanned downtime.

·Reporting: Compile inspection findings into technical reports and formally present recommendations to the Maintenance and Production teams.

Safety & Operational Excellence (OpEx)

· Safety Leadership: Actively participate in Serious 7 audits and conduct VFL (Visible Felt Leadership) safety visits to demonstrate the plant’s commitment to safety.

·I-Cube Champion: Serve as the active OpEx Champion, driving initiatives that align with global operational goals.

· KPI Analysis: Track performance indicators (Off-Spec material, Energy consumption, % of Maximum daily capacity) and propose continuous improvement plans.

SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES REQUIREMENTS

Technical Competencies

· Industry Knowledge: Understanding of comminution (crushing/grinding), pyro-processing (kiln operation), and material handling is highly desired.

· Fundamentals: Demonstrated understanding of engineering, chemistry, mineralogy, and math.

· Data & Reporting: Strong computer skills (MS Office/Google Suite). Ability to visualize data and present complex technical findings to non-technical audiences or maintenance leadership.

Soft Skills

·Interpersonal: Ability to build rapport with diverse teams—from working with Lab Techs and Operators to Maintenance crews and external contractors.

· Problem Solving: Strong analytical mindset to troubleshoot issues in a high-pressure production environment.

  • Needs to have the ability to manage multiple ongoing projects at one time with ability to be dynamic for changing priorities.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

  • Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical, Mechanical, or related Engineering discipline.

  • Experience: 0–2 years of engineering experience. Previous exposure to a heavy industrial environment (Cement, Lime, Pulp & Paper, or Mining) is a distinct advantage.

OTHER

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

  • Field Work: This position requires frequent entry into the plant environment.

  • Physical Capability: Must be able to physically lift and carry equipment or samples weighing up to 40 lbs. Climbing stairs/ladders

  • Environment: Willingness to work in industrial conditions

  • Inspections: Must be physically capable of performing inspections which may involve confined space entry (e.g., inside Ball Mills or the Kiln/Cooler during outages),, and walking on uneven surfaces.

  • Schedule: Flexibility to support plant trials and scheduled maintenance shutdowns (which may occur on weekends or nights).

    Ability to work past our normal schedule during occasions such as, but not limited to:

  • Scheduled outages (need to stay until 5:30pm)

  • Any other situations that arise requiring coverage or assistance

  • Travel: Available for domestic and occasional international travel.

Position Type

Full time

and

Permanent

Only technical issues will be monitored through the below inbox:

recruiting.support@ imerys.com

PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT RESUMES OR APPLICATIONS TO THIS EMAIL, AS THEY WILL NOT BE REVIEWED. 

To ensure fairness and legal compliance in our recruitment processes, only applications received through the online application process will be considered. 

IMERYS is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and it is our policy to not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state or local laws.