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Principal Process Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Principal Process Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$101K - $152K/yr

Ecolab is looking for an experienced Principal Process Engineer with a strong background in industrial manufacturing at our Clearing, IL manufacturing facility. Clearing is the flagship manufacturing ...

Principal Process Engineer

Freeport, TX · On-site

$120 - $180/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As the Principal Process Engineer, reporting to the Director - Process Engineering, you will drive process safety excellence, lead process optimization initiatives, develop innovative process designs ...

Principal Process Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$101K - $152K/yr

Ecolab is looking for an experienced Principal Process Engineer with a strong background in industrial manufacturing at our Clearing, IL manufacturing facility. Clearing is the flagship manufacturing ...

Principal Process Engineer

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$165 - $185/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Principal Process Engineer Department: 46 - Process Engineering Employment Type: Full Time Location: Redwood City, CA Compensation: $165,000 - $185,000 / year Description We are seeking a highly ...

Principal Process Engineer

Plano, TX · On-site

$165K - $185K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Principal Process Engineer Department: 46 - Process Engineering Employment Type: Full Time Location: Redwood City, CA Compensation: $165,000 - $185,000 / year Description We are seeking a highly ...

As a Principal Process Engineer at ASM, you will work with semiconductor processing and analytical equipment to research, develop and optimize processes focused on oxidation, annealing, curing ...

Principal Process Engineer

Freeport, TX · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As the Principal Process Engineer, reporting to the Director - Process Engineering, you will drive process safety excellence, lead process optimization initiatives, develop innovative process designs ...

Principal Process Engineer

Freeport, TX · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As the Principal Process Engineer, reporting to the Director - Process Engineering, you will drive process safety excellence, lead process optimization initiatives, develop innovative process designs ...

  • Medical

  • Life

The Principal Process Engineer is a key technical resource and Chemical Engineering subject matter expert (SME) that is primarily responsible for one home unit but supports multiple sites and ...

Job Title Principal Process Engineer Location(s) GSK (Collegeville) - Customer Site PA We are seeking a highly motivated and ambitious candidate to join the PerkinElmer OneSource Scientific Services ...

As a Principal Process Engineer at ASM, you will work with semiconductor processing and analytical equipment to research, develop and optimize processes focused on oxidation, annealing, curing ...

Senior/Principal Engineer for the Large Molecule Drug Substance (LMDS) project. Duration: 2 Years ... A minimum of eight (8) years of process/plant engineering experience in GMP MFG large molecule ...

The Principal Process D e vel o p m e n t E n g i n eer is responsible for developing new and/or ... He or she must be a multitasking team player and able to interface with multiple engineering groups.

Principal Process Engineer

Allentown, PA · On-site

$125K - $232K/yr

The Principal Process D e vel o p m e n t E n g i n eer is responsible for developing new and/or ... He or she must be a multitasking team player and able to interface with multiple engineering groups.

Principal Process Engineer

Spartanburg, SC · On-site

$100K - $130K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

KDP Careers -Spartanburg The Principal Process Engineer will support the KDP Spartanburg Manufacturing Site, reporting to the Senior Process Improvement Manager. This role is instrumental in ...

Showing results 21-40

Principal Process Engineer information

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$87K

$150.1K

$182.5K

How much do principal process engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal process engineer in the United States is $150,082.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $130,000.00 and $169,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a principal process engineer?

A Principal Process Engineer is a senior-level engineering professional responsible for designing, optimizing, and overseeing industrial processes within a company. They lead complex projects, provide technical guidance to engineering teams, and ensure that processes meet safety, quality, and efficiency standards. Principal Process Engineers often collaborate with other departments to implement process improvements and solve technical challenges. Their expertise is crucial in industries such as chemical, manufacturing, oil and gas, and pharmaceuticals.

What is a principal process engineer?

A principal process engineer works with a team to analyze the efficiency of company processes and identify potential improvements. In this career, you usually work in a large production or manufacturing facility. You must have excellent technical, organizational, and analytical skills. Your job duties include helping management in the development of schedules, budgets, or guidelines for your department, overseeing other engineers, collaborating to support process solutions, and creating simulations, diagrams, and project plans. You also use engineering computer software to design process plans and review data to calculate constant improvements. Qualifications for a career as a principal process engineer include a bachelor's degree in engineering.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a principal process engineer?

To thrive as a Principal Process Engineer, you need deep expertise in chemical or process engineering, advanced problem-solving skills, and typically a relevant engineering degree with substantial industry experience. Familiarity with process simulation software (such as Aspen HYSYS or CHEMCAD), Six Sigma or Lean certifications, and knowledge of regulatory standards are important technical assets. Leadership, effective communication, and project management skills distinguish top performers in this role. These competencies ensure efficient process design, regulatory compliance, and successful cross-functional collaboration on complex engineering projects.

How does a principal process engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during large-scale projects?

A Principal Process Engineer often acts as a key liaison between engineering, operations, project management, and quality assurance teams. They lead process design reviews, facilitate technical discussions, and ensure that project deliverables align with organizational goals and regulatory standards. Effective communication and coordination are essential, as they guide multidisciplinary teams through troubleshooting, optimization, and implementation phases. This collaborative role ensures that process improvements are feasible, cost-effective, and sustainable across the project lifecycle.

What is the difference between Principal Process Engineer vs Process Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Process EngineerProcess Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in Chemical, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering; extensive experienceBachelor's degree in Engineering; entry to mid-level experience
Work EnvironmentLead projects, oversee process design, and mentor teams in manufacturing or chemical plantsAssist in process design, troubleshooting, and optimization under supervision
Industry UsageCommon in large manufacturing, chemical, and oil & gas companiesFound across various industries including manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and energy

The Principal Process Engineer typically holds advanced credentials and leads complex projects, focusing on strategic process improvements. In contrast, the Process Engineer is more involved in supporting and executing process tasks. Both roles are essential in process industries, but the Principal Process Engineer operates at a higher level of responsibility and expertise.

What cities are hiring for Principal Process Engineer jobs?

Cities with the most Principal Process Engineer job openings:

Who are the top companies hiring for Principal Process Engineer jobs?

The top employers for Principal Process Engineer jobs are:

What states have the most Principal Process Engineer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Principal Process Engineer jobs include:

Infographic showing various Principal Process Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 16% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $150,082 per year, or $72.2 per hour.

Principal Process Engineer

Ecolab

Chicago, IL • On-site

$101K - $152K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 5 hours ago


Ecolab rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 210 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

57th of 100 rated chemical manufacturers


Job description

Ecolab is looking for an experienced Principal Process Engineer with a strong background in industrial manufacturing at our Clearing, IL manufacturing facility. Clearing is the flagship manufacturing plant for our Global Water division, leading efforts in quality, water sustainability, and production.
This is a great opportunity to demonstrate Process Engineering and leadership skills across a wide variety of unit ops. This highly visible role enables the right candidate to impact multi-level of the organization delivering long term value.
What You Will Do:
  • Lead process engineering efforts and provide Colloidal and Latex manufacturing guidance to operations team. This will include close collaboration with production management and operations personnel.
  • Become Subject matter expert (SME) in Colloidal silica Manufacturing process to support continuous improvement in safety, quality and productivity work streams. Serve as back up support for escalated process engineering troubleshooting effort.
  • Leverage technical knowledge to up skill operations personals with goal to create autonomous teams with ability to analyze process input and decide on appropriate trouble shooting steps.
  • Support and help lead efforts to strengthen a world-class PSM safety culture.
  • Lead Process engineering input to continuous improvement and capital projects focused on safety, product quality, and process efficiencies
  • Plant contact for new product introduction scale-up efforts
  • Support efforts to develop more robust SPC capabilities
  • Working knowledge of DCS and PLC basic principles. Facilitate implementation of process visualization software and integration with current control systems
  • Create and maintain documentation of SOPs and manufacturing procedures
  • Work with different quality and engineering functions to implement best practices across all manufacturing processes

Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or related Engineering discipline
  • Strong communicator and collaborator with experience working across multiple functions
  • 7 years of experience in chemical manufacturing environment.
  • Experience working in a PSM facility
  • Experience with MS Office suite
  • No immigration sponsorship is available for this position

Preferred Qualifications
  • 7+ years of experience in complex manufacturing environment
  • Experience with DCS or industrial process control experience including PLC and HMI programming
  • Successfully managed and participated in multifunctional project teams
  • Familiarity and expertise with resin, filtration technology or polymer manufacturing.

Annual or Hourly Compensation Range
The pay range for this position is $101,400.00 - $152,100.00. Many factors are taken into consideration when determining compensation, such as experience, education, training, geography, etc. We comply with all minimum wage and overtime laws.
Benefits
Ecolab strives to provide comprehensive and market-competitive benefits to meet the needs of our associates and their families. Click here to see our benefits.
If you are viewing this posting on a site other than our Ecolab Career website, view our benefits at jobs.ecolab.com/working-here.
Potential Customer Requirements Notice
To meet customer requirements and comply with local or state regulations, applicants for certain customer-facing roles may need to:
- Undergo additional background screens and/or drug/alcohol testing for customer credentialing.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Ecolab will provide reasonable accommodation (such as a qualified sign language interpreter or other personal assistance) with our application process upon request as required to comply with applicable laws. If you have a disability and require accommodation assistance in this application process, please visit the Recruiting Support link in the footer of each page of our career website.

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About Ecolab

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Ecolab is a global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services that protect people and the resources vital to life.

Industry

Manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Saint Paul, MN, US

Year founded

1923