Process Optimization Internship Jobs in North Carolina

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Location: Plymouth, NC, US, 27962

Department: Bleaching (PL02)

Domtar is a leading producer of pulp, paper, packaging, tissue and wood products. Through our focus on safety and sustainability, as well as our commitment to operational excellence and our network of facilities across Canada and the United States, Domtar delivers high-quality and cost-effective products to customers around the world.

Our workforce is comprised of 14,000 talented and hardworking individuals. We are proud to offer competitive compensation, a supportive working environment, rewarding career paths and plenty of opportunities for learning and growth.

The location in Plymouth, (North Carolina, United States), is seeking talent to fill the position of Process Engineer. This job is full-time permanent.

The Fiberline Process Engineer is responsible for utilizing process knowledge and data analysis to lead and implement changes to standard operating procedures, chemicals, or equipment that reduce costs, increase productivity, and improve quality in safe and environmentally responsible ways. This role provides dedicated engineering support to the fiberline area — digesters, brown stock washing, oxygen delignification, screening, and the bleach plant. In addition to day-to-day process optimization and troubleshooting, the engineer identifies and develops capital improvement opportunities through Front-End Loading (FEL1) and hands off matured project concepts to the Capital Project Engineering team. This is an early-career engineering role: candidates with co-op, internship, or a few years of hands‑on pulp and paper experience are encouraged to apply. As the engineer builds process knowledge and experience, the role grows to include providing direction and technical guidance to co‑ops, interns, and other early‑career engineers.

The ideal candidate will build effective, trusting business relationships and partnerships across the organization to execute plans supporting the mill's strategic business direction in alignment with Domtar's core values.

• Serve as the dedicated engineering resource for the fiberline area, providing hands‑on troubleshooting and technical support to operators, shift supervisors, and area leadership.
• Support high quality product standards and work to reduce process and product variability across the fiberline.
• Take initiative to analyze process data, without express direction, to identify and determine root causes of nonstandard operation (e.g., low productivity, high chemical or water use, excessive downtime), and assist junior engineers in identifying these conditions. Present clear explanations of root cause to manufacturing, along with recommended and implemented corrective actions to bring operations back to standard.
• Plan, coordinate, and evaluate fiberline process trials, including chemical, equipment, and operating condition trials aimed at cost reduction, quality enhancement, and process improvement.
• Develop capital improvement opportunities to a Front-End Loading Level 1 (FEL1) standard — defining the business case, technical feasibility, alternatives considered, and order‑of‑magnitude cost — and hand off matured project concepts to the Capital Project Engineering team for FEL2/FEL3 development and execution. Training on Domtar's FEL stage-gate process will be provided.
• Complete Six Sigma Green Belt training provided by Domtar and lead Green Belt‑level continuous improvement projects within the fiberline area.
• Interface with outside technical resources and suppliers to initiate and support cost reduction, quality enhancement, and process improvement trials.
• Provide technical assistance to fiberline production areas and support equipment selection and justification for capital improvements.
• Build positive relationships with the hourly workforce and provide technical training on process improvements and changes that impact safety, quality, cost, operations, and efficiency.
• Provide guidance and technical support to co‑ops, interns, and other early‑career engineers on the fiberline team as experience is gained in the role.
• Work with the Maintenance Coordinator and Engineering to plan and execute shutdowns and outages for the fiberline area.
• Identify repairs and improvements needed, and work in conjunction with the Maintenance Coordinator to maintain fiberline equipment at its highest level of reliability and availability.
• Support compliance with environmental permits and process safety management (PSM) requirements applicable to the fiberline and bleach plant.
• Decide the course of work during the day and week; set priorities and direction (for self and others) for projects and the time required to meet established deadlines; determine scope and resources required to successfully complete projects.
• Identify process areas needing improvement, and decide how chemical and process trials should proceed and how results should be evaluated.
• Track and communicate key fiberline performance indicators to mill leadership.
• Participate in weekend/on-call duty rotation and provide coverage for area leadership as needed.

• Evaluate a process's efficiency, effectiveness, quality, and safety, with the ultimate goal of making the process more efficient and less costly.
• Identify and correct sources of process variability.
• Extensive knowledge of kraft pulping and bleaching processes, process controls, and plant information systems.
• Strong analytical and root-cause problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate process data into actionable recommendations.
• Ability to coach and support less experienced co‑ops and interns as process knowledge and experience are gained; willingness to check the quality of others' work and help resolve problems.

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Pulp & Paper Science, or a related engineering/STEM discipline.
• 0–3 years of pulp and paper industry experience, which may include co‑op or internship experience in a fiberline, bleach plant, or related continuous‑process manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of fiberline safety and environmental considerations, including PSM-covered processes.
• Demonstrated analytical ability and willingness to take initiative in identifying and troubleshooting process issues.

• Prior pulp and paper co‑op, internship, or full‑time experience directly in a kraft fiberline or bleach plant area.
• Has contributed to or led a process improvement or optimization project.
• Minitab and Parcview experience preferred; familiarity with Power BI a plus.
• Exposure to coordinating outage or shutdown work in a fiberline or bleach plant area.
• Experience working alongside or leading Bargaining Unit (Union) employees a plus.

You will be required to successfully complete a selection process that could include interviews, an employment background check, a pre-employment drug and alcohol screen, reference verifications, aptitude tests (for some positions), and a fitness-for-duty test (for some positions).

Domtar is an equal-opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to age, race, color, sex (including gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), marital status, religion, national origin, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. We are also committed to ensuring reasonable accommodations for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disability Act of 1990.

Once your application has been submitted, you will receive a confirmation email. If you are selected to interview, you will be contacted by a member of our Human Resources team.