Research Associate Chemical Engineering Jobs in Rome, GA

Shape the way specialty chemicals are madeAt Polyventive, you’ll be the operations team’s go-to engineer for unlocking throughput, elevating safety, and scaling new formulations across our facilities in Northwest Georgia. Picture your day starting with a floor walk in Calhoun, a quick GEMBA huddle in Dalton, and an afternoon troubleshooting a batch anomaly in Rome—then wrapping with a briefing to leadership on your optimization plan.Role snapshotDepartment: OperationsReports to: VP, OperationsLocation: Calhoun/Dalton/Rome, GAWhat you’ll doYou will serve as a change agent—designing experiments, analyzing data, and resolving production issues in real time. You’ll lead cost-effective projects that remove bottlenecks, maximize asset utilization, and improve safety and efficiency. From process documentation and SOPs to executive-ready presentations, your communication will keep the entire organization aligned.Drive continuous improvement in safety, quality, and productivity across multiple plants.Plan and execute optimization initiatives that eliminate constraints on schedule and within budget.Design trials, conduct root-cause analysis, and implement robust corrective actions.Ensure all processes comply with environmental and safety regulations; perform risk assessments and deploy preventive measures.Scale up new products from lab to plant, validating batch operations for polymers, esters, surfactants, and acid/base handling.Collaborate with Commercial, R&D, Purchasing, and Transportation on cost-reduction programs.Partner with the EH&S Manager and Plant Managers to strengthen our safety culture and EH&S initiatives.Develop, maintain, and improve SOPs and process documentation; create technical reports and presentations for all levels.Own controllable and project costs, delivering to budget.Participate in—and when needed, lead—Incident Reporting, GEMBA, and 5S activities.What you bringBS in Chemical Engineering (preferred) or Mechanical Engineering with chemical manufacturing experience.5+ years in chemical plant operations with direct batch processing exposure.Background in process/equipment design, scale-up, and capital/project management with clear ownership for productivity.Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma Black Belt preferred.Strong interpersonal and communication skills; exceptional quantitative and computing capability.Foundational knowledge of polymer chemistry.Working knowledge of OSHA, HAZMAT, and EPA regulations and compliance.Technical proficienciesContinuous improvement and Lean methods (including 5S and GEMBA)Writing and maintaining SOPsTroubleshooting industrial automation and controlsProcess engineering and process developmentDesign for Manufacturability (DFM)Quality control systemsMechanical design and engineering collaborationHigh-level operational and data analysisEngineering degree or equivalent technical trainingEmployment detailsBelow are policy statements included verbatim from the original posting:**FLSA Status**: ExemptWhere you’ll work**Work Environment:Work is typically performed in an inside, temperature-controlled environment. Works and travels throughout plant environment of varied temperatures and humidity, and wears personal protective equipment, as required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.Various operations in the plant generate noise, dust, vapor and fumes in the normal course of production. The Company has been and is committed to eliminating these conditions to the extent possible through the application of design engineering. The Company also provides a variety of safety equipment to keep all associates safe and within OSHA standards. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.About PolyventiveWe manufacture specialty chemicals and bring deep expertise in polymers, esters, surfactants, and acid/base systems. Your impact will be visible across multiple facilities and levels of the organization. #J-18808-Ljbffr