Upstream Process Jobs in Toronto, ON (NOW HIRING)

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About Us

At Atlantic Packaging, every box tells a story and yours begins here. As a proudly Canadian-owned company with over 80 years of excellence in the corrugated packaging industry with operations within North America (Ontario, Quebec and United States), we’re committed to sustainability, customer excellence and community impact. Since 1945, we’ve supported local jobs and built a legacy of trust with our clients and team members. At Atlantic, your ideas matter, your growth is supported and your work makes a real impact.

The Opportunity

We are looking for a Senior Process Engineer with significant pulp and paper manufacturing experience to join our Paper Mill Division. Reporting to the Senior Technical Strategies & Solutions Manager, this full-time, on-site role serves as the technical authority for the full fiber-to-reel process across three Ontario paper mills. This is a hands-on senior individual contributor position focused on improving throughput, stabilizing quality, reducing cost-per-ton, and translating multi-site strategic initiatives into measurable mill-floor results.

The successful candidate will work on-site across the Ontario mill network, traveling between locations based on production priorities, trials, and operational needs. This role requires strong floor presence, technical depth, and the flexibility to support trials, startups, grade transitions, and significant production events, including extended or after-hours work when needed.

What You’ll Do

Process Ownership — Fiber to Reel 

• Own process performance from stock prep to reel across all three Ontario mills
• Lead network-level troubleshooting for runnability issues, sheet defects, breaks, and grade changes
• Maintain mass, water, and energy balances across stock prep, wet end, and ETP operations, including upstream impacts on aerobic and anaerobic treatment
• Optimize process control loops, including tuning, PID configuration, cascade and feed-forward strategies, and DCS performance
• Lead root cause investigations into chronic losses and implement engineered countermeasures to prevent recurrence
• Embed solutions through standard work, controls, and systems that sustain gains across shifts and grade changes

Standardization & Operational Excellence 

• Standardize and audit process parameters, operating windows, and control setpoints across the three mills
• Lead process workstreams for corporate-sponsored, multi-site initiatives across the Ontario network
• Author and maintain SOPs, control narratives, and trial protocols for network use
• Align best practices across mills where grade mix and equipment allow.
• Provide technical coverage for site process engineers during vacancies, absences, or capability gaps

Trial Design & Optimization 

• Design, execute, and report mill trials using DOE with defined success criteria, controls, and go/no-go decisions
• Partner with Quality to protect sheet integrity and downstream customer performance during trials
• Quantify trial results in OEE, cost-per-ton, and grade capability, and present recommendations in weekly leadership review
• Support commissioning, startup ramp-up, and validation of capital projects against target performance

Data-Driven Performance 

• Use historian, lab, and DCS data to identify and prioritize high-ROI improvement opportunities
• Build and maintain process KPI dashboards with the Senior Digital Engineer
• Apply SPC and capability analysis to separate signal from noise before recommending changes

Safety & Environmental Stewardship 

• Lead all process work with a safety-first approach and apply MOC and HAZOP where required
• Coordinate with Environmental on process changes affecting effluent quality, system loading, and treatment performance

Competencies & Collaboration 

Key behaviors and capabilities for success in the role.

• Process Expertise: Strong knowledge of fiber-to-reel operations, troubleshooting, water balance, stock prep chemistry, ETP systems, and DCS controls
• Disciplined Problem-Solving: Uses structured root cause analysis, backs decisions with data, and builds lasting solutions
• Independent Mindset & Project Leadership: Leads projects end-to-end, works independently, and turns strategy into mill-floor results
• Vendor & OEM Leadership: Manages suppliers and OEMs as a technical lead and challenges proposals on merit and performance
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Works across technical, operations, and maintenance teams to align priorities and deliver solutions
• Floor Presence & Communication: Communicates clearly on the mill floor and in leadership reviews, turning analysis into action
• Team Orientation & Mentorship: Contributes as a team player, mentors junior talent, and accepts feedback professionally

What You Bring

You bring strong technical depth, sound judgment, and the ability to lead improvement initiatives independently while partnering effectively with operations, quality, maintenance, vendors, and cross-functional technical teams.

• Engineering degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Pulp & Paper, or a related discipline from a recognized university
• 8–12 years of process engineering experience in a continuous manufacturing environment
• Minimum 5 years of hands-on pulp and paper manufacturing experience is required.
• Demonstrated experience owning process performance on a commercial paper machine; recycled linerboard or containerboard experience is considered a strong asset
• Working knowledge of the full fiber-to-reel process, including stock prep, mill water balance, and the interface with aerobic and anaerobic effluent treatment systems
• Hands-on experience with process control fundamentals, including loop tuning, PID configuration, DCS-based troubleshooting, and interpretation of historian or trend data
• Proven ability to lead mill trials, vendor and OEM engagements, and improvement initiatives from scoping through implementation with minimal supervision
• Strong analytical capability using historian platforms, DCS trends, Excel, Minitab, or similar statistical tools to drive process decisions
• Eligibility for P.Eng. registration in Ontario, or a commitment to obtain registration within 12 months; P.Eng. in good standing is preferred
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel daily between Ontario mill sites, with flexibility to support extended hours during trials, startups, and production events
• Experience with OCC or recycled furnish, wet end chemistry, Six Sigma, or capital project commissioning is considered an asset

What We Offer

• Comprehensive health, dental and vision coverage (dependents included)
• Teamwork-focused culture with sustainability initiatives and social events
• A culture of appreciation through a point-based recognition
• Opportunities for advancement and internal movement
• Education assistance for continuous skill development
• Academic scholarships for employees’ children
• Safety equipment and PPE support program
• Retirement savings and wellness initiatives

Inclusion and Accessibility

Atlantic Packaging is committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible and respectful environment for all candidates. If you require accommodation during the hiring process, please contact our Talent Acquisition team—we’re here to support you.

We sincerely thank all applicants for their interest in joining Atlantic Packaging. While we appreciate the time and effort invested, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Please note 

Candidates who are 18 years or older are required to complete a criminal and background check. Details will be provided through the application process.

Hiring Range: $90,000.00 - $130,000.00 per year. A candidate’s experience and knowledge may be factored into the pay a candidate receives for this position. This posting is for an existing vacancy.