Senior Project Engineer

The Senior Project Engineer will play a key role in the development, construction, and start-up of Hydrite’s new Laurens, SC greenfield facility, with the expectation of transitioning into a long-term engineering role supporting the site post-startup. This position provides hands-on leadership through all phases of the Laurens expansion—from front-end engineering and detailed design through construction, commissioning, and start-up—while establishing the engineering, operational, and reliability foundation for the new facility. Following startup, the role will shift to ongoing capital project execution, continuous improvement, and plant engineering support.

Responsibilities

Lead and support execution of capital projects for the Laurens greenfield facility from design through start-up; Partner with corporate engineering, construction teams, and contractors to ensure scope, schedule, and cost alignment; Support development of site standards, engineering practices, and documentation (P&IDs, specs, procedures); Drive commissioning and start-up activities, including troubleshooting and performance validation; Establish foundational systems for reliability, maintenance, and operational readiness; Manage and execute capital and improvement projects for the Laurens site post-startup; Identify and implement process, safety, and reliability improvements; Provide daily engineering support to operations, including troubleshooting and optimization; Support MOC, PSM, and regulatory compliance initiatives; Lead and support Hydrite’s Safety Vision, Mission, and Values; Provide engineering support to Corporate SQRA and Site EHS representatives; Lead engineering efforts to support Food Safety and SQF initiatives; Coordinate and direct process hazard analysis; Support Sales and Marketing activities and provide technical assistance through interfaces with customers; Support daily production activities by monitoring process performance, trouble-shooting problems, and implementing corrective actions; Uphold Hydrite’s Standard of Excellence; Develop operating procedures, training materials, and technical guidance for new equipment and processes; Support maintenance of plant equipment as a technical resource; Facilitate effective communication across Hydrite departments; Support construction management by coordinating with contractors and subcontractors, reviewing and interpreting construction drawings, monitoring construction progress and conducting site audits

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering; Strong computer skills and knowledge of PowerPoint, Word, and Excel required; Strong communication and interpersonal skills; Ability to read, write, and speak English; Ability to sit and/or stand up to 12 hours per day; Ability to climb ladders and stairways up to 40 feet in height on an occasional basis; Valid driver’s license and own personal vehicle; Ability to travel up to 25% of the time for the first year; Occasional 12-to-14-hour workdays may be required; Occasional turning, twisting, stooping, bending, and reaching

Nice to have

Additional education in Project Management; Minimum eight years of Process-Engineering and/or Project Engineering experience in chemical-processing industry; Minimum five years of direct technical management experience (interfacing with contractors); Experience with greenfield projects, major expansions, or plant start-ups; Site decommissioning experience (removal of equipment, demolition); Proficiency in AutoCAD and pipeline-sizing programs

Benefits

Up to 10% Retirement Contribution; $600 per Year Wellness Incentive; Front-loaded Paid Time Off; Medical, Dental, and Vision - Eligible first day of the month following hire date; 401k and profit sharing; Medical/dental/vision/life insurance; Paid time off; Tuition reimbursement; Adoption assistance; Legal services insurance; Scholarship awards for children of employees; Summer picnic; Community giving events; Free family wellness coaching including nutritionist and fitness coach