Process Development Specialist - Decatur, IL

Research & Development

This is a salary non-exempt level position

Position Summary:

The Process Development Specialist will be part of a team which is responsible for supporting day to day pilot scale operations for the Research Process Development Group. The team will work with novel and legacy technologies to drive innovation across ADM’s business units.

The specialist will work directly with research engineers and scientists to setup, commission, and operate pilot scale equipment across multiple ADM locations with a primarily focus at our Development Products facility in Decatur, IL.

The candidate will interpret and modify Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams, develop and modify Standard Operating Procedures for new and existing processes, and troubleshoot equipment during operations.

Experiments and production campaigns will require periods of shift work including 24/5 (8hr) and 24/7 (12hr) coverage for up to three months at a time. Both night and day shift coverage will be necessary to achieve the goals of the group.

The successful candidate must be self-driven, willing to expand their knowledge, and capable of teaching others. They will be willing to troubleshoot equipment, document results, and be adaptive as technical knowledge improves and processes change.

Responsibilities

• Help to ensure the safety of all personnel and maintain compliance with OSHA regulations
• Recognize environmental and safety hazards and take actions to ensure they are mitigated so as not to affect employee safety, process quality, and environmental compliance
• Recognize and understand how to work with hazardous processes such as high temperature, high pressure, corrosives, flammables, steam, and hot oil.
• Work with Engineers and Scientists to plan and execute all aspects of pilot plant trials including
  • Write, modify, and update Standard Operating Procedures, Work Instructions, Equipment Specific Lockout Procedures and Experimental Plans as results dictate.
  • Setup, troubleshoot and commission piloting equipment
  • Monitor and operate equipment to meet experimental boundaries
  • Coordinate sample collection, submission, and data compiling.
• Train operators on proper startup, operation, shutdown, and cleaning of piloting equipment.
• Interface with computer terminals, and monitoring plant functions via computer and control rooms
• Work alongside contractors to modify, upgrade, and maintain pilot scale equipment and skids
• Have ability to drive a fork truck

• A High School Diploma or GED is Required.
• Two- or four-year degree in technical field is preferred

• Five or more years of experience in process/pilot operations.
• The individual must have experience with a range of unit operations such as filtration, distillation, evaporation, centrifugation, carbon treatment, ion exchange, chromatographic separation, solids handling, and chemical reactions.
• Experience in a process development or research environment is desired.

• Applicant must have regular, prompt attendance
• Have the ability to climb stairs, perform some lifting (50#’s), sit and stand for long periods, work in confined spaces, working with heights, bending, kneeling, and become respirator qualified if needed
• Candidate must be able to work in a variety of environmental conditions, such as hot and cold temperatures and a dust environment.
• Must be able to wear a respirator.

ADM requires the successful completion of a background check.

REF:114558BR