Engineer, Process Control

Description

From its world-class manufacturing facility in Longview WA., NORPAC delivers a broad range of high-quality papers to customers across the United States and around the world. NORPAC makes high-quality and environmentally conscious packaging paper, copy paper and printing paper grades.

Consistent with its’ Mission, NORPAC is a team-based work environment where individuals integrate safety, teamwork, innovation, and citizenship as core values in pursuit of world class performance while leading a principle based, process disciplined organization.

NORPAC is looking for a Process Control Engineer. This role involves working with various control systems and automation technologies to ensure efficiency, quality, and safety in the production process. The engineer also plays a key role in troubleshooting, improving operational performance, and supporting continuous improvement initiatives which support the mill and are in alignment with NORPAC’s business goals in all areas: Safety, Customer Satisfaction, Process Reliability, Costs, and other defined business needs.

Qualifications

Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Duties and Functions)

• Develop, configure, and implement Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), and SCADA systems to control processes within the pulp and paper mill
• Customize control strategies and logic for specific manufacturing processes, such as pulping, papermaking, and finishing
• Maintain and upgrade control systems to ensure reliability and high performance in production.
• Analyze process data to identify inefficiencies, variabilities, or potential improvements in pulp and paper manufacturing processes
• Optimize control loops and instrumentation to enhance product quality, reduce energy consumption, and minimize waste
• Implement advanced process control (APC) strategies, such as model predictive control (MPC) or adaptive control, to improve process stability
• Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve control system issues to minimize downtime and improve plant reliability
• Maintain and calibrate sensors, actuators, and other control instruments to ensure they operate within specifications
• Work closely with maintenance teams to ensure that control systems are effectively maintained and updated
• Lead or support process improvement projects aimed at increasing production efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing safety
• Collect and analyze real-time and historical data from control systems to monitor process performance and identify trends
• Generate detailed reports on key performance indicators (KPIs), such as yield, efficiency, quality, and energy usage, and present findings to management
• Use statistical process control (SPC) and continuous improvement methodologies to support process improvements and quality control
• Lead or support control system projects from conception through commissioning, including budgeting, scheduling, and resource allocation
• Coordinate with vendors and external contractors for system installations, upgrades, or troubleshooting
• Ensure staying updated with industry trends and emerging technologies
• Other duties as assigned and identified

Required Qualifications and Key Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering, or a related field and/or equivalent education/experience
• Minimum 3 years of experience in process control engineering in a manufacturing environment
• Proficiency in DCS, PLC, SCADA systems, and control loop tuning
• Experience with data analysis tools and techniques (such as Six Sigma)
• Knowledge of process instrumentation, sensors, and control valve operations
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot complex control systems
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite, including Outlook, Word and Excel
• Ability to generate commitment and motivate employees toward a common goal
• Demonstrated and successful experience in project management
• Able to collaboratively and effectively work with lead team and other internal and external customers to achieve mill goals and objectives
• Action-oriented and results-focused person, with the ability to flow to work
• Able to thrive in an autonomous, empowered, self-driven, and rapidly evolving and improving work environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Skilled in prioritizing multiple tasks and demands

Desirable:

• Master’s degree in Engineering or related field
• Strong understanding of pulp and paper manufacturing processes and equipment
• Five or more years of experience in a manufacturing facility with two or more years in the pulp and paper industry
• Certifications such as ISA Certified automation Profession (CAP or Control System Technician (CST)

This is a safety sensitive position.

Compensation:

Annual salary range for this position is $115,000 to $135,000 depending on experience (DOE).

This position is eligible for:

NORPAC offers a highly competitive benefit package to include medical/vision and dental benefits, a company sponsored 401k match and additional company contribution, basic life insurance, employee assistance program, vacation pay after 1 year, floaters upon hire and paid holidays.

Salary : $115,000 - $135,000