Chemical Engineer

Zink has an opening for a Chemical Engineer, in our Web-Based Coating department, located at our manufacturing plant in Whitsett, NC.

Position Summary

The Chemical Engineer will support and optimize coating operations in a web-based manufacturing environment, ensuring consistent product quality, process efficiency, and compliance with safety and environmental regulations. This role involves designing, implementing, and troubleshooting chemical formulations and coating processes applied to continuous substrates such as films, foils, papers, or fabrics.

Key Responsibilities

• Process Engineering: Develop, optimize, and maintain coating processes for continuous web substrates, including solvent-based, water-based, or UV-curable chemistries.
• Formulation Support: Work with R&D to scale up laboratory-developed coating formulations to production scale.
• Equipment Oversight: Collaborate with operations to ensure proper setup, calibration, and operation of coating heads (e.g., slot-die, gravure, reverse roll, knife-over-roll).
• Process Control: Monitor key process parameters such as viscosity, solids content, coating weight, drying/curing temperatures, web tension, and line speed to maintain quality targets.
• Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve coating defects (e.g., streaks, pinholes, uneven thickness, adhesion issues) and implement corrective actions.
• Continuous Improvement: Lead projects to reduce waste, improve yield, enhance product performance, and optimize energy use.
• Quality Assurance: Work closely with QA/QC to ensure finished products meet specifications; support root cause analysis for nonconformances.
• Safety & Compliance: Ensure adherence to OSHA, EPA, and plant safety procedures, including safe handling of chemicals and compliance with environmental discharge regulations.
• Documentation: Maintain accurate SOPs, process documentation, and batch records; provide training to operators on new or modified processes.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with production, maintenance, and R&D teams to drive successful coating runs and product launches.

Qualifications

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or related field required;
• 3+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment, ideally with web-based coating or converting operations.
• Experience with industrial coating chemistries (solvent-based, aqueous, UV-curable, or hot melt) preferred.
• Must have authorization to work in the USA. No Visa Sponsorship or relocation available.

Skills & Abilities:

• Strong knowledge of chemical processes, rheology, and surface chemistry as they relate to coatings.
• Familiarity with web handling, tension control, and coating equipment.
• Experience with process control systems, SPC, and data analysis.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to lead root cause investigations.
• Effective communication and project management skills.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Primarily plant floor and laboratory environment with exposure to heat, noise, and chemical vapors.
• Must be able to wear PPE including safety glasses, gloves, and respirators as required.
• Ability to stand, walk, and climb stairs/ladders as part of process monitoring and troubleshooting.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.A. No visa sponsorship is available.