senior scientist

chemist

scientist

senior process engineer

senior chemist

Ampac Fine Chemicals

Work is out of the norm, It can be from a typical Warehouse job, receiving, data entry and issuance of raw materials which are Active pharmaceutical ingredients like bio or non bio hazardous chemicals to Quality ensuring of final products like making sure that weights and serial numbers on barrels matches whatever is on the paperwork then preparation for shipment to customer according to customer request i.e which pallet to use,how many barrels of final product per pallet, how many straps and shrink wrap to use, and transportation of raw materials or parts ordered from warehouse to the plant and deliveries of packages received on a daily basis from Fed Ex and UPS and other couriers and up to Obtaining chemical samples for laboratory testing making sure material integrity is preserved. Management is known not to have a back bone because of the amount of job/work being placed on a single employee and refusal to hire more people to lessen work load, But I personally have no problem with management and enjoys a working environment with them as well as my co-workers no matter how hard or difficult it is to catch up on a day's work we still have a solid fun team that work together like brothers and sisters If one co-worker has an issue we try to resolve or help with in ourselves then go to management or union rep If Issue cannot be resolved. The Hardest part of my previous job is the Chemical sampling, After we received and make sure that material matches paperwork it came with (Bill of Lading, Packing slip, C of A and Weight ticket for Tankers) we obtain samples according to company's SOP we have a sampling booth where in we have to obtain chemical samples from drums or barrels as well as tankers, The hard part about it is Wearing all the PPE (Personal protective equipment) such as respirators and Tyvek's/ Tychem Its hard to move with the protective clothing. The most enjoyable part of the job (besides the huge salary) is my Co-workers no matter how hard and difficult the job or work load is we are still able to enjoy and have fun but work professional at the same time.

Management is completely hands off which relieves them of all liability. Engineers routinely get thrown under the bus to customers for poor management decisions made in the 11th hour, then turn around and take the glory for great engineering decisions.

The pay is not competitive. Expect to be called at all hours of the night/weekends. This is not a good job for an individual with a family. You will be talked out of taking your vacation time due to poor plant management and asset allocation. 

Be careful when applying/interviewing this company has the bait and switch down to a professional level. They will boast a competitive salary/benefits/large relocation package/large sign on bonus. Once they have you in their clutches they will tell you “well based on your experience you don’t qualify for (desired salary). They are notorious for hiring you into a certain role (say process engineering) then 3 months down the line switching your title (say to production engineer) and sticking you on shift coverage.

Amenities are atrocious. The engineering offices are modular buildings (yes like the extra buildings brought into high schools when capacity has exceeded). The air conditioners often break leaving you to work in 100 + degree weather in summers. The bathrooms are also modular and when the septic doesn’t get pumped the smell is atrocious. 

Safety is a joke.

The surrounding area is not affordable to live off of the salary they will dupe you into. You will pay $500-600k for a fixer upper.

The pay and benefits were good.  The work schedule was flexible and not demanding.  There are some good people there.  However, the quality of the work life balance is totally position dependent and many out there are over worked.  However, the main problem is the pervasive toxic environment and culture.  This includes a very fake view of safety and employee welfare.  They talk the talk, but if it involves money or resources, nothing will be done.  There are only two types of managers - 1. Those who actively contribute to the toxicity and political infighting and finger pointing and back stabbing.  2. Those who would make the place better , but are not given the freedom, authority, support or resources to be able to make a difference.  All in all it could be a good place to gain experience but not somewhere you will want to stick around long term, at least if you value mental health.

There is a hands-off approach to management and supervision, which is nice. They understand we are all adults and are working hard. There are employee reviews when needed, which is great for feedback. 

The work-life balance is slim to none. You must know when to put the work down, or else you will be in the office until 9 p.m. for months on end (prior to Covid). This was my experience as an Accountant. All other positions mentioned the same thing. The company's SECRET motto is "hire less employees, but give them each more work and various roles". They pay well though... During Covid, I was working almost all day long from home, 7 am to 7 pm. During month-end close, I was working until midnight sometimes. The workload is outrageous; however, the communication is great - even during remote work. The people are absolutely a pleasure to work with.

This place pays well but drives you hard. There are no incentives for going above and beyond. Lots of lazy people and those people are the ones that get promoted or get high merit increases. It is hard to get promoted if you're not in the favorite club. It does not promote positivity and teamwork. People will throw you under the bus without hesitation. The company makes you miserable. It will break you. 

Get in, learn as much as you can and leave the place. People are not happy here. If they say they are, they are probably working in management. Avoid the QC and QA department. Everyone is overworked and does way more than their job titles say they should do.

Be careful if you are physically in the production facilities. Very hazardous chemicals and product in the environment. Old school, irresponsible and lax operators will tell you areas are safe when they aren't. Do not trust them, always wear your respirator if you see white powder or smell organic solvents. HR and EHS will tell you there are "environmental controls" in place but they aren't there to witness behavior of people working there. Their attitude is "you're accountable for your own health".

What is the best part of working at the company?
There is a lot to learn. The company can give you experience in a lot of different fields all at once.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Everyone seemed to be afraid of being replaced. Due to this, it made the job very cut throat. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The culture basically was the more connections you had the easier it was to grow. If you didn’t have connections it was a boiling crab mentality.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
It was a lot of rushing to get things done or dead. There was little in between.

This company is great for the experience. You will get hands on experience with all sorts of analytical instruments. The main issues were the amount of work and inability of management to hire enough people to reduce the workload. There would be literally 13 or 14 hour days, sometimes where you would have to skip lunch at the request of the manager/lead. The work/life balance is nonexistent. If you can handle the nervous breakdowns, by all means this is the company for you.

Pay is good job security is good but very toxic and hostile working conditions lead by very inexperienced management team. The rumor and gossip game is strong here. If you’re a backstabbed and rat you’ll fit in great. The union representation is weak

AFC isn't a stable place and people don't keep their promises. Because of the lies within the management, that creates natural resentment and hatred for doing proficient work. The key is to do what you need to with some respect, and make good boundaries to keep the tyranny out. The company runs on so few people; they need more competent people daily, but they turn and burn everyone they get their hands on. Eventually people leave and the cycle continues. Plenty of businesses run like this, and it's not recommended.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Senior scientist 7 salaries reported	$98,657 per year
Chemist 5 salaries reported	$71,456 per year
Scientist 1 salary reported	$77,750 per year
Senior process engineer 3 salaries reported	$101,329 per year
Senior chemist 4 salaries reported	$85,375 per year

Working at Ampac Fine Chemicals: Company Overview and Reviews

Ampac Fine Chemicals

Ampac Fine Chemicals Ratings

Popular jobs at Ampac Fine Chemicals

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected