Fiber Pulp Mill Process Engineer
Location: Genera /Vonore /Tennessee
Reports to: Mill Manager
Role Type: Full-time
Role Summary
The Fiber Pulp Mill Process Engineer is responsible for optimizing fiber preparation, pulping, cleaning, refining, and stock delivery processes to ensure safe, reliable, and cost-effective production of high-quality pulp. This role drives continuous improvement in yield, energy usage, chemistry, and fiber quality while supporting day-to-day operations and capital projects.
This engineer works closely with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and R&D to stabilize processes, solve chronic issues, and support new product and grade development.
Key Responsibilities
Process Optimization & Control
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Monitor and optimize pulping, washing, screening, cleaning, refining, and stock prep systems
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Improve fiber yield, freeness, strength properties, and consistency control
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Reduce variability through improved operating windows, SOPs, and control strategies
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Analyze process data to identify losses, bottlenecks, and quality risks
Cost, Yield & Energy Improvement
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Drive reductions in fiber loss, chemical consumption, water usage, and energy intensity
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Identify and implement variable cost reduction initiatives
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Support benchmarking and best-practice deployment across mill operations
Quality & Product Performance
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Partner with Quality and downstream operations to ensure pulp meets performance targets (strength, formation, runnability, OGR, stiffness, etc.)
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Support root-cause analysis of customer complaints and internal quality deviations
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Assist with grade changes, trials, and new product introductions
Troubleshooting & Continuous Improvement
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Use Lean / Six Sigma green or black belt certification for problem solving.
- Support up-time improvement by addressing process-related reliability challenges
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Serve as a technical resource during upsets, startups, and shutdowns
Capital Projects & Technical Support
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Provide process design input for capital projects and equipment upgrades
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Support commissioning, startup, and post-startup optimization
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Develop process specifications, mass balances, and performance criteria
Safety & Environmental Compliance
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Champion safe operating practices and MOC discipline
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Ensure processes comply with environmental permits and regulations
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Identify opportunities to reduce emissions, effluent load, and waste
Qualifications For Job Posting
Required
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Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Pulp & Paper Engineering, or related discipline
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3+ years of experience in a pulp mill, fiber prep, or paper/packaging operation
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Strong understanding of pulping, stock prep, refining, and fiber quality drivers
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Data-driven mindset with strong analytical and problem-solving skills
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Ability to work effectively on the plant floor with operators and technicians
Preferred
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Experience with recycled fiber or non-wood fiber (e.g., molded fiber, ag pulp, bagasse)
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Experience supporting thermoforming, paper, or molded fiber downstream processes
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Lean Manufacturing/ Green Belt or Black Belt Certification
- Experience with Minitab
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Familiarity with DCS/PLC systems, SPC, and process modeling
Key Success Metrics
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Fiber yield improvement
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Reduction in variable cost per ton
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Process stability and uptime
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Pulp quality consistency
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Successful execution of trials and capital projects
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Safety and environmental performance
