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GMM Pfaudler Systems

Test Facility Engineer

Job Description

SUMMARY OF POSITION

GMM Pfaudler US Inc. is a leading supplier of highly engineered, critical equipment and process systems for energy, chemical and industrial markets. The Systems Group within GMM Pfaudler designs and fabricates complete modular process systems including Reactor Systems, Wiped Film Evaporator (WFE) Systems, Distillation Systems, and other special process design systems.

Pfaudler is seeking a newly or recently graduated chemical engineer to fill the position of Test Facility Engineer (TE) in the Systems Group located at GMM Pfaudler in Rochester, NY.

Every process system that our Systems Group designs is custom-designed for each client’s specific needs. We work with a broad range of processes for many different industries including Specialty Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Nutraceuticals, Petrochemicals, Polymers, and others. Our clients rely on our Systems Group to design complete chemical process systems for their new products and for their capacity expansions of existing processes or products. For the new product systems that we design, we take the client’s pilot test data, or our own pilot test data, and scale up to design commercial scale production systems.

GMM Pfaudler has a Pilot Test Facility located in Rochester, NY. The Pilot Test Facility is used to process customer materials, with GMM Pfaudler equipment and systems, to confirm the performance of the equipment and systems and to collect pilot data to scale up and design commercial scale process systems.

There are two (2) Test Facility Engineers (TE) who operate and maintain the Pilot Test Facility under the guidance of senior process engineers.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Details of essential duties include those listed below. The duties may be modified and/or other duties may be assigned, as necessary.

+ Different customer processes will require different configurations of equipment (Wiped Film Evaporators (WFEs), pumps, heat exchangers, vacuum pumps and blowers, etc.). The TEs will work with the customer, and GMM Pfaudler Application Engineers, to develop a test P&ID to depict the required test setup. The TEs install the equipment, interconnecting piping, and associated instruments for the different configurations.

+ Lead test meetings and hazard reviews prior to each test to develop a safe and efficient test plan.

+ Install steam or hot oil tracing and insulation (if necessary) on the piping in the new configurations before each test.

+ Operate the system to perform a preliminary test run before operating the customer test.

+ Receive and store the customer’s drums of material.

+ Execute the pilot test, sometimes with the assistance of other GMM Pfaudler Process Engineers. Monitor the system operation and make necessary changes to operating conditions (flows, temperatures, vacuum levels) as necessary to find the optimum operating conditions and to collect the proper data. If necessary during the test, complete emergency equipment or instrument reconfiguration or maintenance or replacement.

+ Chemically and/or mechanically clean the process system equipment and piping after each test.

+ Drum off and ship the customer’s product and waste materials.

+ Develop a customer test results report after each test.

+ Perform repairs and routine preventive maintenance on the equipment (WFEs, pumps, vacuum pumps, vacuum blowers) and utility systems (steam boiler, hot oil system, chiller system, tempered water pump system).

+ Monitor inventory levels of system maintenance and operational parts and components (Personal Protective Equipment [PPE], pumps, motors, gaskets, bolting, pipe fittings, tube fittings, insulation, instruments, etc.) and reorder as necessary.

+ Ensure annual inspections are completed (by vendors, contractors or exports) and recorded for the Pilot Plant Facility. These include inspections of the boiler, chiller, hot oil system and cranes as well as the Test Facility safety equipment/systems (safety shower, fire extinguishers, fire alarm, respirator fit test, etc.).

+ Maintain a Process Test Facility Task List for modifications, repairs, upgrades, etc. and work together to complete all tasks in a timely fashion.

Notes: Customer materials processed in the Test Facility are typical chemical process industry chemicals, including flammable and hazardous chemicals. Some of the tests run each year require the TE and Tech to wear respirators during the tests due to the hazardous chemicals processed.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

No direct supervision responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS

This is an entry level, recent graduate, position; however, 1-2 years of experience with operation and/or maintenance of chemical process equipment and systems in a chemical plant is a plus.

Must be a self-starter, but also team player and focus on customer service.

Good communications skills to communicate with GMM Pfaudler team members and customers.

Good computer skills (Word, Excel).

EDUCATION

BS in Chemical Engineering

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Must speak and write English proficiently. Must be able communicate effectively (listen and speak) with GMM Pfaudler team members and customers during technical discussions.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Must have the ability to complete basic math calculations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division). Must have the ability to complete basic process design calculations (e.g. mass or volumetric flow rates, mass transfer, pressure, temperature, unit conversions, etc.).

REASONING ABILITY

Must have ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Must have ability to deal with typical pilot plant opearational problems and troubleshoot to resolve issues.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

None

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to be able to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to grasp, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, or crouch; and talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee will encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Primarily the work environment is a chemical pilot plant environment, maintenance room environment and typical engineering office. As such, the TE is expected to closely follow all operating and safety rules and regulations.

GMM Pfaudler US Inc provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. We prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.