Senior Process Engineer

About Atlantic Packaging

With over 80 years of experience, Atlantic Packaging Products Ltd. is a Canadian-owned company specializing in corrugated packaging across North America. Operating in Ontario, Quebec, and the United States, the company emphasizes sustainability, customer satisfaction, and community engagement. Dedicated to supporting local employment since 1945, Atlantic Packaging values ideas, supports professional growth, and promotes impactful work.

Position Overview

The Senior Process Engineer will join the Paper Mill Division as the subject matter expert for the fiber-to-reel process at three Ontario paper mills. Reporting to the Senior Technical Strategies & Solutions Manager, this full-time and on-site role involves hands-on leadership to enhance throughput, improve quality stability, reduce cost per ton, and implement strategic initiatives with measurable outcomes. The role requires frequent travel within Ontario mills to support production priorities, trials, startups, and major production events, occasionally outside regular hours.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage process performance from stock preparation through to reel for all Ontario mills.
• Lead troubleshooting across sites for issues such as runnability, sheet defects, breaks, and grade transitions.
• Maintain mass, water, and energy balance across stock preparation, wet end, and effluent treatment plant (ETP) processes, including upstream effects on aerobic and anaerobic systems.
• Optimize process control loops by tuning PID controls, configuring cascades and feed-forward strategies, and enhancing DCS system performance.
• Investigate persistent process losses and develop engineered solutions to prevent recurrence.
• Implement standardized work and controls to maintain improvements over shifts and during grade changes.
• Standardize and audit process parameters and control setpoints across all mills.
• Lead process workstreams for corporate, multi-site initiatives across Ontario mills.
• Develop and maintain SOPs, control narratives, and trial protocols adopted network-wide.
• Align best practices among mills with similar grade mixes and equipment.
• Provide technical support during absences or vacancies of site process engineers.
• Design, conduct, and analyze mill trials with DOE approach, ensuring criteria and control measures are met.
• Collaborate with Quality teams to safeguard sheet integrity and downstream performance during trials.
• Evaluate trial impact on OEE, cost per ton, and grading capacity; present findings in leadership meetings.
• Support commissioning and startup validation of capital projects against performance objectives.
• Utilize historian, lab, and control system data to identify high-value improvement opportunities.
• Create and update KPI dashboards in cooperation with digital teams.
• Apply statistical process control (SPC) and capability analyses before recommending process changes.
• Promote safety-first approach, applying Management of Change (MOC) and HAZOP as necessary.
• Coordinate with Environmental departments regarding process modifications affecting effluent and treatment systems.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Pulp & Paper Engineering, or a related field from an accredited university.
• 8 to 12 years of process engineering experience in continuous manufacturing, including a minimum of 5 years in pulp and paper operations.
• Proven ownership of process performance on commercial paper machines; experience with recycled linerboard or containerboard highly valued.
• Deep understanding of the fiber-to-reel process, including stock preparation, mill water balance, and interfacing with aerobic and anaerobic effluent systems.
• Hands-on expertise in process control fundamentals such as loop tuning, PID configuration, DCS troubleshooting, and data interpretation from historian and trend sources.
• Experience leading trials, managing vendors and OEM engagement, and driving projects from concept to implementation with limited supervision.
• Strong analytical skills utilizing tools like historian platforms, DCS trend analysis, Excel, Minitab, or equivalent statistical packages.
• Eligible or committed to obtaining Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) registration in Ontario within 12 months; preferred to have P.Eng. in good standing.
• Valid driver's license with willingness to travel daily among Ontario mills and flexibility to work extended hours during critical events.
• Additional experience with OCC/recycled furnish, wet-end chemistry, Six Sigma methods, or capital project commissioning is an advantage.

Benefits and Culture

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans including dependents.
• Collaborative workplace culture emphasizing sustainability and social engagement.
• Recognition programs based on point systems fostering appreciation.
• Career advancement opportunities and internal mobility.
• Support for continuing education and professional development.
• Academic scholarships available for employees' children.
• Provision of safety equipment and personal protective gear.
• Retirement savings plans and wellness initiatives.

Inclusion, Accessibility & Hiring Process

Atlantic Packaging is dedicated to creating an inclusive and accessible recruitment experience. Accommodations can be arranged upon request throughout the hiring process. Candidates 18 or older must complete criminal and background checks during the hiring process.

Salary Range: $83,450 to $104,300 annually, dependent on experience and qualifications. This role reflects a current vacancy.