Koppers Inc. · 1 day ago
Research And Development Engineer
Atlanta Metro
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
5+ years expKoppers Inc. is a company focused on developing innovative wood protection chemistries and processes. The Research and Development Engineer will manage production and maintenance departments, collaborate with R&D teams, and oversee the pilot plant operations to successfully implement new products and processes.
IndustrialManufacturingRailroad
Hiring Manager
Geoff Burke
Responsibilities
Direct management responsibility for the production and maintenance departments, including utilities
Collaborate closely with R&D chemists and scientists to scale up new wood protection chemistries and processes from the laboratory to the pilot plant, linking research activities with successful real-world implementation
Serve as a liaison between R&D and Production to ensure successful product launches
Provide manufacturing process support, including troubleshooting, optimization, and scale-up from lab to full production
Participate in new product development and manage R&D projects, including timelines, budgets, and coordination with vendors and internal teams
Provide technical support and troubleshooting for Production and R&D operations
Oversee the day-to-day operations of the R&D pilot plant, including planning, coordinating, and executing experimental campaigns and test runs for new wood treatment processes
Analyze pilot plant experimental data to conceptualize, design, and refine processes for eventual commercial-scale implementation
Conduct data analysis and interpret experimental results to draw conclusions and make recommendations for process improvements. Document findings in formal technical reports and presentations for R&D management team
Champion a strong safety culture within the pilot plant and ensure safety requirements for handling hazardous chemicals and operating pressurized equipment are being met. Ensure all R&D activities and plant operations comply with EPA, OSHA, and company safety standards
Lead the selection, procurement, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of pilot plant equipment and instrumentation, ensuring they are calibrated and operational for reliable testing
Oversee the proper disposal of chemical waste in compliance with safety and environmental regulations
Successfully conduct multiple scientific projects simultaneously with little supervision
Supervise pilot plant operations, including oversight of operators and technicians
Perform other duties as required
Qualification
Required
A Bachelor's degree or higher in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, Wood Products Engineering or a related field is required
5+ years of experience in a production, R&D, or pilot plant environment, including hands-on experience with test work, process design, and commissioning of systems
Excellent analytical and complex problem-solving abilities
Strong written and verbal communication skills for clear technical reporting and collaboration
A hands-on, self-motivated approach with the ability to work with minimal supervision
Strong leadership skills and ability to provide technical guidance and training to pilot plant operators and technicians
Attention to detail and accuracy
Must be willing to work as a team player
Multitasking multiple projects
Strong computer, organizational, communication and analytical skills
Knowledge of EPA, OSHA, and DOT regulations
Travel requirement up to 15%
Preferred
Experience within the wood preservation, pulp/paper, or a related industrial processing industry is highly desirable
Familiarity with process control systems and data acquisition methods
Knowledge of experimental design (DOE) and statistical methods for data interpretation
Company
Koppers Inc.
Koppers, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a global wood preservation technology company that creates safe and environmentally responsible solutions to solve our customer’s most important challenges.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Koppers Inc. has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (3)
2024 (3)
2022 (2)
2021 (3)
2020 (1)
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$1.6B2024-04-15Post Ipo Debt· $397M
2023-03-10Post Ipo Debt· $400M
2022-06-21Post Ipo Debt· $800M
Leadership Team
Leroy Ball
President and CEO
Stephen Lucas
Senior Vice President Culture & Engagement
Recent News
2026-01-10
2025-12-16
2025-12-08
Company data provided by crunchbase