U.S. Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals & Polymers Careers – Engineering, Operations & Technical Jobs
Industry Overview - The chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and polymers sectors are key drivers of the U.S. industrial economy, producing essential chemicals, medicines, plastics, and specialty materials. These industries rely on complex process systems, thermal equipment, and advanced instrumentation to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant operations.
At Industrial Recruitment Group (IRG), we connect skilled professionals with organizations that design, operate, maintain, and optimize chemical plants, pharmaceutical facilities, and polymer manufacturing plants. We recruit across the full lifecycle — engineering, operations, maintenance, projects, and commercial roles — helping companies maximize efficiency, safety, and regulatory compliance.
Key Industries Served
Pharmaceutical & Biotech: Drug manufacturing, sterile environments, cleanrooms, and formulation processes
Specialty Chemicals: Surfactants, coatings, adhesives, and industrial reagents
Polymers & Plastics: Polymerization, extrusion, injection molding, and compounding operations
Food & Beverage Ingredients: Additives, preservatives, and specialty ingredients
Industrial & Manufacturing: Process chemicals, lubricants, and material handling
Energy & Petrochemicals: Chemical intermediates, feedstocks, and process chemicals
Equipment & Systems We Cover
Process Equipment: Reactors, mixers, agitators, distillation columns, and polymerization vessels
Boilers & Thermal Systems: Steam generation, heat exchangers, kilns, and furnaces
Filtration & Separation: Centrifuges, membrane filters, dryers, and crystallizers
Pumps, Compressors & Turbomachinery: Centrifugal pumps, compressors, and rotary equipment
Instrumentation & Control Systems: PLCs, DCS, SCADA, and automation integration
Power & Utilities: CHP, electrical systems, and process energy management
Storage & Handling: Tanks, silos, pipelines, and material transfer systems
Safety & Environmental Systems: Scrubbers, neutralization, containment, and effluent treatment
Testing & Quality Equipment: Analytical instruments, QA/QC systems, and lab instrumentation
Roles We Recruit Engineering & Design
Chemical, Process, Mechanical, and Pharmaceutical Engineers
Projects & Commissioning
Project Managers, Site Engineers, Commissioning Technicians
Operations & Maintenance
Plant Operators, Process Technicians, Maintenance Supervisors
Commercial & Sales
Technical Sales Engineers, Product Specialists, Account Managers
Health, Safety & Quality
HSE Advisors, Quality Engineers, Compliance Officers
Leadership & Executive
Plant Managers, Operations Directors, Engineering Managers
Future Trends & Outlook
Process Efficiency: Advanced process control, heat recovery, and energy optimization
Sustainability: Green chemistry, waste reduction, and low-carbon operations
Digitalization & Smart Manufacturing: IoT, predictive maintenance, and real-time monitoring
Regulatory Compliance: FDA, EPA, OSHA, and state-level requirements driving operational standards
Innovation & Specialty Products: Biologics, high-performance polymers, and advanced chemical formulations
Health, Safety & Compliance (U.S.)
FDA: Pharmaceutical manufacturing and quality compliance (cGMP)
EPA: Chemical emissions, effluent management, and environmental compliance
OSHA: Worker safety, process safety management (PSM), and hazardous materials handling
NFPA / ASME / ANSI / API: Pressure vessels, piping, and fire safety compliance
State & Local Codes: Chemical, pharmaceutical, and polymer plant regulations
Key Employers & Industry Leaders
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech: Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Amgen, Gilead
Chemical Manufacturers: Dow, DuPont, BASF, Eastman Chemical, Huntsman
Polymers & Plastics: LyondellBasell, SABIC, Celanese, Covestro
Equipment & OEMs: Flowserve, Alfa Laval, Spirax Sarco, Emerson, Siemens
Service & EPC Providers: Process contractors, automation integrators, and maintenance firms
Skills & Competencies
Chemical, pharmaceutical, or polymer process design and operation
Boilers, heat exchangers, and thermal process equipment
Filtration, separation, and drying systems
PLC, DCS, and SCADA control systems
Safety, environmental, and regulatory compliance
Energy efficiency, process optimization, and sustainability projects
Technical sales, project management, and operations leadership
Why Industrial Recruitment Group? - At IRG, we understand the technical, operational, and regulatory challenges of chemical, pharmaceutical, and polymer industries in the U.S. We connect employers with professionals who can improve safety, optimize performance, and deliver regulatory compliance across complex operations.
