Principal Facilities & Manufacturing Systems Engineer in Portland, Oregon at Kanto Corporation

About Kanto Corporation

Kanto is a U.S. leader in high-purity specialty chemicals, powering the world’s most advanced industries. With a proven legacy of precision, safety, and innovation, we partner with global leaders in semiconductors, technology, and chemical processing to deliver products that meet the most uncompromising standards of quality and reliability.

At Kanto, our people are our greatest strength. Collaboration, commitment, and excellence define how we work, while continuous improvement drives both our success and employee growth. Joining Kanto means shaping the future of technology and manufacturing—while building your career in a dynamic, high-impact environment where your work truly matters.

Kanto’s Mission & Value Statements

Mission

We create value for our customers through quality products and services at a competitive price.

Customer Value Proposition

Quality, Consistency, and Reliability

Employee Value Proposition

At Kanto, your work matters, your ideas are valued, and your growth is supported—all while advancing technologies that shape the future. When Kanto succeeds, we share in that success together.

Position Summary

This role will serve as a senior technical authority responsible for facility readiness, equipment integration, manufacturing support systems, risk management, commissioning, startup activities, and operational standardization.

General Duties & Responsibilities

Engineering Leadership & Capital Projects

• Provide technical leadership for complex engineering projects involving manufacturing systems, facility infrastructure, and process support utilities.
• Develop project execution plans, schedules, resource requirements, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams and coordinate activities across Operations, Facilities, EHS, Quality, Supply Chain, and external contractors.
• Manage project scope, budget, schedule, risks, and technical deliverables.
• Support strategic planning for infrastructure improvements and manufacturing capability enhancements.
• Serve as a key technical advisor for facility, infrastructure, and manufacturing system investments.

Manufacturing Systems & Facility Infrastructure

• Serve as the technical lead for manufacturing equipment and supporting facility systems.
• Assess facility, utility, and equipment readiness to meet operational requirements.
• Define infrastructure requirements for manufacturing systems and process support equipment.
• Develop installation, commissioning, operational readiness, and startup plans.
• Support troubleshooting and resolution of complex facility and manufacturing system issues.
• Drive system reliability, maintainability, and operational performance improvements.

Technical Risk Management

• Lead and facilitate structured risk assessments, including PHA, FMEA, JHA/JSA, MOC, and equivalent methodologies.
• Evaluate operational, safety, quality, infrastructure, and reliability risks associated with facility and manufacturing system changes.
• Develop mitigation plans to ensure safe and reliable operations.
• Support business continuity and operational readiness planning.
• Drive risk-based decision making throughout project execution and operational activities.

Facility & Utility Systems

Provide technical leadership and subject matter expertise for:

• Pumping and fluid handling systems
• Filtration systems
• Hazardous chemical storage and distribution systems
• Ultra-Pure Water (UPW) systems
• Industrial wastewater treatment systems
• Scrubbed exhaust systems
• Process gas delivery systems
• HVAC and environmental control systems
• Cleanroom infrastructure and contamination control
• Process piping systems
• Building Management Systems (BMS)
• Industrial automation and controls
• PLC and SCADA systems

Commissioning, Startup & Operational Readiness

• Develop and execute commissioning and startup plans for equipment, utilities, and facility systems.
• Coordinate equipment verification, acceptance testing, and performance validation activities.
• Support qualification efforts, including IQ, OQ, and PQ activities where applicable.
• Ensure systems achieve safety, reliability, throughput, and quality objectives.
• Lead operational readiness reviews prior to deployment of new or modified systems.
• Coordinate successful transition of projects from implementation to sustained operations.

Operational Excellence & Documentation

• Develop, review, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), work instructions, engineering standards, and best practices for manufacturing equipment, utility systems, facility infrastructure, and maintenance activities.
• Establish operational, startup, shutdown, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and emergency response procedures.
• Ensure documentation is technically accurate, compliant with applicable regulations, and aligned with industry best practices.
• Partner with Operations, Facilities, EHS, and Quality teams to implement and train personnel on new and revised procedures.
• Drive standardization and continuous improvement of engineering and operational processes.
• Maintain engineering documentation, system specifications, drawings, and technical records.

Safety, Compliance & Environmental Stewardship

• Ensure compliance with applicable environmental, health, safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Support hazardous materials management and facility permitting activities.
• Participate in Process Safety Management (PSM) and Management of Change (MOC) processes as required.
• Promote a strong safety culture through proactive risk identification and mitigation.
• Ensure compliance with cleanroom and contamination control standards.
• Support internal and external audits as needed.

Required Knowledge, Education, Skills, & Abilities

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in manufacturing, semiconductor, advanced technology, life sciences, chemical processing, or similar industrial environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex engineering, infrastructure, startup, commissioning, or capital improvement projects.
• Strong background in facility systems, process utilities, and manufacturing support infrastructure.
• Experience leading structured risk assessments including PHA, FMEA, JHA/JSA, MOC, or equivalent methodologies.
• Experience developing SOPs, engineering standards, operating procedures, and technical documentation.
• Experience managing contractors, vendors, and cross-functional project teams.
• Strong understanding of industrial utility systems and facility infrastructure.
• Excellent technical, communication, organizational, and leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting cleanroom manufacturing environments.
• Experience with facility readiness, operational readiness, and manufacturing system integration.
• Experience with:
  • Ultra-Pure Water (UPW) systems
  • Hazardous chemical delivery and distribution systems
  • Scrubbed exhaust systems
  • Wastewater treatment systems
  • Industrial automation and controls
  • Process piping systems
  • PLC and SCADA platforms
  • HVAC and environmental control systems
• Knowledge of commissioning and qualification methodologies.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred.
• PMP certification preferred.
• Lean Six Sigma certification a plus.

Environment, Working Conditions, Physical Demands

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. In some cases, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Environment & Working Conditions

While performing the duties of the position, the employee regularly works handling moving mechanical parts and toxic, flammable, and corrosive liquid and fuming chemicals.

Work is regularly performed in an industrial production environment requiring the use of full body clean room attire, including head and face coverings, and full body PPE, including a hood style respirator.

The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places, accessed by ladders, scaffolding, and powered lift trucks.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet, except for certain areas where noise may be occasionally moderate or loud for sustained periods of time

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is consistently required to walk or stand for long periods of time, with brief periods of sitting.

Unassisted lifting and moving of objects weighing up to 50 lbs. is required.

The employee is periodically required to bend, stoop, kneel and crouch, with periodic requirements to climb stairs, ladders, or scaffolding.

Ready to Apply?

Click the “Apply” button to submit your resume. We look forward to learning more about your technical expertise and leadership.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Kanto Corporation is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and talents that each individual brings and are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels respected, included, and empowered to contribute to our shared success.