October 17, 2026
Dear [Hiring manager's name],
I lead process engineering for a specialty polymer line at Ridgeline Specialty Chemicals, and I'm applying for your Chemical Engineer opening because it names capital project ownership alongside day-to-day process optimization, the same combination that's defined most of my ten years in this field.
I managed a $2.8 million capital project to install a new reactor train, delivering commissioning three weeks ahead of schedule with zero recordable safety incidents, and I redesigned our distillation reflux control strategy to cut steam consumption 15%, saving $420,000 annually in utility costs. A HAZOP study I conducted on the chlorination unit identified four critical risks and eliminated two permit-level hazards through design changes.
I model processes in Aspen Plus and HYSYS, hold a Professional Engineer license in chemical engineering, and I work inside process safety management requirements as a design constraint, not paperwork added after the fact. I mentor two junior process engineers on mass and energy balance development while carrying my own project load.
I'd welcome a conversation about the capital projects [Company name] has queued up and where a safety-focused process engineer could help deliver them on schedule. I'm glad to walk through the reactor train project in an interview whenever suits your team.
Sincerely,
Drew Thompson, PE
