Dow Looking for Apprenticeship | U.S. Apprentice Program | Seadrift Operations at Port Lavaca, Texas Full Time

Our purpose

Join a team that’s passionate about partnership. With careers at Dow, we take time to explore questions and talk to each other. We love to learn. Our people are driven by limitless curiosity.

We are an innovative, customer centric, inclusive, and sustainable materials science company.

            -Employing 36,500 individuals

            -Across 109 manufacturing sites

            -In over 31 countries

Our portfolio of products and solutions include:

-Plastics: With new technology trends, our plastic additives can be experienced in many everyday items including vinyl, blow-molding bottles, film, rigid containers, PVC plastics, siding, decks and rails, foam pipes and profile formulations, window frames and high-efficiency lubricants.

-Industrial intermediates: As the product of a reaction that is beneficial when used as a precursor chemical for another product, industrial intermediates can take on many shapes and forms. Ours are used in home comfort and appliance, building and construction, adhesives and lubricants, and more.

-Coatings: Whether it’s a water-based coating or solvent-based coating, a thin film is deposited on materials to enhance specific properties such as enhanced performance, durability, aesthetics, and sustainability.

-Silicone businesses: Our silicone-based materials can withstand more demanding applications, from those operating at extreme temperatures, to those under harsh environmental conditions for long periods of time.

Learn more about our partnerships, collaborations and innovations on LinkedIn (@Dow) or Twitter (@DowNewsroom).

We make diversity and inclusion a priority-because sharing our perspectives and building on each other’s ideas will drive innovation. Could you imagine yourself in a place like this?

About you

We are seeking candidates for exciting and rewarding Apprenticeship opportunities available at our facility in Seadrift, TX within the U.S. Apprentice Program. We are seeking Apprentices for the following roles: Instrument Technician, Millwright/Mechanical Technician, Process Technician, and Electrical Technician.

As part of the U.S. Apprentice Program, Apprentices participate in a 3-4 year program offering hands-on work experience in our chemical plants while attending community college to earn a company-paid Associate’s degree. During the program, Apprentices will be offered paid tuition, wages, and some benefits. Upon successful completion of the program, Apprentices will have earned an Associate’s Degree in one of several technical disciplines. Apprentices will report to an Apprenticeship Program Leader who will support the Apprentice throughout the apprenticeship program. Apprentices who successfully complete the program will also be highly considered for a job within the company.

Individuals selected to fill an available Apprentice opening will be required to sign an offer letter that will commit them to working for Dow for 2 years upon being offered a full-time position.

The hourly rate of pay for this role is $15. The hire date for these opportunities will be early summer.

Your educational requirements:

• A minimum of a High School Diploma or GED is required.

• Must have a minimum GPA of 2.500 out of 4.000 if:

  • You are currently enrolled in high school or college

  • You have graduated from high school or college or obtained a GED within the last 2 years

• Individuals who are currently enrolled in high school or college or have graduated or received a GED within the last two years will be required to provide official transcripts/GED scores prior to being invited to an onsite interview.

• Must have completed Algebra or Technical Math and Science coursework in High School, per graduation requirements. Completion of Chemistry and / or Physics coursework in High School is preferred.

• After an offer of employment, but prior to date of hire, must complete college entrance exams / assessments at the community college to be attended.  Must not be required to take any remedial or transitional coursework. 

Your additional requirements:

• Must be 18 years or older on or before your start date.

• Must have a current, valid US driver’s license or the ability to obtain prior to your start date. Please note that before being cleared to report to work, you will be required to successfully complete a Motor Vehicle Records check to verify the status of your driver’s license.

• Must possess a TWIC card or be eligible to obtain a TWIC card. For information on TWIC eligibility requirements, please see:

• A minimum requirement for this U.S. based position is the ability to work legally in the United States.  No visa sponsorship/support is available for this position, including for any type of U.S. permanent residency (green card) process.

Willing and able to meet physical demands of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations:

• Be able to work all applicable shifts on a rotating basis (including weekends & holidays) and work overtime, when needed.

• Be able to lift 50 pounds, lift hoses, bolt flanges and operate valves and similar equipment routinely.

• Be able to climb ladders/stairs and work at heights.

• Be able to work in tight or closed-in spaces.

Roles Available:

Instrument Technician

Instrument Electrical Technicians install, maintain and repair the measuring and control instruments used in industrial processing. They work with a wide variety of pneumatic, electronic and microcomputer instruments used to measure and control variables such as pressure, flow, temperature, level, motion, force, and chemical composition to support the process plants.

Your Primary Responsibilities and Key Skills:

• Maintaining and repairing all types of instrument systems.

• Troubleshooting, diagnosing, and replacing defective components on instrumentation.

• Reading electrical, logic, and loop diagrams.

• Electronic troubleshooting and repair skills.

• Procedure use – this includes field use, review, revision, and development of procedures.

Millwright/Mechanical Technician

Millwright/Mechanical Technicians install, maintain, troubleshoot and repair process and mechanical equipment used in industrial processing.   The mechanical equipment may include ANSI (American National Standards Institute) pumps, various types of compressors, blowers, fans, gearboxes, mixers and agitators.

Your Primary Responsibilities and Key Skills:

• Maintaining and repairing all types of mechanical equipment.

• Troubleshooting, diagnosing, and replacing defective equipment parts.

• Reading blueprints and design drawings.

• Mechanical troubleshooting and repair skills.

• Procedure use – this includes field use, review, revision, and development of procedures.

Process Technician

Process Operator Technicians operate equipment in assigned areas of the plant and perform operations related activities per the work process. They utilize chemical manufacturing knowledge and experience to operate and troubleshoot the plant in a safe and efficient manner.

Your Primary Responsibilities and Key Skills:

• Routine operation of basic control systems and devices to monitor levels, temperatures, pressures and flow rates, and transfer of products.

• Controlling, monitoring and adjustment of all control systems and manually operated equipment.

• Properly lifting hoses, bolt flanges and operate valves and similar equipment including the proper clearing and isolation of equipment.

• Following operating discipline, procedures, and practices to ensure a safe and efficient operation of assigned duties.

• Troubleshoot process, product quality, safety, and environmental problems, and identify equipment requiring maintenance.

• How to perform maintenance and project work safely and efficiently.

• Clearing and tagging equipment as required and issuing Safe Work Permits for maintenance and project work.

• Performing all duties with a high degree of dedication to safety and environmental stewardship.

Electrical Technician

Electrical Technicians install, maintain and repair all types of electrical equipment used in industrial processing. They work with a wide variety of electrical equipment, motors, starters, breakers, wiring at many different voltage levels to support the process plants.

Your Primary Responsibilities and Key Skills:

• Maintaining and repairing all types of electrical systems.

• Troubleshooting, diagnosing, and replacing defective components on electrical systems.

• Reading electrical, logic, and loop diagrams.

• Electronic troubleshooting and repair skills.

• Procedure use – this includes field use, review, revision, and development of procedures.

Additional Notes:

• Relocation assistance is not provided.

• Essential functions of this position may require, among other things, that the employee use particular types of equipment — such as on-site safety equipment that has specific weight limitations whereby the individual’s own weight, plus the weight of tools and other items and materials, must not exceed a certain threshold.  (For example, some types of safety equipment may be rated for a maximum weight limit of 300 pounds total.)  In the event a job offer for this position were (conditionally) extended, the individual will be appropriately evaluated in regard to their ability to perform all essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines global breadth; asset integration and scale; focused innovation and materials science expertise; leading business positions; and environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership to achieve profitable growth and deliver a sustainable future. The Company’s ambition is to become the most innovative, customer centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company in the world. Dow’s portfolio of plastics, industrial intermediates, coatings and silicones businesses delivers a broad range of differentiated, science-based products and solutions for its customers in high-growth market segments, such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer applications. Dow operates 104 manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employs approximately 35,700 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $55 billion in 2021. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information, please visit   or follow  @DowNewsroom  on Twitter.

As part of our dedication to the diversity of our workforce, Dow is committed to equal opportunities in employment.  We encourage every employee to bring their whole self to work each day to not only deliver more value, but also have a more fulfilling career. Further information regarding Dow’s equal opportunities is available on .

Dow is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and is committed to providing opportunities without regard for race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, protected veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at or you may call us at 1-833-My Dow HR and select option 0, then press *.