Plant Engineer

The Plant Engineer is responsible for optimizing and improving manufacturing processes to ensure safety, efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness in line with operational goals. This role supports continuous improvement initiatives, monitors plant performance metrics, and implements process enhancements across assigned production areas. The Plant Engineer will lead the planning, coordination, and execution of maintenance activities for their assigned plant assets, working closely with plant technicians to ensure reliability, minimize downtime, and extend equipment life.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (to include but not limited to)

Analyze, design, and optimize manufacturing processes to improve safety, efficiency, product quality, and throughput. Monitor process performance and key metrics to identify trends, troubleshoot issues, and drive continuous improvement initiatives. Lead and participate in root cause analysis (RCA) for process and equipment failures, quality deviations, and performance issues. Develop and implement corrective and preventive actions to reduce downtime and improve reliability. Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation, including process flow diagrams (PFDs), piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), standard operating procedures (SOPs), and equipment records. Identify and implement process improvements using Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement tools. Manage maintenance work orders, ensuring proper prioritization, resource allocation, and timely execution to minimize operational disruptions. Monitor equipment performance and condition, conducting regular inspections and assessments to detect early signs of wear, failure, or inefficiency. Ensure spare parts availability and maintain equipment bill of materials (BOMs) to support effective maintenance execution. Provide technical support for equipment upgrades, installations, and capital projects, ensuring proper commissioning and integration into existing systems. Collaborate cross-functionally with operations, quality, safety, and engineering teams to align process and asset management goals. Train and support operations and maintenance personnel on new equipment, processes, and troubleshooting techniques. Supervise and provide direct leadership to a team of technicians, including task delegation, performance feedback, development planning, and daily support. Contribute to maintenance and reliability budgeting, tracking expenditures, and identifying cost-saving opportunities related to asset care.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Chemical or Mechanical Preferred)
• 3+ years of experience strongly preferred in a manufacturing plant-based work environment
• Excellent understanding and ability to apply fundamentals of heat transfer, fluid transport and reaction chemistry
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Track record of successfully meeting schedule deadlines
• Some travel may be required.
• Candidates must be authorized to work in the US, now and in the future, without sponsorship Working Conditions

The job is performed in both a standard office and manufacturing plant environment. Exposure to loud noises, dust dirt, heat, sparks, oil and smoke may occur. Personal protective equipment (safety glasses, steel toed shoes, appropriate clothing and a hard hat) is required in manufacturing plants. Physical activities include extended periods of sitting and standing.

Physical Requirements

Ability to communicate (verbal and written) with management and co-workers is critical. Regular use of a variety of measuring tools, a telephone, and e-mail for communication is essential. Standing or sitting for extended periods is common. Hearing and vision within normal ranges is important for conversations, to receive ordinary information. Heavy lifting is required intermittently. Exertion of up to 50 pounds of force is occasionally required. Good manual dexterity for the use of common office equipment such as computers, calculator, copiers, and FAX machines or measuring tools is required.

Good math and reasoning ability is essential. Able to apply general mathematical calculations, analysis of variance and other basic standard equations as required.