Plant Process Engineer

Trucent, Inc. is a global leader in fluid recovery and regeneration solutions helping manufacturers and producers achieve operational excellence by incorporating sustainable processes. We are committed to demonstrating leading-edge sustainable solutions and approaches to industrial production and materials management. In 2020, we created a new division of Trucent called, Trucent Renewable Chemicals. We specialize on taking oils from agricultural products like corn, soy, or other vegetable oils and separate out the specialty chemical compounds, amino acids, fatty acids, etc. The Plant Process Engineer owns the performance of the Van Wert renewable chemical process - keeping it safe, reliable and efficient while leading the projects that grow it. You will split your time between the control room, the plant floor and your desk: analyzing process data, troubleshooting equipment, and taking improvement and capital projects from concept through installation and startup. The ideal candidate is a degreed chemical engineer who is hands-on, comfortable in a continuous-process manufacturing environment, and as at ease with a wrench-turning crew as with a P&ID or a mass balance. We move quickly on strong candidates. You'll first hear from Talent Acquisition, followed by a personal interview with the Hiring Manager.

Key Responsibilities

Process performance and optimization

• Monitor daily unit performance (yield, throughput, product quality, energy and raw material usage) and drive corrective action when KPIs drift.
• Develop and maintain heat and material balances, process models and operating envelopes for key unit operations (reaction, separation, distillation, filtration, heat transfer).
• Lead root cause analysis on yield losses, off-spec product and recurring equipment issues using structured methods (5-Why, fishbone, RCA).
• Identify and implement continuous improvement projects that reduce cost per pound, increase capacity and cut waste and emissions.

Troubleshooting and operations support

• Serve as the first technical responder for process upsets; diagnose problems on the floor alongside operators and maintenance.
• Write and update standard operating procedures, operating limits and startup/shutdown procedures.
• Train operators on process fundamentals, new equipment and procedure changes.
• Provide on-call support for startups, shutdowns, turnarounds and off-hours upsets.

Projects, design and installation

• Scope, justify and execute capital and expense projects: estimates, ROI, schedules and vendor selection.
• Size and specify process equipment (pumps, heat exchangers, vessels, piping, instrumentation) using standard engineering calculations for capacity, flow rate, pressure drop, power and thermal load.
• Create and maintain P&IDs, PFDs, layouts, schematics and as-built drawings; check vendor and contractor drawings for accuracy.
• Create and maintain equipment data sheets, specifications and fabrication/assembly documents.
• Coordinate plans, details and specifications with vendors, contractors and internal maintenance; oversee installation, commissioning and startup.

Safety, environmental and compliance

• Own Management of Change (MOC) for process modifications and participate in PHA/HAZOP and pre-startup safety reviews.
• Support Process Safety Management (PSM), OSHA and EPA/Ohio EPA requirements, including air and water permit compliance and reporting.
• Champion a strong safety culture through incident investigations, job safety analyses and audits.

Data and collaboration

• Use historian, DCS/PLC and lab data to build trend analyses and performance reports for plant leadership.
• Work with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, EHS and corporate engineering on reliability, quality and product development initiatives.
• Support scale-up and trials of new products or feedstocks within the Renewable Chemical Division.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering (or a closely related engineering discipline).
• 5–7 years of engineering experience in a chemical, refining, biofuels or other continuous-process manufacturing plant.
• At least 3 years leading process improvement projects with measurable results.
• Working knowledge of unit operations, heat and material balances, and equipment sizing calculations.
• Ability to read, create and redline P&IDs, PFDs and engineering drawings; proficiency with AutoCAD or similar drafting software.
• Experience with MOC, PHA/HAZOP and OSHA PSM requirements.
• Strong hands-on troubleshooting skills and willingness to spend significant time on the plant floor.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data analysis.
• Authorization to work in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in renewable chemicals, biofuels, oleochemicals or bio-based processing.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license or EIT certification.
• Experience with process simulation (Aspen Plus/HYSYS, CHEMCAD) and plant historians (e.g., PI).
• Familiarity with DCS/PLC control systems and control loop tuning.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or higher.
• Project management experience with capital projects over $250K.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

• Split between office and an operating chemical plant, with exposure to noise, heat, cold, dust and process chemicals.
• Required PPE includes FR clothing, safety glasses, hard hat, steel-toe boots and hearing protection; respirator use may be required.
• Must be able to climb stairs and ladders, work at heights, enter confined spaces (with permit), and lift up to 50 lbs.
• Occasional evening, weekend and holiday work during startups, turnarounds and upsets.
• Limited travel (under 10%) to vendors, sister sites or training.

Equal Opportunity Trucent provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.