On-Site Plant Operations Engineer – Data-Driven, Hands-On

Plantible Foods, Inc.; Eldorado (TX); On-site; USD 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Unlimited PTO

Paid holidays

401k

Relocation assistance

Outdoor land access

Job summary

Plantible Foods in Eldorado, TX is seeking an on-site Operations Engineer to evolve R&D into commercial operations. You will work on the plant floor, operating downstream processing equipment, and help build the systems and tools for scale.

This early-career role emphasizes hands-on problem solving, data-driven improvements, and collaboration with operations, engineering, and the commercialization team to ensure smooth pilot-to-production transitions.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Process, Chemical, Mechanical, or Bioprocess Engineering.
• 0-3 years of hands-on experience in food, beverage, pharmaceutical or ingredient manufacturing; new grads welcome.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, organization, and data-analysis skills; bridging R&D and plant operations.
• A proactive, “get-it-done” attitude with on-site work at Ranchito as projects demand.
• Understanding of sanitary design, food safety (HACCP, FSMA), and equipment standards (USDA, FDA).
• A desire to contribute and make a sustainable impact!

Responsibilities

• Operate downstream processing equipment daily to support pilot plant and production activities, especially during onboarding ramp.
• Troubleshoot deviations in production and develop durable solutions with engineering and operations teams.
• Support commercialization with product inventory management and customer-shipment readiness.
• Identify and support implementation of process improvements with operations, commercialization, maintenance and controls teams.
• Translate R&D findings into robust, scalable manufacturing processes with SOPs and documentation.
• Transition trial-scale testing to the 24x7 operations team as the business scales.
• Create a deviation-aware operating system with clear remediation steps.
• Promote a data-driven, continuous improvement mindset across the plant.

Skills

Problem-solving

Communication

Organization

Data analysis

0-3 years experience

Sanitary design & food safety

Education

Bioprocess/Process Engineering degree

Job description

Plantible Foods in Eldorado, TX is seeking an on-site Operations Engineer to evolve R&D into commercial operations. You will work on the plant floor, operating downstream processing equipment, and help build the systems and tools for scale.

This early-career role emphasizes hands-on problem solving, data-driven improvements, and collaboration with operations, engineering, and the commercialization team to ensure smooth pilot-to-production transitions.