Operational Technology Engineer

Syensqo SA; Winona (MN); On-site; USD 99,000 - 123,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Maternity/paternity leave

Training platform

Well-being sessions

Onsite team safety culture

Job summary

Syensqo is seeking an Operational Technology Engineer in Winona, MN to maintain, troubleshoot, and upgrade plant controls and safety systems. You will work with maintenance and engineering teams to plan, implement, and document improvements across PLC/SCADA environments.

The role requires hands-on OT experience in industrial settings, strong safety focus, and ability to lead projects independently or with teammates.

Qualifications

• Requires a 4-year engineering-related degree and 5+ years hands-on OT/controls experience in manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of PLC/SCADA programming and safety controls.
• Experience with Rockwell software and industrial automation equipment.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and upgrade plant control systems and related instrumentation.
• Lead safety, auditing, and documentation for controls projects.
• Develop/modify electrical drawings, diagrams, and schematics.
• Collaborate with Operations, Quality, and Reliability to implement improvements.

Skills

PLC programming

SCADA systems

Industrial automation

Safety compliance

Strong communication

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

Rockwell Studio 5000

FTView

FT Optix

HMI tooling

Job description

Requisition ID34905-Posted11/05/2026-USA - Winona, MN-Industrial-Full time-Regular

Syensqo is all about chemistry. We’re not just referring to chemical reactions here, but also to the magic that occurs when the brightest minds get to work together. This is where our true strength lies. In you. In your future colleagues and in all your differences. And of course, in your ideas to improve lives while preserving our planet’s beauty for the generations to come.

We are looking for:

The Operational Technology (OT) Engineer reports to the Maintenance and Engineering Manager, and is responsible for maintaining, troubleshooting, and upgrading the plant’s operational systems controls, safety controls, systems indications, and control systems reporting and communications. This individual will work closely with plant and corporate personnel to develop, plan, procure, and implement solutions, modifications, and upgrades to plant production and support machinery and will support plant technicians in troubleshooting and repair of production and support machinery and systems, when necessary. The OT Engineer will report to the Maintenance and Engineering Manager, and be responsible for the development, planning, and implementation of controls and associated systems in support of plant projects, both maintenance and capex.

This position requires the individual to be a decision-maker and be capable of completing job assignments either independently or with a team. This individual will be required to perform routine plant safety and maintenance performance audits and to work with plant personnel to develop short-term and long-term actions to address plant safety and other identified needs. The Operational Technology Engineer will be called upon to facilitate meetings and presentations related to plant controls and related systems initiatives and incident investigations.

We count on you to:

• Maintain strong adherence to plant and company safety, health, and environmental guidelines. Be a strong advocate for ensuring all team members play an active role in supporting safety guidelines and be a safety leader in the maintenance department in terms of adherence to safety permitting and other key processes.
• Own the health and performance of plant control systems and related field instrumentation, indications, and controls. Set plant-wide OT standards and drive modernization roadmaps. Anticipate obsolescence and reliability risks and propose and develop mitigation strategies to ensure plant systems controls are maintained in a high state of readiness for operation. Lead improvement efforts across the full range of plant equipment and inclusive of all departments to ensure the plant’s needs are fully understood and met.
• Develop/maintain standards for PLC/HMI code, alarm philosophy, naming conventions, documentation, backups, and change control.
• Support and improve process control for temperature/pressure/vacuum curing processes, ovens/autoclaves, resin mixing & handling, material handling, and material storage systems.
• Maintain up-to-date Interlock Matrices, SIF Testing systems, documentation, and records and utilize change management for applicable situations.
• Work with plant Operations, Quality, and Reliability personnel to implement, maintain, and upgrade data collection and traceability improvements (historians, batch/recipe data, OEE/downtime tagging, etc.). Assist efforts to implement formal systems and processes to analyze quality, cycle time improvements, variation reduction for multiple product lines, and methods to establish operational accountability.
• Update, modify, and create plant controls and/or electrical drawings, diagrams, and schematics in support of changes and on-going documentation efforts.
• Train and coach plant technicians, operators, supervision, and management in the development of understanding of plant control systems operations, indications, and troubleshooting. Work closely with plant maintenance technicians to restore plant equipment to full readiness status following controls/electrical systems breakdown.
• Take a lead role in planning and supporting plant controls and electrical systems during plant turnaround periods. Coordinate with outside agencies and contractors to develop plans and processes to ensure efficient, effective, and safe performance of preventive, predictive, and repair efforts for plant controls and electrical systems.

You will bring:

• A minimum of a 4-yr degree in an information technology related field such as Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics/Industrial Automation, and 5+ years hands-on experience with OT systems and controls or8+ years of hands-on OT/controls experience in industrial manufacturing environments (PLC/SCADA programming, commissioning, and support).
• Strong safety mindset
• Strong communication skills, written and verbal
• Demonstrated expertise with PLC programming, troubleshooting, and industrial controls design/support
• Experienced with automation devices (controllers, drives, HMI’s, sensors, controls, etc.), HMI/SCADA configuration and support
• Knowledgeable with Rockwell software including Studio 5000, FTView, FT Optix).
• Panel design and building experience.
• Experience implementing change, versioning/backup practices, and documentation standards
• CMMS system experience. SAP experience is a plus.
• Self-motivated, able to follow directions and meet deadlines
• Strong background in control systems, ladder logic, and drive systems
• Ability to create, read, and update blueprints, P&ID's, schematics, and other drawings
• Develop creative and innovative approaches to addressing issues
• Strong problem-solving abilities for controls and electrical applications

You will get:

Competitive salary and benefits package.

The U.S. base salary range reasonably expected to be paid for this position is $99,000.00 - $123,000.00 per year. Since actual compensation packages are based on a variety of factors unique to each candidate we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted base salary range. Total compensation for this role also includes bonus and/or other incentives.

16, or more, weeks of maternity/paternity and co-parenting leave, according to local regulations

Training platform for all employees

Free well-being sessions (physical and psychological)

About us

• Syensqo is a science company developing groundbreaking solutions that enhance the way we live, work, travel and play. Inspired by the scientific councils which Ernest Solvay initiated in 1911, we bring great minds together to push the limits of science and innovation for the benefit of our customers, with a diverse, global team of more than 13,000 associates. Our solutions contribute to safer, cleaner, and more sustainable products found in homes, food and consumer goods, planes, cars, batteries, smart devices and health care applications. Our innovation power enables us to deliver on the ambition of a circular economy and explore breakthrough technologies that advance humanity.
• At Syensqo, we seek to promote unity and not uniformity. We value the diversity that individuals bring and we invite you to consider a future with us, regardless of background, age, gender, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, ability or identity. We encourage individuals who may require any assistance or accommodations to let us know to ensure a seamless application experience. We are here to support you throughout the application journey and want to ensure all candidates are treated equally. If you are unsure whether you meet all the criteria or qualifications listed in the job description, we still encourage you to apply.
• Syensqo is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics.
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