Operations Performance Engineer

Dow; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base pay

Bonus opportunity

Wellbeing programs

On-site fitness facilities

Employee discounts

Job summary

Dow’s Emulsions/Polymers operation in Knoxville seeks an Operations Performance Engineer to drive value through EH&S excellence, reliability, and cost efficiency. You will work across operations, maintenance, and technology centers to optimize performance and resolve complex challenges, enabling safe, efficient production of quality products.

You will leverage MET, process automation, and KPI reviews to prevent outages, optimize yields, and sustain continuous improvement while supporting on-call

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering by January 2027 (Chemical or Mechanical preferred).
• In lieu of a degree, relevant military experience at or above a U.S. E5 or Canadian Petty Officer 2nd Class or Sergeant ranking will be considered.
• Previous experience in a chemical production facility is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with operations to leverage problem-solving skills and technical expertise.
• Apply MET concepts and use process automation to optimize plant performance.
• Diagnose root causes of asset utilization losses and document operating discipline.
• Review daily KPI trends and respond to plant issues and emergencies.
• Provide leadership and optimization in Raw Material Efficiency and ensure permit compliance.

Skills

Process Optimization

Technical Expertise

Problem-Solving

Collaboration & Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (by Jan 2027)

Military experience at US E5 / Canadian PO2 or Sergeant

Job description

At Dow, we believe in putting people first and we’re passionate about delivering integrity, respect and safety to our customers, our employees and the planet. Our people are at the heart of our solutions. They reflect the communities we live in and the world where we do business. Their diversity is our strength. We’re a community of relentless problem solvers that offers the daily opportunity to contribute with your perspective, transform industries and shape the future. Our purpose is simple - to deliver a sustainable future for the world through science and collaboration. If you’re looking for a challenge and meaningful role, you’re in the right place.

About You and this Role

Dow's Emulsions/Polymers production facility in Knoxville, TN has an opening for an Operations Performance Engineer. In this role, you will play a key part in helping the plant deliver maximum value through Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) excellence, operational reliability, efficiency, and low cost to produce. As a member of a smaller manufacturing site, you will have the opportunity to work across a broad range of technical and operational areas, gaining exposure beyond what is typically available in larger facilities. This unique role offers significant opportunities to develop both technical and leadership capabilities while partnering closely with Operations, Maintenance, EH&S, and other functions to optimize plant performance, resolve complex challenges, and enable the safe, reliable, and efficient production of quality products.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the operations team leveraging their problem-solving skills and technical expertise.
• Elevate and appropriately apply knowledge of the plant and technology referencing historical data and conferring with Technology Center or other subject matter experts (SMEs).
• Ensure Most Effective Technology (MET) is understood and utilized, and that process automation is used as a tool to optimize plant performance.
• Utilize defined MET and challenge/escalate MET application and assumptions when better solutions arise.
• Partner with experts to perform advanced troubleshooting and improve and document operating discipline.
• Diagnose and document root causes of asset utilization losses in the facility.
• Understand why specific procedure steps and precautions are needed and keeps a strong field presence to reinforce the importance.
• Conduct daily review of logbook and alarm history to better understand the plant operation and stay engaged with daily activities.
• Maintain, own, and review daily Key Process Indicators (KPI)/ trends to ensure optimum performance.
• Respond urgently to plant issues and emergencies.
• Act as a unit technical expert during unplanned events and drive implementation of effective corrective and preventative actions.
• Provide leadership, expertise, diagnosis, and optimization in plant Raw Material Efficiency, which may include yield or waste generation.
• Ensure compliance with plant operating permits.
• Understand site integration and provide input to optimize the overall system.
• Provides support with on-call rotation.

Qualifications

• Must have obtained a bachelor's degree in engineering by January 2027. Chemical or mechanical engineering discipline is preferred.
• In lieu of a degree, relevant military experience at or above a U.S. E5 or Canadian Petty Officer 2nd Class or Sergeant ranking will be considered.
• Previous experience in a chemical production facility is preferred.
• Previous experience in coatings is preferred.
• 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 accommodation.
• Wear safety equipment, such as earplugs, goggles, and steel-toed shoes.
• Wear and use respirators.
• Perform frequent bending, reaching, and lifting.
• Work in tight or closed-in spaces.
• Climb stairs/ladders and work high off the ground.
• Stand or walk for extended periods of time.
• Lift a maximum of 50 lbs.
• This role does involve elevated work greater than or equal to four feet above the ground.
• Must be able to wear and use personal protective equipment (PPE), including harnesses with a total weight capacity of 300lbs.

Your Skills

• Process Optimization: The candidate should have a strong understanding of process optimization techniques to enhance plant performance and efficiency.
• Technical Expertise: Strong technical and interpersonal skills along with a high level of initiative are required to be successful in this role.
• Problem-Solving Skills: The ability to identify and resolve issues quickly and effectively is important for maintaining smooth plant operations.
• Collaboration and Communication: Must be able to work with multiple functions and diverse workgroups, especially important to be able to work with shift and technical operations teams.

Additional Notes

Work during off-hours and weekends are sometimes required during plant turnarounds or upsets. This position does not offer relocation assistance.

Benefits – What Dow offers you

• Equitable and market-competitive base pay and bonus opportunity across our global markets, along with locally relevant incentives.
• Benefits and programs to support your physical, mental, financial, and social well-being, to help you get the care you need...when you need it.
• Competitive retirement program that may include company-provided benefits, savings opportunities, financial planning, and educational resources to help you achieve your long term financial-goals.
• Employee stock purchase programs (availability varies depending on location).
• Student Debt Retirement Savings Match Program (U.S. only). Dow will take the value of monthly student debt payments and apply them as if they are contributions to the Employees’ Savings Plan (401(k)), helping employees reach the Company match.
• Robust medical and life insurance packages that offer a variety of coverage options to meet your individual needs.
• Travel insurance is also available in certain countries/locations.
• Opportunities to learn and grow through training and mentoring, work experiences, community involvement and team building.
• Workplace culture empowering role-based flexibility to maximize personal productivity and balance personal needs.
• Competitive yearly vacation allowance.
• Paid time off for new parents (birthing and non-birthing, including adoptive and foster parents).
• Paid time off to care for family members who are sick or injured.
• Paid time off to support volunteering and Employee Resource Group’s (ERG) participation.
• Wellbeing Portal for all Dow employees, our one-stop shop to promote wellbeing, empowering employees to take ownership of their entire wellbeing journey.
• On-site fitness facilities to help stay healthy and active (availability varies depending on location).
• Employee discounts for online shopping, cinema tickets, gym memberships and more.
• Additionally, some of our locations might offer: Transportation allowance (availability varies depending on location) Meal subsidiaries/vouchers (availability varies depending on location) Carbon-neutral transportation incentives e.g. bike to work (availability varies depending on location).

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) is one of the world’s leading materials science companies, serving customers in high-growth markets such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer applications. Our global breadth, asset integration and scale, focused innovation, leading business positions and commitment to sustainability enable us to achieve profitable growth and help deliver a sustainable future. We operate manufacturing sites in 30 countries and employ approximately 36,000 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $43 billion in 2024. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. Learn more about us and our ambition to be the most innovative, customer-centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company in the world by visiting www.dow.com. As part of our dedication to inclusion, 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 www.dow.com. Dow is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and is committed to providing opportunities without regard for race, color, religion, sex, including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity, national origin, age, disability and genetic information, including family medical history. 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 call us at 1-833-My Dow HR (833-693-6947) and select option 8. Dow is a company of more than 36,500 global innovators, believers and solutions providers. We are a diverse community marked by respect, integrity, and a desire to make the world a better place. A career at Dow is an invitation to explore, create, and make valuable contributions to human progress.