Pilot Plant Controls Engineer

Sibelco North America, Inc; Red Hill (Montgomery County); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Prescription Drug Benefits

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Critical Illness Insurance

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

Job summary

Sibelco North America, Inc is seeking a Pilot Plant Controls Engineer to drive design, development, and optimization of chemical processes from lab to pilot plant. You will collaborate with R&D and production teams to ensure scalable, safe operations and successful scale‑up.

The role requires a strong background in chemical engineering, project leadership, and experience in process simulation and data analysis. This is a permanent, on‑site position with a global materials leader.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience operating and controlling mineral/chemical processing plant systems.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in process development and scale‑up from lab to pilot plant.
• Strong project management skills and ability to lead cross-functional teams.
• Excellent problem‑solving, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Fluency in English with clear communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and optimization of chemical processes from laboratory to pilot plant scale.
• Collaborate with R&D scientists to translate lab data into scalable operations.
• Make engineering decisions on process equipment and scale‑up strategies.
• Coordinate with suppliers for quotations, timing, and specifications.
• Research material science principles and report findings to management.
• Ensure smooth scale‑up and transfer of processes to pilot plant.
• Work with Quality Control, Production, and Procurement to integrate new processes.

Skills

Process control

Project management

Analytical skills

Written and verbal communication

Education

B.S./M.S. in Chemical Engineering or Process Engineering

Tools

Process simulation software

Data analysis tools

Job description

Pilot Plant Controls Engineer

Location: SP Red Hill

At Sibelco, we advance life through materials. For over 150 years, we’ve been a trusted leader in sourcing, transforming, and distributing specialty industrial minerals. Our work powers progress across industries as diverse as glass, ceramics, construction, coatings, polymers, and water purification. Beyond our materials, we’re proud of our commitment to sustainability, innovation, and empowering people from all walks of life to thrive and make a meaningful impact.

Are We the Perfect Match? At Sibelco, we believe building a successful career is a two-way journey. We’re looking for individuals who share our values and vision, just as much as you’re seeking a company that aligns with your aspirations. Together, we can shape the future.

Job Description

As a part of the Technology & Innovation Team the Pilot Plant Controls Engineer role will empower you to play a crucial role in the design, development, and optimization of chemical processes, ensuring they are scalable, efficient, and safe for pilot plant and full-scale production. This position requires a strong background in chemical engineering and process development, coupled with excellent project management and leadership skills.

Your Impact in This Role

• Lead the development and optimization of chemical processes from laboratory scale to pilot plant scale.
• Collaborate with R&D scientists to understand experimental data and translate laboratory-scale processes into scalable operations.
• Ability to make Engineering decisions on existing or conceptualized processes and associated equipment.
• Ability to interact with existing suppliers and request quotations/timing/specifications.
• Ability to research (literature of all type), chemical and mechanical engineering/scientific principles and report back findings.
• Act upon those findings once agreement is reached with management.
• Ability to research new suppliers and have same interactions as existing ones.
• Person with energy and drive to be at the forefront of processing technologies and ability to schedule themselves accordingly.
• Work closely with the Pilot Plant Manager to ensure smooth scale-up and transfer of processes from the lab to the pilot plant.
• Collaborate with Quality Control, Production, and Procurement teams to ensure seamless integration of new processes into manufacturing operations.

What You Bring to the Table

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, or a related field.
• Hands-on experience operating and controlling mineral/chemical processing plant systems, including monitoring process parameters, adjusting controls, and ensuring safe, efficient production operations.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in process development, preferably in the Chemical, Metallurgical, Mineral/mining industry.
• Proven track record of successfully scaling up processes from lab to pilot plant.
• Strong project management skills, with experience leading cross‑functional teams.
• Excellent problem‑solving, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in process simulation software and data analysis tools.
• Fluency in the local language and written and spoken English.

Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Prescription Drug Benefits
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

Salary

Salary is to be determined by education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data.

Employee Type

Permanent

Why Join Us?

Sibelco is more than a workplace—it’s a community that encourages growth, innovation, and collaboration. Here’s what you can look forward to when you join our team:

Meet Our People: Careers Learn About Our Recruitment Process: Learn More Discover Our Sustainability Goals: Sibelco priorities

We also welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to providing reasonable adjustments to support you through the selection process.

We do not require agency services as we have a dedicated Global Talent Acquisition Team.

If you are looking for a fast-moving, diverse and challenging career where you can make a real difference, Sibelco could be the right company for you. Scroll down to explore our latest career opportunities and learn more about what it is like to work at Sibelco.