Pilot Plant Controls Engineer

Sibelco North America, Inc; Red Hill (Montgomery County); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) retirement savings plan

Job summary

Sibelco North America, Inc is seeking a Pilot Plant Controls Engineer to optimize chemical processes for pilot plants. The role requires expertise in chemical engineering and project management, with responsibilities including leading process development and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Ideal candidates will have a degree in Chemical Engineering and at least 5 years of relevant experience in scaling processes. Benefits include comprehensive insurance and a 401(k) retirement plan.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in process development, preferably in the chemical industry.
• Hands-on experience with mineral/chemical processing plant systems.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and optimization of chemical processes for pilot plants.
• Collaborate with R&D scientists to scale-up lab processes.
• Coordinate with Quality Control, Production, and Procurement for operations.

Skills

Project management

Problem-solving

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Process design

Chemical engineering

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering or related field

Tools

Process simulation software

Data analysis tools

Job description

Overview

Pilot Plant Controls Engineer

Location: Bakersville, NC (Red Hill Location)

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 such as glass, ceramics, construction, coatings, polymers, and water purification. We are committed to sustainability, innovation, and empowering people to thrive and make a meaningful impact.

Role Summary

As part of the Technology & Innovation Team, the Pilot Plant Controls Engineer will design, develop, and optimize chemical processes to be scalable, efficient, and safe for pilot plant and full-scale production. This role requires a strong background in chemical engineering and process development, along with excellent project management and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and optimization of chemical processes from laboratory scale to pilot plant scale.
• Collaborate with R&D scientists to translate laboratory-scale processes into scalable operations.
• Make engineering decisions on existing or conceptualized processes and equipment.
• Interact with suppliers; request quotations, timing, and specifications.
• Research literature and principles in chemical and mechanical engineering; report findings and act upon them after management agreement.
• Identify and evaluate new suppliers and maintain interactions with existing ones.
• Work with energy, drive, and scheduling to stay at the forefront of processing technologies.
• Collaborate with the Pilot Plant Manager to ensure smooth scale-up and transfer of processes from lab to pilot plant.
• Coordinate with Quality Control, Production, and Procurement to integrate new processes into manufacturing operations.

Qualifications

• 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 and ensuring safe, efficient production operations.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in process development, preferably in the chemical, metallurgical, mineral/mining industry.
• Proven track record of 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, prescription drug, dental, vision, life, disability, and critical illness insurance
• 401(k) retirement savings plan

Additional Information

Salary is determined by education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data. This is a permanent position.

How to Apply

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, X/Twitter, and Facebook to learn more about life at Sibelco. Submit your application in the Apply option. We do not require agency services as we have a dedicated Global Talent Acquisition Team.

Notes

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