Pilot Plant, Engineer

ZipRecruiter; Little Ferry (NJ); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in catalyst product development is seeking a Pilot Plant Engineer to oversee operations at their Little Ferry facility. This role is crucial for conducting catalyst testing and ensuring operational efficiency. The ideal candidate will have a strong engineering background and leadership skills to guide a team effectively. Responsibilities include developing standard operating procedures, troubleshooting systems, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance performance and safety standards.

Qualifications

• 5 years of engineering experience in pilot plant operations.
• Competence in applying chemical engineering principles.

Responsibilities

• Lead LFPP operations and conduct catalyst testing.
• Develop SOPs and supervise pilot plant operators.
• Coordinate with maintenance and procurement teams.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Leadership

Communication

Organizational Skills

Education

Bachelor’s or higher degree in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Data Acquisition

Automation

Job description

Job DescriptionJob Description

Company: Scientific Design LLC

Location: Little Ferry, NJ

Position Title: Pilot Plant Engineer

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The Pilot Plant Engineer position is responsible for the technical operation and subject matter expert in catalyst testing primarily at the Little Ferry Pilot Plant (LFPP). This position also leads the pilot plant operations including a team of pilot plant operators. It is a key role in the core R&D team to support catalyst product development and commercialization, focusing on evaluating catalyst performance under various conditions at the pilot plant.

MAJOR ACTIVITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Primarily responsible for leading LFPP operation, conducting catalyst testing at LFPP, ensuring uninterrupted operations, delivering accurate, consistent, reproducible, and reliable data
• Develop SOPs, schedule shift work, and supervise operators to have smooth pilot plant operations
• Collaborate with other technical experts and operational teams to perform troubleshooting & RCA, minimize the downtime, and ensure data quality
• Coordinate with procurement for ordering and delivery of gases and other materials
• Perform annual turnaround, identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, and lead improvement implementations
• Coordinate with the maintenance team and outside services for repairs and continuous improvements
• Interface with cross-functional teams for planning on catalyst supply (loading, unloading, and post-mortem), start-up & conditioning, feasibility of reaction conditions & changes
• Provide oral and written reports and presentations to stakeholders and management team
• Follow safety procedure, build, and maintain high safety standards within the team

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s or higher degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry or relevant disciplines
• 5 years of engineering experience working in a pilot plant and/or plant operations

Skills and experience

• Troubleshooting ability with pilot plant systems including safety, mechanical, analytical, electronics/automation, data acquisition and reporting
• Competence in applying chemical engineering principles to rational analysis, scientific correlations, and convincing interpretations of pilot plant testing results and operational issues
• Ability to engage and empower the LFPP testing team through setting high expectations & clear direction, drive & deliver performance, and lead with agility
• Ability to coach, develop and mentor operators to solve complex operation problems, ensure uninterrupted operations, and deliver quality data
• Self-motivated to resolve challenges and circumvent obstacles
• Strong leadership and communication skills
• Ability to work in cross-functional teams
• Ability to organize efficiently, prioritize and handle multiple projects simultaneously