Pilot Plant Operator

Dow; Wilmington (DE); On-site; USD 34,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equitable pay

Bonus opportunity

Medical and life insurance

Vacation allowance

Employee discounts

Job summary

Dow is seeking a Pilot Plant Technician in Wilmington, DE. You will support R&D pilot plant operations, collaborating with engineers, scientists, and technicians to ensure safe, efficient operation and data collection for planned experiments.

Responsibilities include equipment operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and contributing to process improvements while adhering to safety standards and training requirements.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required; Associate’s Degree or higher in Process Technology, Chemistry, Biology, or related field.
• 3+ years of relevant technical military experience/training.
• 3+ years of chemical facility operations or similar industry experience.
• Willing and able to work a 12-hour rotating shift.
• Overtime and holiday work as needed.
• U.S. work authorization; no visa sponsorship available.
• Dow-based position located in Wilmington, DE.

Responsibilities

• Operate/process equipment and monitor conditions in a defined area.
• Perform tasks per Master Task List (field checks, equipment prep, samples).
• Troubleshoot deviations and relate duties to team and other groups.
• Collect and input plant metrics for SPC, asset utilization, yields, costs.
• Improve procedures and operating discipline; write SWPs; lock out/tag out.
• Participate in root cause investigations and safety requirements.
• Respond to process upset/crisis as directed by Pilot Plant Technologist.
• Demonstrate Life Critical Standards and safety culture.
• Complete all facility training as per plan.
• Move drums (55 gal) and lift up to 50 lbs.

Skills

Maintenance experience

Mechanical equipment

Operations: pilot plant

Timeliness

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Time management

Education

Associate’s degree or higher in Process Technology, Chemistry, Biology, or similar field

Tools

Hand tools

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 This Role

Dow has an exciting opportunity for a Pilot Plant Technician in Wilmington, DE! You are a self-starter who can identify, prioritize and accomplish multiple tasks. You can provide support to the operation of the Research & Development (R&D) Pilot Plant. You can work directly with engineers, scientists, leaders, and other technicians to ensure safe and proficient operation of the plants to deliver product samples and process information as requested in the planned experiments.

Responsibilities

• Operate and field checks process equipment, and monitors process conditions, equipment, and control systems in a defined area.
• Perform tasks assigned to operations as per Master Task List (e.g. Field checks, equipment preparation, samples, etc.).
• Use trouble shooting skills to resolve process related deviations and problems, and understands how the assigned duties relate to others in the team and how the team integrates with other related teams.
• Monitor, collect, and input plant metrics for Statistical Process Control, asset utilization, conversion costs, production yields, and identifies opportunities for plant optimization.
• Use process knowledge and skills to make improvements in plant performance and Operating discipline, including creating and improving job procedures.
• Write SWP's and perform lock out/tag out.
• Participate in Root Cause Investigations.
• Perform process upset/crisis response activities assigned by Pilot Plant Technologist.
• Demonstrate proficient application of Life Critical Standards, operate plant discipline and sets role model in safety culture.
• Complete all assigned training per facility training plan.
• Move drums (55gal) and lift up to 50lbs.

Required Qualifications

• A minimum of a High School Diploma or GED is required and one of the following: An Associate’s Degree or higher with emphasis in Process Technology, Chemistry, Biology, or similar technology related area.
• 3 or more years of relevant technical military experience/training.
• 3 or more years of work experience in a chemical facility operations role or other relevant industry experience.
• Willing and able to work shift schedule and 12 hour rotating shift.
• Ability to work overtime and holidays as needed.
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

You have 3 or more years of experience within chemical, manufacturing, oil/gas or industrial environment.

Physical Requirements

• Must be willing and able to do the following 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.
• Frequent/occasional lifting of material weighing approximately 50 pounds, including repositioning of full 55gal drums on pallets.

Skills

• Maintenance: Must have significant maintenance experience along with the ability to comfortably use hand tools.
• Mechanical Equipment: Mechanical aptitude and hands‑on experience in running large-scale polymer compounding equipment preferred.
• Operations: Experience with operation of continuous, integrated chemical process pilot plants. Must also have experience in chemical process research and development or production support.
• Timeliness: Must be prompt and able to stick to the shift schedule. It is imperative that the candidate must be able to arrive to assigned shifts in a timely manner.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills. Good interpersonal skills.
• Computer Skills: Microsoft application expertise, to include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook is required.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: A self-starter who can identify, prioritize and accomplish multiple tasks.
• Time Management: The individual should have the ability to prioritize their workload depending on significance and deadline.

Additional Notes

No relocation assistance is available for this position.

Benefits – What Dow offers you

We invest in you. Dow invests in total rewards programs to help you manage all aspects of you: your pay, your health, your life, your future, and your career.You bring your background, talent, and perspective to work every day. Dow rewards that commitment by investing in your total wellbeing.

• 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.