Plant Engineer

POET; Minnesota; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive bonus opportunities

PTO + holidays

Health, dental, vision insurance

401K with company match

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Relocation assistance

Safety gear reimbursements

Wellness program

Family-first culture

Onsite fitness centers

Job summary

POET is seeking a Plant Engineer to partner with site leadership to maintain bioprocessing operations and drive continuous improvement. You will manage capital projects, analyze data, and implement cost-saving initiatives across facilities, with hands-on collaboration alongside other engineers.

The role requires a Mechanical or Chemical Engineering background, leadership experience, and familiarity with DCS systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering; other engineering degrees considered.
• Experience in operating processing plants (grain or chemical) is beneficial.
• Leadership and project management experience highly valued.
• Familiarity with DCS control and DCS historian systems is a plus.
• Strong organizational, time management, and communication skills; embrace change.

Responsibilities

• Develop, present, and manage capital project requests and economic justifications for site leadership.
• Identify opportunities for plant improvements with engineering teams for cost savings.
• Analyze process data and create action plans to optimize operations.
• Assist with facility shutdown planning and execution.
• Collaborate with leadership to review operational challenges and share process expertise.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Problem solving

Change management

Innovative mindset

Teamwork

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering

Tools

DCS control

DCS historian systems

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

ABOUT POET

At POET, it is our mission to be good stewards of the Earth by converting renewable resources to energy and other valuable goods as effectively as humanly possible. For over thirty years our drive and passion to change the world has enabled us to become the largest producer and marketer of bioethanol and a leader in sustainable products in the world.

BENEFITS & PERKS

• Eligible Team Members may receive $$ Competitive BONUS opportunities - up to SIX bonuses per year (Quarterly Profit Sharing & Value Share)
• Paid time off and paid holidays - 40 hours of PTO available on Day 1, on top of a biweekly PTO accrual program!
• Comprehensive benefits package; Individual and family plans for health, dental, & vision insurance, including a generous employer Health Savings Account contribution
• Competitive pay, including shift premium pay for qualifying positions
• 401K with company match
• Paid Parental Leave
• Tuition reimbursement
• Attractive Relocation Assistance and Bonus Programs for qualifying positions and/or locations
• Safety and cold weather gear reimbursements
• Discounted home and auto insurance
• All POET Team Members enjoy
• A multifaceted wellness program encompassing the whole person – mentally, physically, and spiritually
• 'Family-first' culture
• Onsite fitness centers or fitness reimbursements

JOB SUMMARY & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Plant Engineer is responsible for working closely with the management team at one or more bioprocessing facilities to maintain plant operations and to implement continuous improvement and capital projects. The Plant Engineer increases efficiencies of plant operations, maintains plant run time, implements system improvements, troubleshoots process problems, and considers cost factors. This is an on-site role located in Big Stone, SD. Responsibilities include:

• Develop, present, and manage capital request projects and economic justifications for site and Sioux Falls leadership team members
• Identify opportunities for plant improvements and work with a team of engineers to initiate and implement continuous improvement and cost savings projects. These projects may apply to one or more facilities across the POET footprint.
• Complete and present data analysis of process information and create associated action plans and identify optimization needs
• Assist with facility shutdown planning and execution
• Exercise your problem-solving skills working with the bioprocessing facility’s leadership team and fellow engineers in the field and at our corporate office to review operational and troubleshooting challenges
• Develop advanced knowledge in specific unit operations and become a Subject Matter Expert that teams can rely on for process expertise
• Support the Management of Change and Process Safety Management documentation for the facility
• Assist with creating annual strategic plan initiatives for the site
• Develop and utilize historical database reports
• Write and coordinate procedures, and communicate to team members as necessary
• Facilitate communication between departments
• Foster a culture of safe behavior and environmental compliance at all times
• Maintain a team environment at all times and champion POET in the community
• Since we’re all about teamwork and getting the job done, your skill may be put to a lot of other uses!

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

Bachelor’s degree or greater in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering. Other engineering degrees will be considered. Experience in an operating processing plant environment such as grain processing or chemical processing is beneficial If you’ve had prior leadership and project management, we’ll leverage those strengths frequently Experience with DCS control and DCS historian systems Working knowledge of OSHA and EPA regulations is considered an added bonus Strong organizational, time management, and communication skills and you not only welcome change, but you embrace it The ability to understand technical detail and day to day operation of a bioprocessing facility Knowledge of the basics of Microsoft Office Suite and the ability of learning new programs. A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE

A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE

• Interpersonal skills – ability to effectively interact with individuals at all levels within/outside the organization
• Demonstrated problem-solving and critical thinking skills
• Ability to embrace and promote change
• Innovative mindset
• Ability to think objectively
• Self-awareness in the face of uncertainty
• Ability to work in a team environment

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment at POET is dynamic. You should expect a balance between time spent in the office and at the bioprocessing facility, which may include some physical labor helping your team members. This role has some physical requirements that our team members will need to be able to perform, such as:

• Wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as hard hats, gloves, safety glasses, steel-toed boots, respirators (depending on the location), hazardous material suit, hearing protection, and harness.
• Working at extreme heights (approximately 150 ft), in confined spaces, and in extreme temperatures from -20 to +100 degrees Fahrenheit, both indoors and outdoors.
• Due to the nature of the work, the areas can be dusty at times.
• Must be able to use the following equipment/tools, with training provided (not all encompassing): forklift, power washer, pallet jack, hoist systems, scissor lifts, JLG lifts, telehandlers, Front End Loaders, various hand tools, and computers.
• Sitting in a chair in the Control Room while operating the plant
• Walk indoors and outdoors sometimes over rough, uneven, or wet/slick surfaces
• Carry to up to 15lbs
• Climb stairs and/or ladders
• Stand indoors to clean and maintain areas
• Reach at arm’s length to gather samples
• Be in awkward back, shoulder, wrists, and hand positions
• Use coordination and grip, with a force of up to 50lbs
• Bend while standing
• Use repetitive arm motions to wipe down and maintain work area
• Climb in and out of Powered Industrial Vehicles
• Lift up to 50lbs, with or without assistance
• Carry up to 40 lbs, with our without assistance
• Push with a force of 10lbs, with or without assistance
• Pull with a force of up to 85lbs, with or without assistance
• Bend, twist, turn, kneel, and crouch, while holding light and medium weighted objects
• Since we are all about team work, you may be asked to help other roles that have their own unique set of physical requirements.

Due to the physical and safety-sensitive nature of this job, you will be subject to a drug screen during the pre-screen process. During employment, you’ll be subject to random drug and alcohol testing.

CULTURE IS KING AT POET

We’re all on the same team. We always communicate. And we park our egos at the door. These aren’t just slogans on our walls. It’s the way we do things at POET. We provide an environment for team members to maintain a healthy work-life balance. It’s the best way to optimize health, wellness, and productivity in a sustainable way. We work hard. We play hard. We have frequent team events, volunteer efforts, and we know how to celebrate wins!

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

At POET we encourage internal development and growth by allowing team members to carve their own path to success. Leaders support team members with the necessary resources to develop their skills, achieve goals, and create the most value. We believe in developing our team members to their highest potential and recognizing contributions that add value to the organization. Each new team member’s position and compensation are carefully determined by considering their unique qualifications and skillset. Over the past 30 years of bioprocessing leadership, we've assembled the industry's strongest team of engineers, scientists, financial analysts and more. Along the way, we've carefully selected team members who share our core values and pride in everything we do. That's common sense—and it's led to some of the most creative bioprocessing work in the world. The people of POET make working here a challenging, exhilarating place to advance a career. They accomplish great things for millions of Americans and find great satisfaction in helping our country in so many ways.

POET is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to maintaining a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, abilities, merit, and other legitimate business factors, without regard to any legally protected characteristic. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, compensation, benefits, working conditions, promotion, and termination.