Plant Engineer

AAK; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) match

Health Savings Account

Life and disability insurance

Employee assistance program

Tuition reimbursement

Discounts and perks

Job summary

AAK Newark is seeking a Plant Engineer to optimize and improve manufacturing processes in Newark, NJ. This role focuses on safety, efficiency, quality, and cost effectiveness while driving continuous improvement and maintaining asset reliability.

You will lead maintenance planning, work with technicians, monitor metrics, and implement corrective actions. The position requires a engineering degree, 3+ years in manufacturing, and willingness to travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Chemical or Mechanical preferred).
• 3+ years of experience in a manufacturing plant-based environment.
• Strong understanding of heat transfer, fluid transport and interaction chemistry.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Willingness to travel.

Responsibilities

• Analyze, design, and optimize manufacturing processes to improve safety, efficiency, product quality, and throughput.
• Monitor process performance and key metrics to identify trends and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead RCA for process and equipment failures and deviations.
• Develop corrective and preventive actions to reduce downtime and improve reliability.
• Maintain process documentation including PFDs, P&IDs, SOPs, and BOMs.
• Collaborate with operations, quality, safety, and engineering teams.

Skills

Manufacturing experience

Heat transfer

Fluid transport

Communication skills

Deadline discipline

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Chemical or Mechanical Preferred)

Job description

Making Better Happen

Our story goes back more than 150 years, tothe windy coast where Sweden and Denmark meet.

From our success in Scandinavia, we've growninto the world's leading specialist producer of plant-based oils, employingmore than 4000 people all across the globe.

We work with our customers to make theproducts you love even better. The oils we produce go into making yourchocolate extra creamy or putting the crunch into your croissant. And it'snot just food - we work across industries to make products that are higherquality, healthier and better for the planet.

Every one of us works towards our sharedpurpose: Making Better Happen™.

Everything we do is about Making Better Happen together.

Join nearly 4,000 like-minded colleagues globally and build abetter future with us.

Build a better future as a Plant Engineer in Newark, NJ

Compensation Range: $90,000 - $115,000

Possible Bonus: 7.5%

AAKNewark

About the role

The Plant Engineer is responsible for optimizingand improving manufacturing processes to ensure safety, efficiency, quality,and cost-effectiveness in line with operational goals. This role supportscontinuous improvement initiatives, monitors plant performance metrics, andimplements process enhancements across assigned production areas. The PlantEngineer will lead the planning, coordination, and execution of maintenanceactivities for their assigned plant assets, working closely with planttechnicians to ensure reliability, minimize downtime, and extend equipmentlife.

Responsibilities

• Analyze, design, and optimize manufacturing processes to improve safety, efficiency, product quality, and throughput.
• Monitor process performance and key metrics to identify trends, troubleshoot issues, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead and participate in root cause analysis (RCA) for process and equipment failures, quality deviations, and performance issues.
• Develop and implement corrective and preventive actions to reduce downtime and improve reliability.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation, including process flow diagrams (PFDs), piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), standard operating procedures (SOPs), and equipment records.
• Identify and implement process improvements using Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement tools.
• Manage maintenance work orders, ensuring proper prioritization, resource allocation, and timely execution to minimize operational disruptions.
• Monitor equipment performance and condition, conducting regular inspections and assessments to detect early signs of wear, failure, or inefficiency.
• Ensure spare parts availability and maintain equipment bill of materials (BOMs) to support effective maintenance execution.
• Provide technical support for equipment upgrades, installations, and capital projects, ensuring proper commissioning and integration into existing systems.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with operations, quality, safety, and engineering teams to align process and asset management goals.
• Train and support operations and maintenance personnel on new equipment, processes, and troubleshooting techniques.
• Supervise and provide direct leadership to a team of technicians, including task delegation, performance feedback, development planning, and daily support.
• Contribute to maintenance and reliability budgeting, tracking expenditures, and identifying cost‑saving opportunities related to asset care.

About you

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Chemical or Mechanical Preferred)

• 3+ years of experience stronglypreferred in a manufacturing plant-based work environment
• Excellent understandingand ability to apply fundamentals of heat transfer, fluid transport anderaction chemistry
• Strong written and oralcommunication skills
• Track record ofsuccessfully meeting schedule deadlines
• Some travel may be required.
• Candidates must be authorized to work in the US, now and in the future, without sponsorship

In return AAK offer

• Career paths, training and development,e-learning and tuition reimbursement programs offer potential for you to progress your future career
• Comprehensive health insurance (medical,dental and vision) starting date of hire
• Health Savings Account with AAK annualcontribution of $1,000-$1,500
• Wematch 100% of the first 3% you contribute to your 401(k), and 50% of thenext 3%
• Free Life and Disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Supplemental Pet Insurance, IdentityTheft Protection and Legal Insurance Plans
• Discounts on travel, amusement parks,concerts, movies, and more
• Celebrations, events, and activities onsite and supporting our communities
• Recognition incentives for service andpeer to peer recognition

About AAK

Everything AAK does is aboutMaking Better Happen™. We specialize in plant-based oils that are the value-adding ingredients in many of the products people love to consume. We make these products better tasting, healthier and more sustainable. At the heart of AAK’s offer is Customer Co-Development, combining our desire to understand what better means for each customer, with the unique flexibility of our production assets, and a deep knowledge of many products and industries, including Chocolate & Confectionery, Bakery, Dairy, Plant-based Foods, Special Nutrition, Foodservice and Personal Care. Our4,000employees support our close collaboration with customers through 25 regional sales offices, 15 dedicated Customer Innovation Centers, and with the support of more than 20 production facilities. Listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and with our headquarters in Malmö, Sweden, AAK has been Making Better Happen™ for more than 150 years.

AAK prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, religion, veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under state or federal law in any aspect of the access to, admission, or treatment of studentsin its programs and activities, or in employment and application for employment.