Plant Engineer

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

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Health Savings Account

Tuition reimbursement

Career development

Job summary

AAK Newark is seeking a Plant Engineer to analyze, design, and optimize manufacturing processes to enhance safety, efficiency, product quality, and throughput.

You will monitor process performance, lead RCA efforts for failures, and implement corrective actions to reduce downtime and improve reliability. This role requires a Bachelor's in Engineering and 3+ years in a plant setting.

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 reaction chemistry.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Some travel may be required. Candidates must be authorized to work in the US, now and in the future, without sponsorship.

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 PFDs, P&IDs, SOPs, and equipment records.
• Identify and implement process improvements using Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement tools.
• Provide technical support for equipment upgrades, installations, and capital projects, ensuring proper commissioning and integration into existing systems.
• Train and support operations and maintenance personnel on new equipment, processes, and troubleshooting techniques.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

Process optimization

Root cause analysis

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's in Engineering (Chemical or Mechanical)

Job description

Making Better Happen Our story goes back more than 150 years, to the windy coast where Sweden and Denmark meet.

Our story goes back more than 150 years, to the windy coast where Sweden and Denmark meet.
From our success in Scandinavia, we've grown into the world's leading specialist producer of plant-based oils, employing more than 4000 people all across the globe.
We work with our customers to make the products you love even better. The oils we produce go into making your chocolate extra creamy or putting the crunch into your croissant. And it's not just food - we work across industries to make products that are higher quality, healthier and better for the planet.
Every one of us works towards our shared purpose: Making Better Happen.
Everything we do is about Making Better Happen together.
Join nearly 4,000 like-minded colleagues globally and build a better future with us.
Build a better future as a Plant Engineer in Newark, NJ
Compensation Range: $90,000 - $115,000
Possible Bonus: 7.5%

AAK Newark

About The Role

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 strongly preferred in a manufacturing plant-based work environment
• Excellent understanding and ability to apply fundamentals of heat transfer, fluid transport and reaction chemistry
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Track record of successfully 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 annual contribution of $1,000-$1,500