Plant Engineer

EMS-CHEMIE (Business Unit EMS-GRIVORY); Sumter (SC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

EMS-CHEMIE in Sumter, SC is seeking a Plant Engineer to support batch polymerization, compounding, and extrusion operations. You will combine process engineering, troubleshooting, project execution, reliability improvement, and manufacturing scale-up to deliver safe, economical, and high-quality production outcomes.

Responsibilities include leading root-cause investigations, planning trials, developing project scopes, and driving handover from design to operations while collaborating with

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Polymer/Plastics, or related engineering.
• At least three years of process, production, project, or plant-engineering experience.
• Experience in chemical, polymer, or process-manufacturing environment.
• Strong process troubleshooting skills using data and root-cause analysis.
• Experience executing technical-improvement or capital projects.
• Ability to influence, coordinate, and provide technical direction across departments.
• Experience with batch polymerization, compounding, extrusion, pelletizing, process controls, manufacturing-data systems, CMMS, ISO 9001, or IATF 16949 would be valuable.

Responsibilities

• Identify process constraints, chronic losses, and recurring equipment problems.
• Improve throughput, cycle time, yield, product quality, waste, equipment availability, and operating cost.
• Lead structured root-cause investigations and verify corrective actions.
• Plan and execute trials involving new products, raw materials, recipes, and process conditions.
• Develop project scopes, estimates, business cases, and funding requests.
• Lead projects through design, procurement, installation, commissioning, startup, and operational handover.
• Partner with Production, Maintenance, EHS, Quality, R&D, Engineering, Supply Chain, vendors, and contractors.

Skills

Process troubleshooting

Root-cause analysis

Project management

Cross-department collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical/Mechanical/Polymer Engineering

Tools

CMMS

ISO 9001

IATF 16949

Job description

EMS-CHEMIE | Sumter, South Carolina | Full-Time | On-Site

EMS-CHEMIE is a global specialty chemical company that develops and manufactures high-performance polymers and specialty chemicals for demanding automotive, industrial, consumer, healthcare, electronics, optical, and packaging applications.

Are you the engineer people call when a process is losing yield, equipment repeatedly fails, or a critical project needs to move from concept to successful startup?

I’m recruiting a Plant Engineer for EMS-CHEMIE’s manufacturing operation in Sumter.

This is not a facilities-engineering position. You will support batch polymerization and polymer compounding and extrusion operations, combining process engineering, plant troubleshooting, project execution, reliability improvement, and manufacturing scale-up.

What You’ll Do

• Identify process constraints, chronic losses, and recurring equipment problems


• Improve throughput, cycle time, yield, product quality, waste, equipment availability, and operating cost


• Lead structured root-cause investigations and verify corrective actions


• Plan and execute trials involving new products, raw materials, recipes, and process conditions


• Develop project scopes, estimates, business cases, and funding requests


• Lead projects through design, procurement, installation, commissioning, startup, and operational handover


• Partner with Production, Maintenance, EHS, Quality, R&D, Engineering, Supply Chain, vendors, and contractors

Your results will be visible and measurable: reduced downtime, stronger process performance, successful product introductions, and projects delivered safely, on schedule, and within budget.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Polymer/Plastics, or a related engineering discipline—or equivalent directly relevant experience


• At least three years of process, production, project, or plant-engineering experience


• Experience in chemical, polymer, or another process-manufacturing environment


• Strong process and equipment troubleshooting skills using data and structured root-cause analysis


• Experience executing technical-improvement or capital projects


• Ability to influence, coordinate, and provide technical direction across departments


• Experience with batch polymerization, compounding, extrusion, pelletizing, process controls, manufacturing-data systems, equipment commissioning, CMMS, ISO 9001, or IATF 16949 would be particularly valuable.

EMS-CHEMIE offers a competitive compensation package, annual bonus opportunity, and relocation assistance for qualified candidates.

This is an opportunity to take ownership of meaningful plant challenges from diagnosis through implementation—and see the direct effect of your work on safety, reliability, quality, capacity, and cost.

Occasional support outside normal hours may be required for planned shutdowns, commissioning, startups, or significant technical events.

Interested—or know an engineer who should hear about this opportunity?

EMS-CHEMIE is an Equal Opportunity Employer.