Plant Process Engineer

BioUrja Group; Peoria (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Paid time off

Health insurance

Dental and vision

Life insurance

Long-term disability

401(k) with company match

Cash Balance Retirement Plan

Job summary

BioUrja Renewables, LLC in Peoria, IL seeks a Plant Process Engineer to partner with management to optimize and standardize plant operations. You will drive process improvements, troubleshoot production issues, and lead initiatives to boost yields while maintaining safety and regulatory compliance.

The role covers front-end to utilities, requiring strong analytical skills, teamwork, and experience with DCS systems and JMP analytics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering required – Chemical majors preferred.
• 5-10 years relevant experience required.
• 5 years project engineering and management experience preferred.
• Experience with DCS control and DCS historian systems preferred.
• Proficiency in Word, Excel and Outlook and the ability and willingness to learn JMP statistical analysis
• Excellent organizational skills, communications skills, the ability to multi‑task.
• Strong collaboration and teamwork skills.
• Six Sigma Experience Preferred (black belt is a plus)

Responsibilities

• Identify, scope, and lead projects designed to expand plant production, maximize efficiencies, and minimize downtime of plant operations.
• Write and coordinate procedures, present capital request justifications and create strategic plan initiatives.
• Identify and standardize best practices across the facilities via advanced data analysis using JMP or other software.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of applicable codes and regulations.
• Serve as a resource to management, supervisors and maintenance staff.
• Assist in operational/troubleshooting issues.
• Seek out lead continuous improvement initiatives.
• Act as manager of specific processing areas when needed.

Skills

Project management

Analytical thinking

Communication

Teamwork

Six Sigma

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Chemical preferred)

Tools

DCS control

DCS historian

JMP

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

SUMMARY OF COMPANY

BioUrja Renewables, LLC is a leading manufacturer of industrial‑grade, beverage‑grade, and fuel‑grade ethanol and co‑products, located in Peoria, IL. The company operates a 135 million gallon per year production plant, which is among the largest industrial alcohol facilities in the U.S., with a long history of successful operations.

We are part of the BioUrja Group, a family‑owned energy and agricultural trading, supply and distribution group headquartered in Houston, Texas and having operations across the USA, as well as in the UK, UAE, India, Singapore, and Mexico. We are proud to have been listed as one of the top four largest privately held companies in the Houston metropolitan area.

JOB SUMMARY

The Plant Process Engineer is responsible for partnering with the management teams at both to maximize and standardize efficiencies of plant operations and implement process improvement and expansion projects. This position troubleshoots and identifies process needs to maintain production levels and product yields and also may lead operational areas of the plant.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Identify, scope, and lead projects at that are designed to expand plant production, maximize efficiencies, and minimize downtime of plant operations.
• Write and coordinate procedures, present capital request justifications and create strategic plan initiatives.
• Identify and standardize best practices across the facilities via advanced data analysis using JMP or other software.
• Develop and maintain an appropriate level of knowledge of the applicable codes and regulations.
• Serve as a resource to management, supervisors and maintenance staff.
• Assist in operational/troubleshooting issues.
• Seek out lead continuous improvement initiatives.
• Act as manager of specific processing areas such as front end, backend, evaporation, drying and all utilities when needed.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable workplace accommodation.

The individual must also be able to wear and properly utilize appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to work or visit within areas where it is required. This includes hard hat, safety glasses, life vest, respirators, ear plugs, steel toed shoes, personal flotation devices (PFD’s), or other protective equipment as required by the work performed and location the work is being done.

In addition, Employees in this position must also be capable of:

• Walking, stepping, climbing, or otherwise moving from one location on the job site to another, which may be of varying heights and access parameters.
• Standing, stooping, bending, crouching, kneeling, squatting, climbing, crawling, or sitting for long periods of time.
• Repetitive movements by feet, shoulders, arms, wrists, hands and back in performance of work.
• Climbing stairs, and/or vertical ladders of varying heights.
• Working in confined work areas and/or elevated heights.
• Lifting objects of minimum of 10lbs, with maximum single‑person lift limit of 50lbs, with frequent lifting and carrying.
• Adapting to temperature changes, outdoor conditions, and prolonged exposure to dusty, wet, or humid conditions, loud noises, and vibration.
• Visually inspecting equipment and verifying information, often in small print.
• Driving and/or operating heavy machinery safely and be alert and aware of surroundings at all times.
• Applying sideways/upward/downward pressure to tighten and loosen hardware.

The Company expects and requires all employees to observe and fulfill all safety responsibilities as outlined in workplace safety training, and actively work toward maintaining a safe workplace. Failure to do so can result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. Regular attendance and punctuality are required of all employees.

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering required – Chemical majors preferred
• 5-10 years’ relevant experience required
• 5 years project engineering and management experience preferred.
• Experience with DCS control and DCS historian systems preferred.
• Proficiency in Word, Excel and Outlook and the ability and willingness to learn new software applications such as JMP statistical analysis
• Excellent organizational skills, communications skills, the ability to multi‑task.
• Strong collaboration and teamwork skills.
• Six Sigma Experience Preferred (black belt is a plus)

BENEFITS

• Range: $100,000 - $120,000 Annually; DOE
• Competitive pay, paid time off and paid holidays
• Medical (with wellness discount), dental, vision
• Company‑paid life insurance, long‑term disability and, and short‑term disability
• Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts
• 401(k) with Company match
• Cash Balance Retirement Plan

BioUrja Renewables, LLC is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

BioUrja Renewables, LLC participates in the E‑Verify Employment Verification Program.