Run Plant Engineer: Safe Ops & Process Improvement

Rio Tinto; Bessemer City (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Annual incentive bonus

Health insurance options

Retirement plan with 401k matching

Parental leave

Job summary

Rio Tinto, based in the United States, seeks a Run Plant Engineer to oversee safe, stable day‑to‑day operations of the production unit, coordinating with EHS, commercial, manufacturing, and R&D to drive process improvements. This role is part of the Hydroxide Line 2 team at the Bessemer City site.

The position requires a BS in Chemical Engineering and 3–10 years of chemical manufacturing experience, with strong problem solving, PM/AFE proficiency, and solid communication skills.

Qualifications

• BS in Chemical Engineering required; degree holders with related fields will be considered
• 3–10 years in a chemical manufacturing environment, crystallizer experience and cGMP or similar quality systems preferred
• Strong knowledge of chemical processing and ability to solve complex engineering problems
• Exposure to production and process functions within a manufacturing setting
• Proficient in Project Management and AFE processes (feasibility, approvals, execution)
• Excellent presentation skills and ability to communicate with diverse stakeholders

Responsibilities

• Support safety efforts through observations, improvement projects, and safety audits
• Resolve day‑to‑day production issues and process problems
• Initiate/approve MOC requests, communicate changes, and ensure proper training and PSSR completion
• Assist in incident investigations, identify root causes and corrective actions for safety/environmental performance
• Analyze asset utilization data to identify reliability and capacity improvements
• Lead process safety assessments and implement improvement initiatives
• Maintain accurate process technology information and documentation

Skills

Process optimization

Project Management

Public speaking

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

BS in Chemical Engineering

Job description

Rio Tinto, based in the United States, seeks a Run Plant Engineer to oversee safe, stable day‑to‑day operations of the production unit, coordinating with EHS, commercial, manufacturing, and R&D to drive process improvements. This role is part of the Hydroxide Line 2 team at the Bessemer City site.

The position requires a BS in Chemical Engineering and 3–10 years of chemical manufacturing experience, with strong problem solving, PM/AFE proficiency, and solid communication skills.