Senior Process Control Engineer-Onsite

MP Materials; Mountain Pass (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading materials company in California is seeking a Senior Process Control Engineer to support plant operations through PLC/SCADA infrastructure. Responsibilities include troubleshooting and maintaining automation systems, developing graphics for SCADA applications, and managing control schemes. Candidates should have 7+ years of relevant experience, preferably with Rockwell Automation tools, and must be authorized to work in the United States. The position is full-time onsite with shared on-call duties.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience as a process control engineer in a relevant industrial setting.
• Experience with PFDs, P&IDs, control narratives, and wiring diagrams.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Support plant operations within the PLC/SCADA environment.
• Troubleshoot and support installation of valves, instruments, and equipment.
• Develop new graphics in SCADA applications.

Skills

Rockwell Automation programming

PLC/SCADA systems

Troubleshooting heavy industrial equipment

Process optimization

Education

BS degree in Engineering

Tools

iFix HMI

Ignition

RSLogix

Job description

Position Overview

The Senior Process Control Engineer supports plant operations PLC/SCADA infrastructure, participates in various capital projects, and provides expertise on various process improvement projects. This position will be responsible for interfacing with stakeholders including engineering, production, maintenance, utilities, IT, environmental, safety, management, and contractors. This is an onsite position, Monday through Friday, with off‑shift on‑call support responsibilities that is shared amongst the controls group.

Position Responsibilities

• Work within the PLC/SCADA environment to support plant operations.
• Update and develop new graphics within the SCADA GE iFix and Ignition HMI applications.
• Ladder logic, function block, and structured text programming in RSLogix.
• Support Ethernet‑based network infrastructure.
• Troubleshoot and installation support for actuated valves, instruments, process equipment, remote I/O panels, SCADA servers & workstations.
• Review engineering documents for capital and internal projects.
• Oversight of controls aspects of new construction activities.
• Follow design, project management, and document control standards.
• Design proper control schemes and strategies and work with process engineers to understand plant operation requirements.
• Manage the PI data historian tag list, graphical displays, and reports.
• Work with operations to identify bottlenecks and create solutions.
• Complete any other tasks as needed or as directed by management.

Basic Qualifications

• BS degree in Engineering, or a related field, preferred.
• 7+ years of experience as a process control engineer in a chemical, mining, petroleum, or heavy industrial setting.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.
• A valid driver’s license and good driving record are required to drive company vehicles on the property.
• Demonstrated experience and competence in Rockwell Automation programming platforms.
• Experience with PFDs, P&IDs, control narratives, and instrumentation wiring diagrams.
• Full‑time onsite.

Desired Qualities

• Work experience with Ignition (Perspective) and/or iFix HMI platforms, OSI Pi.
• Solvent Extraction, Chlor‑Alkali, or Co‑Gen power plant experience is a plus.
• Hands‑on experience with heavy industrial equipment troubleshooting.
• Experience with process optimization/tuning of closed‑loop control systems.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

MP Materials is proud to be an Equal Opportunity / Affineutary Action Employer – EEO is The Law.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Underrepresented groups/Women/Disabled/Veterans are encouraged to apply. Candidates whose disabilities make them unable to meet the position’s requirements will still be considered qualified if they can perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation.

Right to Work

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment verification document form upon hire.

Safety Provision

Employees are responsible for following all company, industry and regulatory procedures and laws to ensure a safe work environment for themselves and the company. Employees must have a willingness to promote safety among the workforce, participate in Process Hazard Analysis procedures and Pre‑Startup Safety Reviews. PPE is required when performing work in a mine, manufacturing, outdoor, or plant environment. Required PPE may include, but is not limited to, hard hat, hearing protection, safety glasses, safety footwear, respirator, rubber steel‑toe boots, protective clothing, gloves, and any other protective equipment as required.

Working Conditions

Our facility sits at an elevation of 4,700 feet. Employees may be subject to extreme weather conditions when working in an outdoor setting (heat and cold, wind). Work is at an open pit mine or manufacturing/chemical plant setting, which may include exposure to moving mechanical parts, toxic chemicals, risk of electrical shock, explosives, fumes, or airborne particles.

Physical Demands

Manual dexterity; sense of touch; sense of smell; speaking clearly; hearing‑speech range; hearing – all ranges; seeing, reading and comprehensions; seeing – distant/near; depth perception; color vision. While performing the job responsibilities, the employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is often required to stand and use their hands and fingers, to handle or feel and to manipulate laboratory equipment. The employee is occasionally required to walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision. Employees must pass a full‑face respiratory fit test. Employees must be able to lift 50 lbs. Must be able to work in PPE level C.