Plant Engineer

ABOUT POET

At POET, it is our mission to be good stewards of the Earth by converting renewable resources to energy and other valuable goods as effectively as humanly possible. For over thirty years our drive and passion to change the world has enabled us to become the largest producer and marketer of bioethanol and a leader in sustainable products in the world.

BENEFITS & PERKS

Eligible Team Members may receive

$$ Competitive BONUS opportunities - up to SIX bonuses per year (Quarterly Profit Sharing & Value Share)

Paid time off and paid holidays - 40 hours of PTO available on Day 1, on top of a biweekly PTO accrual program!

Comprehensive benefits package; Individual and family plans for health, dental, & vision insurance, including a generous employer Health Savings Account contribution

Competitive pay, including shift premium pay for qualifying positions

401K with company match

Paid Parental Leave

Tuition reimbursement

Attractive Relocation Assistance and Bonus Programs for qualifying positions and/or locations

Safety and cold weather gear reimbursements

Discounted home and auto insurance

All POET Team Members enjoy

A multifaceted wellness program encompassing the whole person – mentally, physically, and spiritually

'Family-first' culture

Onsite fitness centers or fitness reimbursements

JOB SUMMARY & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Plant Engineer is responsible for working closely with the management team at one or more bioprocessing facilities to maintain plant operations and to implement continuous improvement and capital projects. The Plant Engineer increases efficiencies of plant operations, maintains plant run time, implements system improvements, troubleshoots process problems, and considers cost factors.

This is an on-site role located in Alexandria, IN . Responsibilities include:

Develop, present, and manage capital request projects and economic justifications for site and Sioux Falls leadership team members

Identify opportunities for plant improvements and work with a team of engineers to initiate and implement continuous improvement and cost savings projects. These projects may apply to one or more facilities across the POET footprint.

Complete and present data analysis of process information and create associated action plans and identify optimization needs

Assist with facility shutdown planning and execution

Exercise your problem-solving skills working with the bioprocessing facility’s leadership team and fellow engineers in the field and at our corporate office to review operational and troubleshooting challenges

Develop advanced knowledge in specific unit operations and become a Subject Matter Expert that teams can rely on for process expertise

Support the Management of Change and Process Safety Management documentation for the facility

Assist with creating annual strategic plan initiatives for the site

Develop and utilize historical database reports

Write and coordinate procedures, and communicate to team members as necessary

Facilitate communication between departments

Foster a culture of safe behavior and environmental compliance at all times

Maintain a team environment at all times and champion POET in the community

Since we’re all about teamwork and getting the job done, your skill may be put to a lot of other uses!

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

You have a Bachelor’s degree or greater in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering. Other engineering degrees will be considered.

Experience in an operating processing plant environment such as grain processing or chemical processing is beneficial

If you’ve had prior leadership and project management, we’ll leverage those strengths frequently

You have experience with DCS control and DCS historian systems

Working knowledge of OSHA and EPA regulations is considered an added bonus

You’ve been called excellent at organizational, time management, and communication skills and you not only welcome change, but you embrace it

You have the ability to understand technical detail and day to day operation of a bioprocessing facility

You know the basics of Microsoft Office Suite, and you’re capable of learning new programs

A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE

Interpersonal skills – ability to effectively interact with individuals at all levels within/outside the organization

Demonstrated problem-solving and critical thinking skills

Ability to embrace and promote change

Innovative mindset

Ability to think objectively

Self-awareness in the face of uncertainty

Ability to work in a team environment

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment at POET is dynamic. You should expect a balance between time spent in the office and at the bioprocessing facility, which may include some physical labor helping your team members. This role has some physical requirements that our team members will need to be able to perform, such as:

Wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as hard hats, gloves, safety glasses, steel-toed boots, respirators (depending on the location), hazardous material suit, hearing protection, and harness.

Working at extreme heights (approximately 150 ft), in confined spaces, and in extreme temperatures from -20 to +100 degrees Fahrenheit, both indoors and outdoors. Due to the nature of the work, the areas can be dusty at times.

Must be able to use the following equipment/tools, with training provided (not all encompassing): forklift, power washer, pallet jack, hoist systems, scissor lifts, JLG lifts, telehandlers, Front End Loaders, various hand tools, and computers.

Frequently:

Sitting in a chair in the Control Room while operating the plant

Walk indoors and outdoors sometimes over rough, uneven, or wet/slick surfaces

Carry to up to 15lbs

Climb stairs and/or ladders

Stand indoors to clean and maintain areas

Reach at arm’s length to gather samples

Be in awkward back, shoulder, wrists, and hand positions

Use coordination and grip, with a force of up to 50lbs

Bend while standing

Use repetitive arm motions to wipe down and maintain work area

Climb in and out of Powered Industrial Vehicles

Occasionally:

Lift up to 50lbs, with or without assistance

Carry up to 40 lbs, with our without assistance

Push with a force of 10lbs, with or without assistance

Pull with a force of up to 85lbs, with or without assistance

Bend, twist, turn, kneel, and crouch, while holding light and medium weighted objects

Since we are all about team work, you may be asked to help other roles that have their own unique set of physical requirements.

Due to the physical and safety-sensitive nature of this job, you will be subject to a physical and expected to pass a drug screen during the pre-screen process. During employment, you’ll be subject to random drug and alcohol testing.

CULTURE IS KING AT POET

We’re all on the same team. We always communicate. And we park our egos at the door. These aren’t just slogans on our walls. It’s the way we do things at POET. We provide an environment for team members to maintain a healthy work-life balance. It’s the best way to optimize health, wellness, and productivity in a sustainable way. We work hard. We play hard. We have frequent team events, volunteer efforts, and we know how to celebrate wins!

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

At POET we encourage internal development and growth by allowing team members to carve their own path to success. Leaders support team members with the necessary resources to develop their skills, achieve goals, and create the most value. We believe in developing our team members to their highest potential and recognizing contributions that add value to the organization. Each new team member’s position and compensation are carefully determined by considering their unique qualifications and skillset.

POET is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to ma