Plant Engineer

Title: Plant Engineer

Location: Lafayette, IN

Job Description:

What we offer

Explore a world of opportunities with us. Look ahead with us and help shape innovative solutions to make our world more sustainable and life healthier, more vibrant and more comfortable. At Evonik, you have the chance to explore, thrive, and grow alongside 33,000 colleagues. Among attractive career paths and high-quality development programs, we not only offer performance-based remuneration and occupational health benefits but also hybrid and flexible working environments with #SmartWork. Bring your fresh perspective, develop your strengths, break out your mold, and find a career that fits your dreams with us.

Job Description Summary

The Plant Engineer provides direction and monitoring of maintenance activities and small capital projects within his/her assigned building(s) and areas. The Plant Engineer works independently to provide engineering support to a production plant or an area. 

The Plant Engineer is responsible for defining, organizing, planning, and executing all small capital investment projects to be cost effective, timely, and safely utilizing state-of-the-art engineering concepts. The incumbent must ensure all activities in assigned areas are in accordance with accepted engineering practices, regulations, cGMP and Evonik Corporation policies and standards. This position provides technical expertise to maintain and continuously improve assigned areas in order to minimize costs and to ensure technical means for safe and high-quality operation. The Plant Engineer is expected to be project responsible for small to medium size capital projects. A plant engineer could also be tasked with providing input to new product estimates.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical engineering expertise and support for manufacturing operations, including equipment troubleshooting, root cause analysis, reliability improvements, and technical services for assigned production areas.

• Lead small capital and technical change projects from concept through design, construction, commissioning, qualification, and startup, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on time, and within budget.

• Serve as Project Manager, Responsible Engineer, or technical consultant for both small and large capital projects, making key decisions related to schedule, cost, quality, and operational performance.

• Develop and execute maintenance and asset management strategies for assigned facilities, including maintenance budgeting, cost center management, performance monitoring, and long-term investment planning.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on equipment reliability, productivity, regulatory compliance, safety, cGMP requirements, and operational efficiency.

• Create, maintain, and improve engineering standards, specifications, work instructions, technical documentation, and change control processes to maximize equipment uptime and reduce maintenance costs.

• Provide technical leadership, conduct peer reviews, and support cross-functional teams through engineering expertise, risk assessments, and problem-solving activities.

• Ensure compliance with Quality and ESHS (Environmental, Safety, Health & Security) requirements by leading investigations, participating in quality risk assessments, hazard analyses (PHA/EHA), promoting safe work practices, and supporting product quality, safety, and regulatory standards.

Requirements

• Strong knowledge of plant engineering, facility design, production operations, project management, maintenance management, and applicable engineering standards and policies.

• Proven technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to support business objectives, operational needs, and customer requirements.

• Demonstrated ability to identify improvement opportunities, overcome operational challenges, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

• Solid understanding of project management and plant engineering principles, with experience successfully executing engineering and capital projects.

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, with a  few years of relevant experience in a manufacturing environment preferred.

• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across multiple functions and organizational levels.

• Ability to influence stakeholders and lead cross-functional initiatives without direct supervisory authority.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office, SAP, and other engineering/business software applications, with experience managing annual budgets of approximately $2.5M–$3M. Experience in chemical or pharmaceutical manufacturing and processing equipment is preferred.