The posting
Plant Engineer
Reports to: Engineering Manager Work Location: RTP Site - Durham, North Carolina FLSA Status: Exempt Position Summary The Plant Engineer provides technical leadership for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of a copper powder manufacturing facility. The role supports process improvement, equipment reliability, capital projects, utilities, facilities, and technical problem solving across the plant. This position partners with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, EHS, Purchasing, and external contractors to improve safety, capacity, product consistency, energy use, equipment performance, and long-term asset condition. Essential Duties and Responsibilities• Provide engineering support for copper powder production equipment, furnaces, dryers, screening systems, mills, material handling systems, dust collection, utilities, packaging equipment, and facility infrastructure.• Lead or support capital projects from concept through scope development, budgeting, design, procurement, installation, commissioning, startup, and project closeout.• Develop technical specifications, equipment requirements, drawings, bid packages, project schedules, cost estimates, and contractor scopes of work.• Analyze equipment, process, quality, and maintenance data to identify constraints, recurring failures, energy losses, and improvement opportunities.• Lead root-cause investigations for equipment failures, process interruptions, quality deviations, and safety-related events; develop and verify corrective actions.• Support process optimization and equipment upgrades that improve throughput, yield, product consistency, maintainability, reliability, and operating cost.• Review and approve engineering drawings, equipment layouts, P&IDs, electrical documentation, calculations, manuals, and vendor submittals within assigned responsibility.• Ensure engineering changes follow approved management-of-change, risk assessment, documentation, testing, training, and startup requirements.• Partner with EHS to incorporate machine safety, combustible-dust controls, ventilation, guarding, electrical safety, environmental requirements, and other regulatory considerations into projects and modifications.• Support preventive and predictive maintenance strategies, equipment criticality reviews, spare parts recommendations, and improvement of maintenance job plans. • Coordinate contractors, consultants, vendors, and equipment manufacturers; monitor safety,quality, schedule, cost, and technical performance.• Support plant shutdown planning and execution, equipment installations, commissioning, acceptance testing, and post-startup performance review.• Maintain accurate project files, equipment documentation, drawings, specifications, calculations, permits, and change history.• Prepare project justifications, status reports, risk updates, and technical recommendations for plant leadership.• Provide technical guidance and training to operations and maintenance personnel on new or modified equipment and processes.• Perform other duties and support site priorities as assigned.• This position does not have direct supervisory responsibilities unless specifically assigned. The role may lead project teams and provide technical direction to employees, contractors, consultants, and equipment suppliers. Qualifications• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Manufacturing, Industrial, or a related engineering discipline required.• Three or more years of engineering experience in manufacturing, process industries, capital projects, reliability, or plant operations.• Experience supporting industrial equipment, controls, utilities, facilities, and production processes.• Experience developing project scopes, specifications, cost estimates, schedules, and contractor bid packages.• Ability to read and interpret equipment drawings, P&IDs, electrical schematics, layouts, technical specifications, and vendor documentation.• Experience in metal powder, chemical, metallurgical, aerospace, food, pharmaceutical, or other process manufacturing is preferred.• Working knowledge of project management, root-cause analysis, management of change, and equipment commissioning.• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and engineering, drawing, project-management, or data-analysis tools relevant to the work.• Professional Engineer licensure, project-management certification, or Lean/Six Sigma training is preferred but not required.• Ability to work on-site at the RTP facility in Durham, North Carolina and provide schedule flexibility based on project and plant needs. Skills and Competencies• Strong engineering judgment and practical problem-solving skills in an operating manufacturing environment.• Ability to translate operational needs into clear technical scopes, designs, specifications, and implementation plans.• Knowledge of industrial equipment, process systems, utilities, instrumentation, controls, and facility infrastructure.• Project-management skills with attention to safety, scope, schedule, cost, quality, risk, and documentation.• Analytical skills for interpreting process, maintenance, quality, and equipment-performance data.• Strong written and verbal communication with operators, technicians, leaders, contractors, vendors, and technical professionals.• Ability to lead cross-functional problem solving and influence decisions without direct supervisory authority.• High attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects and plant priorities.• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across departments and sites. Physical Requirements• Ability to regularly work at a computer and perform detailed engineering, documentation, drawing review, and data-analysis activities.• Ability to frequently stand and walk throughout an industrial manufacturing facility to inspect equipment, assess projects, and support troubleshooting.• Ability to occasionally climb stairs or ladders, kneel, crouch, bend, reach, and access equipment areas while following site safety requirements.• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds occasionally, including instruments, tools, drawings, or project materials.• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment, including safety glasses, hearing protection, safety footwear, gloves, protective clothing, fall protection, and respiratory protectionwhen required. Work Environment• The role works in both office and copper powder manufacturing environments and requires regular interaction with production equipment, maintenance areas, laboratories, utilities, construction activities, contractors, and active project sites. Employees may be exposed to copper powder, dust, airborne particulates, noise, heat, fumes, moving equipment, electrical hazards, elevated work areas, and varying temperatures. Work may also occur in warehouse, mechanical room, and outdoor areas. The employee must follow all site safety procedures and use required engineering controls, safe-work practices, and personal protective equipment. Schedule flexibility may be required during installations, commissioning, shutdowns, startups, or critical plant events.
