Fermentation Pilot Plant Engineer, Dec

Decatur, Illinois

Looking to speed the progress of your engineering career? Join a market a leader in ingredient manufacturing that is investing in people, plant, and technologies.

ABOUT PRIMIENT

Established yet entrepreneurial: Primient is an industry leader with proven products, six manufacturing plants, 1500+ employees and deep roots in corn wet milling. Yet we’re also a brand-new company that is ready to drive change and create impact.

Inspired by a meaningful purpose: we use renewable sources to produce plant-based ingredients for some of the world’s best-known brands. It feels good to produce safe, high-quality, sustainable products – that go into everything from sodas to hand cream and cardboard to clothing.

Poised for a new era of success: we’re investing in our plants to unlock our potential in the industrial and food sectors. Our Engineers will be key to leading projects and programs that help us to shape the technical future of our business – guided by our values of Safety, Excellence, Integrity, and Growth.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Our Staff Process Engineer role provides the opportunity to build out your experience and expertise. You’ll quickly gain exposure to wide-ranging challenges, technologies, and processes. You can make a value-adding difference to both process improvement and capital project execution.

Your career development will be enhanced through working alongside expert colleagues in a highly collaborative team environment. You’ll also join our structured development program through our Engineering Ladder, a clear out-line of what steps are available. As your skills and experience grow, so will your responsibilities and impact.

Staff Process Engineer > Process Engineer > Senior Engineer> Principal Engineer > Snr Leadership

Role Purpose:

Primient in collaboration with the Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing (IFAB) tech hub has been selected to receive a sizable grant. The Tech Hubs Program aims to identify and invest in regions where an Economic Development Agency (EDA) investment can catalyze self-sustaining growth that centers on a selected core technology area and that leads to global competitiveness over the next decade. Primient will be working with Synonym Bio to develop a fermentation pilot plant to support development of the growing bio fermentation space in the USA.

As a member of the Decatur Operations Team, the Fermentation Pilot Plant Engineer will be responsible for leading the modernization and expansion of an existing ~10,000 ft2 pilot plant facility, including the installation of new lab, utility, fermentation equipment, and downstream processing equipment to increase facility capabilities. The facility will be designed to run production campaigns for external companies.

When the facility becomes operational, the job will have the opportunity to transition into a pilot plant leadership role.

The candidate will be a self-starter and team player, and capable of productively interacting at all levels within Primient, as well as with potential JV-partners and pilot plant clients.

Key responsibilities: Staff Process Engineer

• Lead a capital project to modernize and expand the fermentation pilot plant 119.
  • Liaise with 3rd party engineering company who will be doing the FEL3 and detailed engineering, and with the JV-partner who will provide input on process technology.
  • Manage the project through all stages of the Primient stage/gate process.
  • Prepare final budget and project approval requests.
  • Execute project within budget and on time. This includes oversight of the construction.
  • Hold stakeholder update meetings as the project progresses.
• Co-Lead the commissioning of the facility.
• Manage daily operation. Liaise with customers and partners.
• Support hiring of staff to run the facility.
• Support larger semi works facility evaluation and development supporting Defense Industrial Based Consortium (DIBC) in Decatur, IL

ABOUT YOU

We’re looking for engineers who strive for excellence and are eager for more responsibility.

Education and Experience:

• B.S. in Chemical / Biological Engineering or related engineering field.
• Proven experience with the development and execution of Capital Projects, including engineering development, construction management and commissioning.
• 3+ years of industrial experience, preferably within a fermentation environment.
• Working knowledge of various manufacturing processes and unit operations including fermentation and downstream processing unit operations (centrifugation, filtration, evaporation, drying).
• Proven safety track record.
• Demonstrated leadership skills in collaborating and influencing cross-functional groups.
• Initial: expected oversite of contractors
• Longer Term: TBD - Over time growing into facility hiring and oversight – facility manager, technicians, SME

Reports to:

• Decatur Plant or Technical Manager

Supervisory Responsibilities:

It is useful, but certainly not essential, if you have experience in chemical processes or production.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Rewards & benefits
Competitive salary with performance linked enhancements / 401 K matching and non-contingent matching plans / Healthcare / Medical insurance

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

We are passionate believers in the power of difference. We strive to represent the communities in which we operate and to provide an inclusive, welcoming environment for all. We want Primient to be a place where every employee feels they belong and knows they are seen, heard, valued and safe to speak up. Our aspiration is to unlock the full potential in diverse perspectives, while offering everyone an equal chance to grow, thrive and progress.

Primient is an equal opportunity employer, committed to the strength of an inclusive workforce.

California Consumer Privacy Act ("CCPA")

The Company is committed to complying with the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) and all data privacy and laws in the jurisdictions in which it recruits and hires employees. We collect the following categories of personal information for the purpose of hiring the best qualified applicants and to comply with applicable employment laws: Name and contact information; Job preference and work availability; Social Security Number and/or other identification information; Education and qualifications; Employment history and experience; Military service; Reference and background check information, including relevant criminal history and credit history; Social media information; Pre-employment test results; Post-offer medical examination information and results, including drug test results; Voluntary self-disclosure information regarding minority, veteran, and disability status; and Information provided by you during the hiring process.