Role Description

Engineering > Facilities/Plant Engineer

Salary National Average

Low Medium High
59880.0000 70330.0000 84190.0000

Change from Previous Year:

+7%

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Candidate Supply: 2,907 Job Openings: 154,762

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Short Description:

Plans, directs, and coordinates activities concerned with design, construction, modification, and maintenance of equipment and machinery in industrial plant. Establishes standards and policies for pollution control, installation, modification, quality control, testing, operating procedure, inspection, and maintenance of equipment, according to engineering principles and safety regulations. Directs maintenance of plant buildings and coordinates requirements for new designs, surveys, and maintenance schedules for equipment and machinery. Prepares bid sheets and contracts for construction and facilities acquisition. Tests newly installed machines and equipment to ensure fulfillment of contract specifications.

Duties / Responsibilities:

  • Maintain Equipment - Depending on the seniority of the role, plant engineers may be involved in monitoring and maintaining plant equipment and machinery to ensure that it’s running as it should be. Entry-level plant engineers are typically responsible for fixing any mechanical issues with the equipment.
  • Train Plant Personnel - Senior plant engineers train and assist plant personnel in carrying out safety and quality control procedures so that everyone on the team is compliant with the appropriate regulations. They also deal with any administrative tasks that coincide with this training, such as completing reports or updating records.
  • Review Project Plans - Plant engineers review project plans to ensure that timelines and blueprints are accurate and that cost estimates tie in with the budget. They also interpret developments along the way and provide advice and guidance for any necessary changes.
  • Ensure the Facility Complies with Regulations - Plant engineers are responsible for ensuring the facility is compliant with the relevant regulations and that regular check-ups are carried out to verify that machinery and processes are safe.
  • Develop Operational Plans - Plant engineers develop operational plans for projects at different facilities, such as renovation or construction, maintenance, and machine installation.

Skills / Requirements / Qualifications

  • Mechanical skills – plant engineers work with all machinery and any robotics used in the manufacturing process to check that they’re working to peak efficiency and maximum safety, so mechanical skills are a must
  • Dexterity – plant engineers work with tools and machinery on a daily basis, so dexterity is vital to ensuring tasks are carried out safely and efficiently
  • Problem-solving skills – as mechanical issues arise, plant engineers need to identify ways to resolve them as quickly as possible, so problem-solving and troubleshooting skills are advantageous
  • Attention to detail – a key part of this job is to spot any problems with machinery and to identify processes that can be improved to benefit the organization and the safety of the team, so applicants for this job should be detail-oriented
  • Teamwork – plant engineers work closely with other members of the team, so it’s important that they have interpersonal skills and the ability to remain professional at all times

Job Zones

  • Title: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
  • Education: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
  • Related Experience: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
  • Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
  • Job Zone Examples: Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.
  • SVP Range: (7.0 to < 8.0)

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