Pilot Plant Controls Engineer

Location:

SP Red Hill

At Sibelco, we advance life through materials.
For over 150 years, we’ve been a trusted leader in sourcing, transforming, and distributing specialty industrial minerals. Our work powers progress across industries as diverse as glass, ceramics, construction, coatings, polymers, and water purification. Beyond our materials, we’re proud of our commitment to sustainability, innovation, and empowering people from all walks of life to thrive and make a meaningful impact.

Are We the Perfect Match?

At Sibelco, we believe building a successful career is a two-way journey. We’re looking for individuals who share our values and vision, just as much as you’re seeking a company that aligns with your aspirations. Together, we can shape the future.

Job Description:

Pilot Plant Controls Engineer

Location: Bakersville, NC (Red Hill Location)

Are We the Perfect Match?

As a part of the Technology & Innovation Team the Pilot Plant Controls Engineer role will empower you to play a crucial role in the design, development, and optimization of chemical processes, ensuring they are scalable, efficient, and safe for pilot plant and full-scale production. This position requires a strong background in chemical engineering and process development, coupled with excellent project management and leadership skills.

Your Impact in This Role

As a Controls Engineer, your responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

Lead the development and optimization of chemical processes from laboratory scale to pilot plant scale.
Collaborate with R&D scientists to understand experimental data and translate laboratory-scale processes into scalable operations
Ability to make Engineering decisions on existing or conceptualized processes and associated equipment
Ability to interact with existing suppliers and requests quotations/timing/ specifications
Ability to research (literature of all type), chemical and mechanical engineering/scientific principles and report back findings
Act upon those findings once agreement is reached with management
Ability to research new suppliers and have same interactions as existing ones
Person with energy and drive to be at the forefront of processing technologies and ability to schedule themselves accordingly
Work closely with the Pilot Plant Manager to ensure smooth scale-up and transfer of processes from the lab to the pilot plant.
Collaborate with Quality Control, Production, and Procurement teams to ensure seamless integration of new processes into manufacturing operations.

What You Bring to the Table

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, or a related field.
Hands-on experience operating and controlling mineral/chemical processing plant systems, including monitoring process parameters, adjusting controls, and ensuring safe, efficient production operations.
Minimum of 5 years of experience in process development, preferably in the Chemical, Metallurgical, Mineral/mining industry.
Proven track record of successfully scaling up processes from lab to pilot plant.
Strong project management skills, with experience leading cross-functional teams.
Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and organizational skills.
Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
Proficiency in process simulation software and data analysis tools.
Fluency in the local language and written and spoken English.

Benefits

Medical Insurance
Prescription Drug Benefits
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
Critical Illness Insurance
401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

Salary

Salary is to be determined by education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data.

Employee Type:

Permanent

Why Join Us?

Sibelco is more than a workplace—it’s a community that encourages growth, innovation, and collaboration. Here’s what you can look forward to when you join our team:

Meet Our People: Careers
Learn About Our Recruitment Process: Learn More
Discover Our Sustainability Goals: Sibelco priorities

We also welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to providing reasonable adjustments to support you through the selection process.

How to Apply

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter/X and Facebook to learn more about life at Sibelco. Submit your application in the Apply option.

Please note: We do not require agency services as we have a dedicated Global Talent Acquisition Team.

Sibelco Group

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Pilot Plant Controls Engineer