Plant Engineer

Plant Engineer

Making Better Happen
Our story goes back more than 150 years, to the windy coast where Sweden and Denmark meet.
From our success in Scandinavia, we've grown into the world's leading specialist producer of plant-based oils, employing more than 4000 people all across the globe.
We work with our customers to make the products you love even better. The oils we produce go into making your chocolate extra ­ creamy or putting the crunch into your croissant. And it's not just food - we work across industries to make products that are higher quality, healthier and better for the planet.
Every one of us works towards our shared purpose: Making Better Happen™.
Everything we do is about Making Better Happen together.
Join nearly 4,000 like-minded colleagues globally and build a better future with us.
Build a better future as a Plant Engineer in Newark, NJ
Compensation Range: $90,000 - $115,000
Possible Bonus: 7.5%

AAK Newark

About the role

The Plant Engineer is responsible for optimizing and improving manufacturing processes to ensure safety, efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness in line with operational goals. This role supports continuous improvement initiatives, monitors plant performance metrics, and implements process enhancements across assigned production areas. The Plant Engineer will lead the planning, coordination, and execution of maintenance activities for their assigned plant assets, working closely with plant technicians to ensure reliability, minimize downtime, and extend equipment life.

Responsibilities

Analyze, design, and optimize manufacturing processes to improve safety, efficiency, product quality, and throughput.
Monitor process performance and key metrics to identify trends, troubleshoot issues, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
Lead and participate in root cause analysis (RCA) for process and equipment failures, quality deviations, and performance issues.
Develop and implement corrective and preventive actions to reduce downtime and improve reliability.
Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation, including process flow diagrams (PFDs), piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), standard operating procedures (SOPs), and equipment records.
Identify and implement process improvements using Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement tools.
Manage maintenance work orders, ensuring proper prioritization, resource allocation, and timely execution to minimize operational disruptions.
Monitor equipment performance and condition, conducting regular inspections and assessments to detect early signs of wear, failure, or inefficiency.
Ensure spare parts availability and maintain equipment bill of materials (BOMs) to support effective maintenance execution.
Provide technical support for equipment upgrades, installations, and capital projects, ensuring proper commissioning and integration into existing systems.
Collaborate cross-functionally with operations, quality, safety, and engineering teams to align process and asset management goals.
Train and support operations and maintenance personnel on new equipment, processes, and troubleshooting techniques.
Supervise and provide direct leadership to a team of technicians, including task delegation, performance feedback, development planning, and daily support.
Contribute to maintenance and reliability budgeting, tracking expenditures, and identifying cost-saving opportunities related to asset care.
About you

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Chemical or Mechanical Preferred)
•        3+ years of experience strongly preferred in a manufacturing plant-based work environment
•        Excellent understanding and ability to apply fundamentals of heat transfer, fluid transport and reaction chemistry
•        Strong written and oral communication skills
•        Track record of successfully meeting schedule deadlines
•        Some travel may be required.
•        Candidates must be authorized to work in the US, now and in the future, without sponsorship
In return AAK offer

Career paths, training and development, e-learning and tuition reimbursement programs offer potential for you to progress your future career
Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental and vision) starting date of hire
Health Savings Account with AAK annual contribution of $1,000-$1,500
We match 100% of the first 3% you contribute to your 401(k), and 50% of the next 3%
Free Life and Disability insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Supplemental Pet Insurance, Identity Theft Protection and Legal Insurance Plans
Discounts on travel, amusement parks, concerts, movies, and more
Celebrations, events, and activities on site and supporting our communities
Recognition incentives for service and peer to peer recognition

About AAK
Everything AAK does is about Making Better Happen™. We specialize in plant-based oils that are the value-adding ingredients in many of the products people love to consume. We make these products better tasting, healthier, and more sustainable. At the heart of AAK’s offer is Customer Co-Development, combining our desire to understand what better means for each customer, with the unique flexibility of our production assets, and a deep knowledge of many products and industries, including Chocolate & Confectionery, Bakery, Dairy, Plant-based Foods, Special Nutrition, Foodservice and Personal Care. Our 4,000 employees support our close collaboration with customers through 25 regional sales offices, 15 dedicated Customer Innovation Centers, and with the support of more than 20 production facilities. Listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and with our headquarters in Malmö, Sweden, AAK has been Making Better Happen™ for more than 150 years.

AAK prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, religion, veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under state or federal law in any aspect of the access to, admission, or treatment of students in its programs and activities, or in employment and application for employment.