Operations Performance Engineer

Dow•Knoxville, TN

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Dow’s Emulsions/Polymers production facility in Knoxville, Tennessee is hiring an Operations Performance Engineer. The role helps the plant deliver maximum value through Environmental Health & Safety excellence, operational reliability, efficiency, and low production costs. Working at a smaller manufacturing site, the engineer will contribute across a broad range of technical and operational areas and develop technical and leadership capabilities while partnering with Operations, Maintenance, EH&S, and other functions. The position focuses on optimizing plant performance, resolving complex challenges, and enabling safe, reliable, and efficient production of quality products. The engineer serves as a technical resource during routine operations and unplanned events, supports process and raw-material efficiency, and helps ensure compliance with plant operating permits. The role includes an on-call rotation. Work during off-hours and weekends may sometimes be required during plant turnarounds or upsets. Relocation assistance is not offered.

Requirements

Must have obtained a bachelor's degree in engineering by January 2027, or have relevant military experience at or above U.S. E5, Canadian Petty Officer 2nd Class, or Sergeant ranking.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States; visa sponsorship or support is not available.
Must be willing and able to meet the stated physical demands, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Must wear safety equipment such as earplugs, goggles, and steel-toed shoes.
Must be able to wear and use respirators.
Must be able to perform frequent bending, reaching, and lifting.
Must be able to work in tight or closed-in spaces.
Must be able to climb stairs and ladders and work at heights.
Must be able to stand or walk for extended periods.
Must be able to lift a maximum of 50 pounds.
Must be able to perform elevated work at or above four feet and use personal protective equipment, including harnesses, within a total weight capacity of 300 pounds.
Strong understanding of process optimization techniques to improve plant performance and efficiency.
Strong technical and interpersonal skills and a high level of initiative.
Ability to identify and resolve issues quickly and effectively.
Ability to collaborate and communicate with multiple functions and diverse workgroups, especially shift and technical operations teams.

Nice To Haves

Chemical or mechanical engineering discipline.
Previous experience in a chemical production facility.
Previous experience in coatings.

Responsibilities

Work closely with the operations team, leveraging its problem-solving skills and technical expertise.
Apply knowledge of the plant and technology using historical data and consulting the Technology Center or other subject matter experts.
Ensure Most Effective Technology (MET) is understood and used, and that process automation helps optimize plant performance.
Apply defined MET and challenge or escalate its application and assumptions when better solutions arise.
Partner with experts to conduct advanced troubleshooting and improve and document operating discipline.
Diagnose and document root causes of asset utilization losses.
Understand the reasons for procedure steps and precautions, and maintain a strong field presence to reinforce their importance.
Review logbooks and alarm history daily to understand plant operations and remain engaged with daily activities.
Maintain, own, and review daily Key Process Indicators (KPIs) and trends to support optimum performance.
Respond urgently to plant issues and emergencies.
Act as a unit technical expert during unplanned events and drive effective corrective and preventative actions.
Provide leadership, expertise, diagnosis, and optimization in plant raw-material efficiency, including yield or waste generation.
Ensure compliance with plant operating permits and understand site integration, providing input to optimize the overall system.
Provide support through an on-call rotation.

Benefits

Equitable, market-competitive base pay and bonus opportunity, with locally relevant incentives.
Programs supporting physical, mental, financial, and social well-being.
Competitive retirement program that may include company-provided benefits, savings opportunities, financial planning, and educational resources.
Employee stock purchase programs, subject to location availability.
U.S. Student Debt Retirement Savings Match Program, applying the value of monthly student debt payments as contributions toward the Employees’ Savings Plan (401(k)).
Medical and life insurance packages with a variety of coverage options; travel insurance is available in certain locations.
Training, mentoring, work experiences, community involvement, and team-building opportunities.
Role-based workplace flexibility to support productivity and personal needs.
Competitive yearly vacation allowance.
Paid time off for new parents, including birthing, non-birthing, adoptive, and foster parents.
Paid time off to care for sick or injured family members.
Paid time off for volunteering and Employee Resource Group participation.
Wellbeing Portal for Dow employees.
On-site fitness facilities, subject to location availability.
Employee discounts for online shopping, cinema tickets, gym memberships, and more.
Some locations may offer transportation allowances, meal subsidies or vouchers, and carbon-neutral transportation incentives.