Production Optimization Engineer

ROBERT E MASON & ASSOCIATES INC•Durham, NC

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a technically curious and motivated engineer to support the development and deployment of production optimization solutions for industrial manufacturing facilities. This role combines process simulation, alarm management, operator performance improvement, and advanced control technologies to help customers improve safety, reliability, efficiency, and operational excellence. The Production Optimization Engineer will work closely with customers, control system engineers, operators, and project teams to develop and implement solutions that enhance operator situational awareness, improve training effectiveness, reduce process variability, and optimize plant performance. This position offers opportunities to work with industry-leading technologies including DeltaV Mimic™, AgileOps™, advanced process control (APC), and other digital transformation tools. The ideal candidate will have a foundational understanding of process control systems, strong problem-solving skills, and a desire to learn and apply advanced manufacturing technologies in real-world environments.

Requirements

Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Ability to work in team environment; a team player
Self-directed, self-motivated, and detail oriented
Customer focused
Organized and reliable; Demonstrates integrity
Be a United States Citizen with a valid driver’s license.
B.S. in CHE, EE, ME, Comp. Eng, Comp. Sci., other related disciplines or equivalent experience
0-5 years of relevant experience with DeltaV Mimic or similar platforms
0-5 years of relevant experience with DeltaV or other Process Control System
0-5 years of relevant experience with Alarm Management practices
MS Office Experience
MS Excel Experience

Nice To Haves

Experience with Control System Emulators
Understanding of process dynamics
Experience with alarm management practices
Understanding of ISA-18.2
ISA S88 experience
Understanding of regulated or validated systems
Prior experience working in a relevant manufacturing environment

Responsibilities

Design, configure, test, and deploy production optimization solutions including process simulation, alarm management, operator training systems, and advanced control applications.
Develop and maintain dynamic simulation models using DeltaV Mimic™ or similar platforms to support control system development, operator training, testing, and commissioning activities.
Integrate simulation environments with control system emulators and virtualized systems to facilitate off-line testing of control logic, graphics, alarm strategies, and operating procedures prior to startup.
Support the development and delivery of Operator Training Simulator (OTS) programs that improve operator competency, situational awareness, and response to abnormal operating conditions.
Conduct alarm system assessments, rationalization workshops, and alarm philosophy reviews in accordance with ISA-18.2 and IEC 62682 standards.
Configure and implement alarm management solutions using AgileOps™, DeltaV, or other alarm management platforms to improve alarm system performance and reduce operator burden.
Analyze process events and alarm data to identify opportunities for improving safety, reliability, efficiency, and operator effectiveness.
Develop alarm performance metrics and KPI reports to evaluate alarm rates, alarm floods, standing alarms, and overall alarm system health.
Support the implementation of dynamic alarming, alarm shelving, and state-based operating strategies to improve operator focus during changing plant conditions.
Assist in the design, implementation, and commissioning of advanced process control (APC) applications, including model predictive control, inferential models, optimization strategies, and process analytics.
Support Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs), Model Acceptance Tests (MATs), Software Acceptance Tests (SATs), and Site Acceptance Tests by validating simulation, alarm management, and control system functionality against project requirements.
Provide startup, commissioning, troubleshooting, and optimization support for customer facilities.
Deliver training and technical support to operators, engineers, and plant personnel on simulation tools, alarm management practices, and production optimization technologies.
Participate in Management of Change (MOC) processes to ensure modifications are properly reviewed, documented, tested, and implemented.
Collaborate with customers and internal project teams to define requirements, develop technical solutions, and execute projects that improve manufacturing performance.
Contribute to the development of engineering standards, best practices, reusable tools, and innovative solutions that enhance project execution and customer value.
Travel within North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, approximately 25%, to support project execution, commissioning, training, and customer engagement activities.
Work independently and collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-impact production optimization solutions that improve operational performance, operator effectiveness, and manufacturing excellence.

Benefits

Participation in the Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP)
Retirement plan, including a Safe Harbor contribution
Medical / Dental / Vision Insurance
Employer paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Insurance
Generous paid leave options that include vacation time, sick leave, personal leave time, R.E. Mason Way Half Day, paid Jury Duty, and paid Bereavement Leave
Paid Parental Leave
Paid company holidays
Career Development Program
Retirement and Financial Wellness program
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)