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Senior Plant Controls Engineer

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Location:Richmond, Indiana

Senior Plant Controls Engineer

• This position is based out of Richmond, Indiana and the incumbent must be based in Richmond, Indiana by Q3 of 2025 (relocation package is available).
• Work schedule:
  Monday to Friday
  Regular overtime and evening/weekend support as required

Company Overview 

Liberation Labs is developing a global network of fit-for-purpose precision fermentation manufacturing facilities, starting with our launch facility in Richmond, Indiana. We build the critical infrastructure needed to produce novel bioproducts at scale and enable the precision fermentation market. Together, with our customers and partners, we use our innovative thinking and passion for manufacturing to make everyday products more affordable and more accessible. We believe that precision fermentation can unlock solutions that have real and lasting impact on the future of sustainability.

Our first facility in Richmond, Indiana is currently under construction with an anticipated start-up of late 2025.

Our Purpose: Unlock the promise of biotech by commercializing the foods, materials, and other bioproducts of the future – today.

Our Vision: Become the preferred creation partner for the biology revolution trusted to deliver and constantly advance the manufacturing processes of the industry.

Our Mission: Design, build and operate a purpose-built precision fermentation platform with global reach so that visionaries can be entirely focused on advancing the potential of biology.

What we offer:

Liberation Labs is committed to providing exciting career and growth opportunities in an environment that values trust, respect, openness, teamwork, creativity, enthusiasm, and diligence. We strive to create a culture where everyone feels they have an equal opportunity to reach their potential and is accepted and appreciated for who they are and what they bring to Liberation Labs.

Liberation Labs provides competitive compensation, generous PTO, and comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, paid parental leave, and more.  Employees participate in the company’s success through annual performance compensation incentives as well as the ESOP (employee share option program).

Join us as a Senior Plant Controls Engineer

Reporting to the Head of Project Engineering, you will have the opportunity to work closely with our engineering partners, equipment vendors, process engineering and manufacturing operations teams help establish and operate an industry-leading precision fermentation facility.

Job Responsibilities:

• Oversee and manage all aspects of plant control systems, including but not limited to:
• • SCADA, PlantPAx DCS, Remote I/O, and associated production equipment.
  • Ensure system reliability, optimization, and integration to support efficient manufacturing operations.
  • Manage automation and integration work with 3rd parties such as OEM vendors and system integrators.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement automation solutions, troubleshoot system issues, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

• Read and develop engineering drawings such as P&ID’s, electrical and controls schematics, controls narratives and automation deliverables like logic diagrams.
• During the construction, start-up and commissioning phase, take responsibility for the start-up and commissioning of the plant controls systems of the facility and the individual equipment systems.  Work closely with the process engineers, vendors and other key players to successfully complete this.  After start-up and commissioning, transition to the owner and maintainer of the overall plant controls systems.
• Convert process controls narratives to the necessary plant controls deliverables needed to properly automate unit operations along with scopes of work for 3rd party integrators to execute on automation and programming work.
• Work closely with the manufacturing and process engineering teams to improve plant controls and automation to meet plant efficiency goals.
• Manage the automation implementation of capital and process improvement projects.
• Strive for efficiency in plant operations and minimize plant downtime and changeovers.
• Develop into the process controls, SCADA and network architecture subject matter expert (SME) for the local engineering team.
• Develop documentation and apply engineering best practices, standards and procedures for plant controls and automation.
• Create consistent reports using the plant SCADA and PIMS systems to enable plant management and process engineering to analyze production performance data Assist production and maintenance in troubleshooting efforts in the PLC, from HMI to the network server.
• Alongside maintenance, lead instrumentation troubleshooting and optimization efforts utilizing internal and external resources.
• For automation projects, manage the scope, schedule and budget along with the necessary communication and reports.
• Champion employee and product safety, as well as participate in key safety and design reviews; own relevant action items assigned to you.
• Build strong relationships and interface effectively with colleagues.
• Mentor and train junior engineers and technical staff.
• Complete other duties as required.

Job Requirements:

• Candidate must be able to work out of our Richmond, Indiana facility on a full-time basis by Q3 2025.
• Candidates must meet one of the following 2 requirements:
  • Undergraduate degree in Engineering coupled with 7+ years of work experience in Plant Controls Engineering at an ethanol, bio-manufacturing or chemical manufacturing facility, or;
  • 10+ years working specifically in ethanol, bio-manufacturing or chemical manufacturing facilities in a lead plant controls engineering role.
• Extensive experience with plant controls systems is required.
• Experience applying plant controls and automation skills and knowledge to managing the manufacturing process to maximize its efficiency is required.
• Working knowledge of both manufacturing process unit operations and utilities is required.
• Previous experience in biotechnology / fermentation is an asset, but not required.
• Previous experience starting up a production facility and/or a manufacturing line is an asset, but not required.
• Comfortable working in a fast-based start-up environment transitioning to an established and mature organization.
• Resilient, able to handle ambiguity, and enjoys the challenges and rewards of working for a rapidly scaling organization; prior experience in a start-up environment is an asset.
• Experience with Allen Bradley hardware, Rockwell PLCs and PlantPAx distributed control systems is an asset, but not required.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively at all levels of an organization.
• Experience working in a plant environment; capable of making timely decisions based on the available information.
• Self-driven, collaborative, and results oriented.
• Energized at the idea of helping to create and build a positive work culture.
• Green Belt certification preferred and other Lean Six Sigma skills that have been demonstrated; or equivalent.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Liberation Labs is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive work environment. All qualified applicants will receive considerations for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, veteran status, and any other legally protected status under federal, state, or local anti-discrimination laws.

A friendly note to recruiting firms

We have this role covered at the moment; no additional support is required. We do not accept unsolicited agency resumes and we are not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

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