Senior Process Engineer / Assistant Plant Manager

Senior Process Engineer / Assistant Plant Manager
Alexandria, Louisiana
Full‑Time | Onsite | Strategic Metals Processing Facility
Position Overview
Our client is building its flagship Strategic Metals Complex (SMC) in Alexandria, Louisiana, and is seeking an experienced Senior Process Engineer with the leadership capability to also serve as the Assistant Plant Manager. This hybrid role blends deep technical process engineering expertise with onsite operational leadership in a first‑of‑its‑kind rare‑earth processing environment.
The ideal candidate brings experience in chemical process engineering, industrial plant operations, commissioning/startup activities, continuous improvement, and team leadership. Experience working within government‑funded, compliance‑driven, or highly regulated industrial projects is strongly preferred.
This role reports directly to the Plant Manager and will serve as a key leader in plant readiness, operational performance, and long‑term production optimization. Key Responsibilities
Process Engineering & Technical Leadership

• Lead the development, optimization, and troubleshooting of rare‑earth separation and refining processes.
• Support commissioning, startup, and scale‑up activities for new process equipment and production lines.
• Establish and maintain process documentation, SOPs, safety protocols, and engineering standards.
• Identify efficiency improvements, cost‑reduction opportunities, and system enhancements across the facility.
• Oversee data collection, mass/energy balances, quality control parameters, and process analytics.

Assistant Plant Management Responsibilities

• Serve as second‑in‑command to the Plant Manager, supporting day‑to‑day operations and acting as backup leadership when needed.
• Assist with workforce scheduling, contractor coordination, training, and operational readiness.
• Provide direct leadership to operators, technicians, and cross‑functional teams on shift or project assignments.
• Help drive a culture of safety, reliability, accountability, and operational excellence.

Operations, Compliance & Government‑Funded Project Support

• Ensure all operations follow regulatory, environmental, and safety guidelines, including OSHA, EPA, and project‑specific requirements.
• Support reporting, documentation, and compliance activities tied to public funding, grants, or federal programs.
• Maintain strong alignment with QA/QC teams on product purity, throughput, and process performance.
• Participate in audits, site assessments, and government‑required performance reporting.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with R&D, maintenance, EHS, supply chain, and executive leadership teams to align operational goals.
• Support strategic planning for plant expansion phases, equipment upgrades, and long‑term capacity growth.
• Assist in vendor selection, technical evaluations, and capital project execution.

Qualifications
Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, or a related engineering field.
• 7+ years of experience in industrial process engineering (chemical, metals, minerals, refining, or similar).
• Demonstrated experience in plant operations, startup/commissioning, and process optimization.
• Proven leadership experience—leading teams, directing operations, or supervising technical staff.
• Strong understanding of safety systems, environmental regulations, and industrial compliance.
• Experience working within structured or government‑funded industrial environments (DoD, DOE, federally supported projects, etc.).

Preferred

• Master’s degree in Engineering or related technical discipline.
• Experience with hydrometallurgy, solvent extraction, separation technologies, refining, or specialty chemical operations.
• Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience in scaling facilities from commissioning through commercial production.
• Professional Engineering (PE) license is a plus.

Core Competencies

• Technical depth in process engineering
• Strong leadership and people‑management capability
• Operational mindset with attention to detail
• Excellent communication and decision‑making skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑growing, high‑accountability industrial setting
• Problem‑solving, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement focus

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.