Lead Plant Engineer

The Lead Plant Engineer is responsible for leading engineering, capital, and operational improvement projects while supporting the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of plant facilities, equipment, and infrastructure. This role provides technical leadership and supervision of engineering and technical staff, manages project scope, schedules, budgets, and resources, and partners with operations and maintenance teams to drive reliability, asset management, and continuous improvement initiatives.

The Lead Plant Engineer oversees engineering design, equipment selection, facility upgrades, and construction activities, while ensuring compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements and supporting long‑term plant performance and operational excellence.

Full time

KY Buckner

Engineering Project Engineering

Lead Plant Engineer

1st shift Monday-Friday, with flexibility as needed to meet plant needs including weekend hours

1 Quality Place, Buckner, KY 40010

Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) with match, STD/LTD/AD&D/Life, HSA, FSA, EAP, Hospital indemnity, Accident Insurance, Identity and Fraud Protection Plan, Legal, and Critical Illness.

$73k - $124k annually with additional bonus potential

• Lead and manage capital and operational projects from planning through design, construction, and commissioning, ensuring alignment with scope, schedule, budget, and quality expectations.
• Provide day‑to‑day leadership and supervision of junior staff, including engineers and technical personnel; support workload planning, mentoring, and performance development.
• Oversee aspects of plant operations as directed, to include but not limited to facility and wastewater facility performance, ensuring systems, equipment, and infrastructure operate safely, efficiently, and in compliance with regulatory standards.
• Coordinate with operations and maintenance teams to support preventative maintenance programs, facility upgrades, and reliability initiatives.
• Lead business development efforts, including preparation of proposals, technical approaches, cost estimates, and client presentations.
• Prepare and review technical memoranda, engineering assessments, and design reports for water and wastewater treatment facilities.
• Perform and oversee engineering design calculations, process evaluations, and technical analyses.
• Direct equipment sizing, selection, and specification development, ensuring compatibility with operational and facility requirements.
• Develop and review construction documents (plans, specifications, and contract documents) and provide support during bidding, construction management, and commissioning phases.
• Conduct fieldwork and site visits to assess existing conditions, monitor project progress, and support facility and operational improvements (travel may be required).
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, clients, contractors, and regulatory agencies to ensure successful project execution and long‑term facility performance.
• Promote a strong culture of safety, compliance, and continuous improvement across project and operational activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Demonstrated experience managing multi‑disciplinary teams and staff, including mentoring and performance oversight.
• Proven track record of successfully delivering complex engineering and plant‑related projects.
• Solid project management experience, including budgeting, scheduling, and resource coordination.
• Experience in the water/wastewater industry, including exposure to plant operations and facility systems.
• Working knowledge of facility systems, asset management practices, and maintenance coordination within a plant environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage staff, clients, contractors, and regulatory agencies.
• Highly organized, detail‑oriented, and capable of managing multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Self‑starter with strong problem‑solving and decision‑making abilities.

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical, Industrial, or…