Plant Engineer

Plant Engineer – Manufacturing Operations

Ruston, Louisiana (Onsite)
Relocation assistance possible

A well-established manufacturing organization is seeking a Plant Engineer to lead reliability, maintenance strategy, and capital improvement initiatives for a high-visibility production facility.

This role is ideal for an engineer who wants to move beyond project support and take ownership of how a plant actually performs — equipment uptime, maintenance culture, capital planning, and long-term operational stability.

You will directly influence productivity, safety, and modernization of the facility while leading a skilled maintenance workforce.

You will serve as the engineering leader for the site, responsible for asset performance and continuous improvement across the operation.

Primary responsibilities:

• Lead maintenance and engineering strategy for the facility
• Improve equipment reliability and reduce unplanned downtime
• Develop and implement preventive and predictive maintenance programs
• Manage capital projects from planning through execution
• Oversee contractors and major maintenance/shutdown events
• Control maintenance and engineering budgets and spending priorities
• Partner with operations to improve throughput, quality, and efficiency
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions
• Ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations
• Develop and mentor maintenance personnel and supervisors
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives (Lean, process improvements, modernization)

You will have direct leadership responsibility for maintenance personnel and work closely with plant leadership on operational goals and long-range planning.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical or related preferred)
• 6+ years of manufacturing engineering or project engineering experience
• 2+ years of leadership or supervisory experience
• Experience working in a manufacturing or industrial facility
• Knowledge of mechanical equipment, maintenance practices, and industrial safety
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills
• Ability to work onsite in Ruston, Louisiana

• Reliability engineering or maintenance management
• Capital project (Cap Ex) management
• Continuous improvement (Lean / Six Sigma)
• Root cause analysis and predictive maintenance
• ERP/CMMS systems (SAP Plant Maintenance a plus)
• Experience leading technicians, electricians, or maintenance teams

This position offers the opportunity to run the engineering function of an entire facility — not just individual projects.

You will:

• Influence equipment modernization and investment decisions
• Lead plant reliability and uptime improvements
• Build a high-performance maintenance culture
• Solve complex operational and technical challenges daily
• Work in a stable, growth-oriented manufacturing environment

Industrial manufacturing facility

Approximately 70-employee plant

Hands-on leadership with both technical and operational teams

Apply directly or message for a confidential conversation.

Plant Engineer | Reliability Engineer | Maintenance Manager | Manufacturing Engineer | Cap Ex | Continuous Improvement | Preventive Maintenance | Predictive Maintenance | Root Cause Analysis | Lean Manufacturing | Industrial Engineering | SAP PM | CMMS | Asset Reliability | Uptime | Mechanical Systems

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