Operations Engineer

About this position

Kindly be advised that we are handling the recruitment for this position internally and are not partnering with external recruiters.

We are a Biology Company

Plantible, backed by Astanor Ventures, Lerer Hippeau, Piva Capital, Kellogg’s, and Vectr Ventures, is a vertically integrated biology company that is unlocking the power in plants in service of people & planet. Our mission is to create solutions that empower customers to make sustainable and regenerative choices without compromising on quality. We are beginning with the food industry. Please visit our website to learn more about our mission and continued success:

How you will contribute:

We are seeking an Operations Engineer who combines analytical rigor with hands‑on curiosity - someone who loves data as much as they love getting their boots dirty.

Based on‑site at our production facility in Eldorado, TX, this hands‑on, early‑career engineering role will work directly on the plant floor to evolve R&D to commercial operations—while building the systems, work aids, and improvement roadmap needed for future automation and scale‑up.

This role offers firsthand exposure to taking the byproduct of our innovative protein extraction process and creating a nutritious food product.

What you will be working on:

Hands‑On Responsibilities

• Operate downstream processing equipment on a daily basis to support pilot plant and production activities, especially during initial onboarding ramp.
• Troubleshoot real‑world deviations in production, and work with the engineering and operations teams to develop durable solutions.
• Support commercialization team with product inventory management and customer‑shipment readiness.

Process Optimization & Continuous Improvement

• Identify, design and support implementation and validation of process improvements in collaboration with operations, commercialization, maintenance and controls teams.
• Translate R&D findings into robust, scalable manufacturing processes through operator‑usable tools, like SOPs and documentation.
• Be prepared to transition trial‑scale testing to the 24x7 operations team as the business needs scale.
• Create a deviation‑aware operating system: clear instructions for what to do when the process does not run perfectly.
• Contribute to and promote a data‑driven, continuous improvement mindset across the plant.

What you bring to Plantible:

• B.S. or M.S. in Process, Chemical, Mechanical, or Bioprocess Engineering (or related discipline).
• 0-3 years of hands‑on experience in food, beverage, pharmaceutical or ingredient manufacturing; new grads welcome.
• Strong problem‑solving, communication, organization, and data‑analysis skills; comfortable bridging R&D and plant operations.
• A proactive, “get‑it‑done” attitude with the flexibility to work on‑site at Ranchito as projects demand.
• Understanding of sanitary design, food safety (HACCP, FSMA), and equipment standards (USDA, FDA).
• A desire to contribute and make a sustainable impact!

Choose Plantible Foods

Joining Plantible means contributing to a sustainable future for all. We are a venture backed startup that is both spreading happiness amongst our employees and to current and future generations. We believe diversity creates uniqueness. Our team is composed of highly talented people with different interests and hobbies, which makes for a rich working environment.

At Plantible we are continually working on our offerings to foster the best team. Check it out!

• Competitive health and wellness benefits
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Discretionary Unlimited PTO Program
• Paid Holidays
• 401k Program
• Career development and growth opportunities
• Working in a rapidly growing, flexible and entrepreneurial environment
• Team building and company‑wide events
• Financial support with…