Process Engineer I

The Process Engineer I at Green Plains Renewable Energy supports foundational process engineering activities at Fluid Quip Technologies. This entry-level role involves contributing to project workflows, gaining technical knowledge, and collaborating with senior engineers. Responsibilities include preparing engineering reports, sizing equipment, and participating in safety analyses. Candidates should develop problem-solving skills and effective communication while learning project management aspects. The position is based in Cedar Rapids, IA.
Job Description Summary:

The Process Engineer 1 (PE1) supports foundational process engineering activities at Fluid Quip Technologies. As an entry-level role, the PE1 contributes to the process engineering workflow from initial project conception through detailed engineering, commissioning, system start-up, and plant optimization. This role emphasizes task execution under the guidance of senior engineers while fostering the development of technical expertise and problem-solving skills.

Key Responsibilities:

Relationships
• Develops a basic rapport with clients, gaining an understanding of client interaction and the various project types FQT can deliver
• Gains knowledge within FQT departments to understand how each contributes to project success. Seeks mentorship and identifies personal training needs and goals

Process Engineering:
• Gains knowledge of FQT's technologies, engineering standards, and specifications, ensuring adherence to technical requirements
• Gains understanding of FQT Process Engineering deliverables throughout the FEL (Front-End Loading) process
• Prepares Design Base Engineering Reports and client presentations, ensuring accuracy and quality. Collaborates with team members to refine deliverables
• Presents Process Engineering deliverables to clients, ensuring clear communication. Supports the team in addressing questions and providing solutions
• Sizes equipment, piping, instrumentation, and valves (manual, automated, relief), ensuring accuracy under guidance
• Creates Engineering Deliverables: Design Basis, Mass & Energy Balances, Process Flow Diagrams, P&IDs, Engineering Lists, Equipment Layouts, and Tie Point Drawings under guidance
• Gains foundational understanding of process startup activities, developing troubleshooting skills, while supporting team members and the overall project
• Creates process control philosophies, functional descriptions, SOPs, and training documents under guidance.
• Performs process calculations and modeling in Excel and ChemCAD under guidance.
• Gains understanding of Engineering practices (Geotechnical, Civil, Structural, Architectural, Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation & Controls, Permit) required to take an FQT project through the FEL stages
• Supports R&D activities and plant trials related to develop FQT technologies

Safety and Quality:
• Participates in Process Hazards Analysis (PHA) and Hazard and Operability Analysis (HAZOP) to identify potential hazards in design
• Gains understanding of what quality deliverables look like and the FQT engineering process for QA/QC to deliver all engineering deliverables

Project Management:
• Gains understanding of engineering costs throughout each FEL stage
• Gains understanding for the time required to produce engineering deliverables, throughout each FEL stage and how that affects the overall project schedule
• Learns to collaborate with other engineers and the broader project team throughout FQT

Qualifications:

Skills:
• Developing problem solving skills by identifying challenges and generating solutions
• Conveys ideas and is an active listener to feedback or concerns. Working towards building trust with teammates and clients
• Has a win/win attitude with the team. Demonstrates accountability, trustworthiness and works with the team to collaborate
• Working to develop leadership skills of Communication, Influence, Integrity, Decision-making, Empathy, and Adaptability within the engineering team and FQT

Characteristics:
• Demonstrates an optimistic view for good in every situation, is open to new ideas and feedback, and has the resilience to bounce back from setbacks
• Brings enthusiasm, vigor and focus to the workplace, can maintain momentum and is adaptable, even during challenging times
• Accomplishing goals with consistency, attention to detail and perseverance. Is accountable for action and results, whether they are successes or failures
• Demonstrates initiative and eagerness to learn; actively seeks out opportunities to contribute

Technical Requirements:
• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or a related field.
• Passed or working towards passing FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam
• 0-5 years of practical engineering experience, including internships.
• Basic knowledge of process engineering principles, mass and energy balances, and system/equipment sizing.

Work Environment/Physical Demands:
• Travel requirements vary significantly by project. While the average travel expectation is roughly 25%, certain projects may require up to 100% travel and could involve shift work
• Valid driver's license required.

Fluid Quip Technologies offers competitive pay: a generous benefit package including business casual work environment, health, dental, vision, life insurance, paid holidays, Paid Time Off (PTO) and a 401(k)-retirement plan with immediate vesting and company safe harbor matching. All potential employees of Green Plains Inc. will be required to successfully pass a pre-employment drug screening and background check prior to employment.

Green Plains and Fluid Quip do not provide immigration-related employment sponsorship for new hires (for example, H-1B, F-1 OPT, TN, or other work visas). Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis and be able to maintain ongoing work authorization without employer sponsorship now or in the future.

Equal Opportunity Employer

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Other duties may be assigned.

Company Description: Fluid Quip Technologies (Fluid Quip) provides custom technologies and engineering services to the biofuel and biochemical industries worldwide. Fluid Quip has commercialized multiple technologies to enhance the base corn-to-ethanol dry grind process, create new and novel alternative feed products, and supply the growing need for carbohydrate feedstocks into the biochemical market. Green Plains Inc., Ospraie Management, and funds and accounts managed by BlackRock hold a majority interest in Fluid Quip.