Run Plant Engineer

Run Plant Engineer

Join Livent, now Rio Tinto, as a Run Plant Engineer at our Bessemer City, NC plant.

Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminum, critical minerals, and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive. We have been mining for 150 years and operate with knowledge built up across generations and continents. Our purpose is finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs—striving for innovation and continuous improvement to produce materials with low emissions and to the right environmental, social and governance standards.

We focus on creating partnerships to solve problems, create win‑win and meet opportunities.

On 5 March 2025, Rio Tinto completed the acquisition of Arcadium Lithium and combined it with its Rincon asset to form Rio Tinto Lithium, establishing Rio Tinto as a global leader in the supply of energy transition materials and one of the world’s top lithium producers.

The Run Plant Engineer is responsible for safe and stable day‑to‑day operations of the production unit. You will work with cross‑functional teams to ensure alignment between EHS, commercial, manufacturing, and R&D. You will focus on short‑range process improvement initiatives.

• Support the site’s safety efforts through activities such as safety observations, safety improvement projects and key safety procedure audits.
• Resolve day‑to‑day production issues and process problems.
• Initiate and/or approve MOC requests to include action items, training, PSSR’s, etc. and communicate changes.
• Assist in incident investigations, identifying root causes and appropriate corrective actions to improve safety and environmental performance at Bessemer City.
• Analyze Asset Utilization data for reliability and capacity improvement opportunities.
• Conduct process safety assessments and improvement initiatives.
• Maintain accurate process technology information.
• Develop and execute small‑scale quality, yield, or capacity improvement initiatives.
• Provide capital project support.
• Support plant/process start‑ups.
• Participate on Process Hazards Analysis teams.
• Resolve high‑risk scenario action items generated from PHA teams.
• Report to the Area Manager and be based at the Bessemer City plant, assigned to support one of the operating units.
• Other job duties as may be assigned from time to time.

• BS in Chemical Engineering required (strong consideration for candidates with experience in Extractive Metallurgy, Minerals Processing or Hydrometallurgy).
• 3‑10 years of experience in a chemical manufacturing environment (crystallizer experience, and cGMP or equivalent quality systems experience preferred).

• Strong knowledge of chemical processing and ability to solve complex chemical engineering process problems.
• Exposure to production and process functions.
• Proficiency in Project Management & AFE Process.
• Presentation skills, public speaking.
• Knowledge of PSM, LOPA, PHA, EHS Policy/Procedures/SOP.
• Environmental regulations specific to plant processes.
• Proficiency in DCS/PLC process control.
• Comfortable being out in the plant and having good composure.
• Familiar with Lean manufacturing principles and OAU.
• Identify bottlenecks and issues through observation to improve production flow.
• Execute projects up to $100k.
• Effective communicator, up and down the chain.
• Conduct and lead Root Cause Analysis and identify preventive/corrective actions.
• Develop P&, perform Mass and Energy Balances on unit operations.
• Provide process data to size pumps, exchangers, control valves, flow meters and basic equipment.
• Basic systematic troubleshooting.
• Proficiency in Excel and other MS Office products.
• Read single line diagrams, piping isometrics, tank and equipment drawings.
• Six Sigma.
• Process safety knowledge.
• Technical / functional skills.
• Problem solving.
• Action oriented / drive for results.
• Decision quality and data‑based decision making.
• Planning and project management.
• Interpersonal skills and…