Senior Process Engineer
Green Plains · Cedar Rapids, IA
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Process
- Travel
- 30%
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 12+ years
- Industry
- Chemicals
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior process role at Green Plains (chemicals) in Cedar Rapids, IA.
- They ask for
- 12+ years · degree required
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage · about 30% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Process Engineer roles in Iowa: typical posted base $71k–$107k.
Median of the low and high ends of 5 live postings that list pay, out of 15 process engineer openings in Iowa, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Iowa plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 14 other live process postings in Iowa.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (12+ vs 5+)
Typical $71k–$107k, from 5 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Team leadership 27%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Process team at Green Plains
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- The posting says about 30% travel. Between which sites?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Green Plains in Cedar Rapids
2 other open roles at this site.
- Process Engineer III · Process · Senior
- Process Engineer II · Process
Full description from Green PlainsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
requirements
and industry best practices
- ✓Applies comprehensive understanding of FQT Process Engineering deliverables throughout the FEL process, ensuring alignment with project goals
- ✓Leads the review of Design Base Engineering Reports and client presentations, ensuring the technology’s accuracy and alignment with key project objectives
- ✓Oversees delivery of engineering solutions to clients, ensuring clarity in technical communication. Coordinates teams to address challenges and deliver results
- ✓Leads the selection and application for process equipment and piping systems, ensuring optimal performance and alignment with project objectives
- ✓Leads the development of Engineering Deliverables: Design Basis, Mass & Energy Balances, Process Flow Diagrams, P&IDs, Equipment Layouts, and Project Estimates, ensuring quality and schedule adherence
- ✓Leads process startup activities, coordinating team efforts, troubleshooting complex issues, and ensuring that startup objectives are met efficiently and safely.
- ✓Leads the development of functional documents, ensuring clarity and alignment with project
requirements
- ✓Leads the process modeling efforts across projects, providing technical guidance and ensuring compliance with FQTs best practices
- ✓Oversees collaboration with Third Party Engineering disciplines to lead cross-disciplinary coordination and ensure successful project completion through the FEL stages
- ✓Leads plant trials and R&D efforts, including patents, ensuring alignment with project goals and innovation targets
Requirements
- ✓Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or a related field
- ✓Passed FE and PE (Professional Engineering) preferred
- ✓12+ years of practical engineering experience
- ✓Mastery of process engineering principles, including complex mass and energy balances, system/equipment sizing, and system optimization
requirements
vary significantly by project. While the average travel expectation is roughly 30%, 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.
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. Oth
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Summary: The Senior Process Engineer (SPE) will lead and manage the most complex process engineering activities for FQT’s technologies. This role involves guiding engineering projects from inception through system start-up, optimization, and project closeout. The SPE will oversee a team of engineers, providing mentorship and ensuring the highest quality engineering deliverables.
Relationships
- •Fosters long-term client partnerships based on mutual respect, communication, and trust. Seeks feedback from clients and maintains relationships during and after project completion
- •Provides mentorship and training to process engineers. Identifies department training needs and provides solutions
Process Engineering
- •Applies comprehensive knowledge of FQT’s technologies, engineering standards, and specifications, ensuring alignment with technical
Safety and Quality
- •Leads participation in Process Hazards Analysis (PHA) and Hazard and Operability Analysis (HAZOP), ensuring potential hazards are identified and addressed
- •Leads peer reviews, ensuring engineering outputs meet or exceed QA/QC expectations
Project Management
- •Leads engineering cost estimation, performs peer reviews, ensuring alignment with project budgets and financial goals
- •Leads project scheduling, ensuring milestones and project deliverables are met
- •Leads and mentors project teams, ensuring best practices are followed
Skills
- •Leads problem-solving efforts by diagnosing challenges, developing advanced solutions, and ensuring their successful implementation
- •Communicates with clarity and authority, facilitating trust with team members and clients. Effectively conveys complex technical details and addresses concerns
- •Fosters a collaborative environment, driving team accountability and alignment to achieve shared objectives and further FQT’s mission
- •Exemplifies strong leadership, guiding the team through decision-making, conflict resolution, and adaptation to change while promoting integrity and empathy
Characteristics
- •Demonstrates a proactive approach, consistently open to new ideas and feedback. Displays resilience in challenging situations and confidently supports others' viewpoints while providing expert insight
- •Maintains a high level of enthusiasm and focus, consistently driving momentum across projects and teams, especially during high-pressure situations
- •Consistently delivers complex goals with meticulous attention to detail. Demonstrates ownership of results at both an individual and team level
- •Exhibits a strong initiative to lead and innovate, consistently seeking opportunities to enhance team performance and contribute to project success
Technical
Work Environment/Physical Demands
- •Travel