
Operations Engineer
POET · Sioux Falls, SD
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Production
- Travel
- Includes overnights
- Degree
- Required
- Industry
- Chemicals
- Posted
- 2 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level production role at POET (chemicals) in Sioux Falls, SD. In this role, you will design and drive continuous improvement projects, be exposed to all facets of bioprocessing facility operations and become a subject matter expert in many areas of operation.
- They ask for
- degree required
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage · overnight travel · relocation help
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Production Engineer roles in the US: typical posted base $115k–$161k.
Median of the low and high ends of 339 live postings that list pay, out of 1055 production engineer openings in the US, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
South Dakota plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 1054 other live production postings in the US.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Not stated
Typical $107k–$153k, from 284 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 7+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Team leadership 44%
- Lean 40%
- EHS / safety 25%
- Root cause 24%
- New product launch 20%
- Six Sigma 20%
✓ = 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 Production team at POET
We found 2 people at this company and state: 1 in this kind of role, 1 leaders. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See 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.
Write to Samantha → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 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: POET in Sioux Falls
No other open roles at this site right now · 2 people we found in production roles at POET.
Full description from POETAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
The Operations Engineer analyzes real time bioprocessing facility data to identify opportunities to improve performance throughout the POET fleet. In this role, you will design and drive continuous improvement projects, be exposed to all facets of bioprocessing facility operations and become a subject matter expert in many areas of operation. You will also collaborate with the POET team to troubleshoot, innovate, optimize, and identify areas of improvement. Together, we focus on problem solving, teamwork and leadership which results in ongoing improvements throughout the fleet of POET facilities. We work hard, we play hard and we drive results!
This is an on-site role located in Sioux Falls, SD .
Qualifications
& SKILLS
- ✓A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (required). Chemical, Process, Agricultural and Biosystems, Mechanical Engineering, or other related majors preferred.
- ✓The selected candidate’s
requirements
- ✓Operations Engineer I: experience through internships, co-ops and educational opportunities preferred.
- ✓Operations Engineer II: 4 or more years of overall experience with 3 or more years of experience in a related industry.
- ✓Operations Engineer III: 8 or more years of overall experience with 6 or more years of experience in a related industry.
- ✓Senior Operations Engineer: 12 or more years of overall experience with 10 or more years of experience in a related industry.
- ✓Additional training in Microbiology is preferred.
- ✓Knowledge of the basics of Microsoft Office Suite and the ability of learning new programs.
qualifications
and skillset.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
About poet
At POET, it is our mission to be good stewards of the Earth by converting renewable resources to energy and other valuable goods as effectively as humanly possible. For over thirty-five years, our drive and passion to change the world has enabled us to become the largest producer and marketer of bioethanol and a leader in sustainable products in the world.
Culture is king at poet
We’re all on the same team. We always communicate. And we park our egos at the door. These aren’t just slogans on our walls. It’s the way we do things at POET. We provide an environment for team members to maintain a healthy work-life balance. It’s the best way to optimize health, wellness, and productivity in a sustainable way. We work hard. We play hard. We have frequent team events, volunteer efforts, and we know how to celebrate wins!
include
- •Troubleshoot problems to ensure plant uptime and efficiency.
- •Provide support and oversight to POET bioprocessing facility operations.
- •Maximize plant efficiency though teamwork and innovation.
- •Identify, develop, and manage implementation of new technologies at the Bioprocessing facilities.
- •Complete data analysis of process information and effectively communicating the results to leadership.
- •Collaborate and provide leadership on cross functional teams.
- •Assist with bioprocessing facility start-ups and expansions including shift coverage and new team member training.
- •Travel to bioprocessing facilities for meetings, site visits/audits, operational support, and training.
- •Develop and provide technical presentations to leadership.
- •Foster a culture of safe behavior and environmental compliance at all times.
- •Since we’re all about teamwork and getting the job done, your skills may be put to a lot of other uses!
A successful candidate will have
- •Excellent organizational, time management, and communication skills as well as the ability to embrace change
- •The ability to understand technical and day to day operation of a bioprocessing facility in great detail and can provide leadership to various teams when needed
- •Interpersonal skills – the ability to effectively interact with individuals at all levels within/outside the organization
- •A high level of personal integrity
- •Demonstrated problem-solving and critical thinking skills
- •An innovative mindset
- •The ability to work in a team environment
Work environment
- •Up to 50% travel will be part of the norm for this position to visit the bioprocessing facilities, for meetings, and site visits. At times overnight travel may be required.
- •In this role, you’ll be asked to drive a POET vehicle. A motor vehicle record check will be conducted during the pre-employment process.
- •The work environment at POET is dynamic. You should expect a balance between time spent in the office and at the bioprocessing facility, which may include some physical labor helping your team members.
Growth & development opportunities
At POET, we encourage internal development and growth by allowing team members to carve their own path to success. Leaders support team members with the necessary resources to develop their skills, achieve goals, and create the most value. We believe in developing our team members to their highest potential and recognizing contributions that add value to the organization. Each new team member’s position and compensation are carefully determined by considering their unique
For eligible team members
- •Comprehensive benefits package: Individual and family plans for health, dental, & vision insurance, including a generous employer Health Savings Account contribution
- •Quarterly Profit-Sharing Bonuses and Bi-Annual Incentive Bonuses
- •Competitive pay, including shift premium pay for qualifying positions
- •401K with company match
- •Paid time off and paid holidays – 40 hours available on day ONE!
- •Paid Parental Leave
- •Tuition reimbursement
- •Attractive Relocation Assistance and Bonus Programs for qualifying positions and/or locations
For eligible team members
- •A multifaceted wellness program encompassing the whole person – mentally, physically, and spiritually
- •Onsite fitness centers or fitness reimbursements
- •Safety and cold weather gear reimbursements
