Operations Engineer
Syensqo · - Willow Island, WV
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Production
- Base pay
- $88k–$123k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 8+ years
- Industry
- Chemicals
- Posted
- 23 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level production role at Syensqo (chemicals) in - Willow Island, WV. 16, or more, weeks of maternity/paternity and co-parenting leave, according to local regulations.
- They ask for
- 8+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, OEE, Root cause, Minitab, ISO 9001
- Base pay
- $88k–$123k
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Production Engineer roles in the US: typical posted base $116k–$159k. This one lists $88k–$123k.
Median of the low and high ends of 266 live postings that list pay, out of 878 production engineer openings in the US, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
West Virginia plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 877 other live production postings in the US.
- Base pay
- About 19% below similar roles
- Experience asked
- More than usual (8+ vs 7+)
Typical $109k–$152k, from 226 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 7+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Team leadership 44%
- ✓ Lean 40%
- ✓ EHS / safety 26%
- ✓ Root cause 25%
- New product launch 21%
- ✓ Six Sigma 21%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for OEE, Minitab, ISO 9001, SAP, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with 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 Syensqo
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?
- 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: Syensqo in - Willow Island
1 other open role at this site.
- Maintenance Engineer · Reliability
Full description from SyensqoAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Syensqo is all about chemistry. We’re not just referring to chemical reactions here, but also to the magic that occurs when the brightest minds get to work together. This is where our true strength lies. In you. In your future colleagues and in all your differences. And of course, in your ideas to improve lives while preserving our planet’s beauty for the generations to come.
We are looking for
The Operations Engineer owns the technical performance of assigned chemical manufacturing processes, ensuring safe, compliant daily operations while improving HSE, quality, throughput, OEE, and cost. The role leads troubleshooting, KPI reporting, continuous improvement and small capital projects (Lean/Six Sigma), incident investigations/root cause analysis, and execution of PSM/RMP activities (PHA, MOC, PSSR) in close collaboration with cross-functional teams.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
We count on you for
- •Establish and maintain technical ownership for existing chemical manufacturing processes.
- •Lead continuous improvement activities in the following domains:
- •Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE)
- •Quality
- •Manufacturing Excellence
- •Actively engage in the development and execution of strategic growth projects for the site as assigned.
- •Lead all technical aspects of production for assigned processes:
- •Ensure safe day-to-day operation of processes within defined limits, including troubleshooting and resolution of process deviations.
- •Define appropriate metrics to measure process performance, and report performance to site and business leadership teams.
- •Accountable, together with the Production Superintendent, for realization of site and business objectives for HSE, quality, throughput, Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), and cost.
- •Lead identification, development, and execution of continuous improvement projects and small capital projects.
- •Apply Six Sigma, Lean, or other manufacturing excellence techniques as required.
- •Lead incident investigations and Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for process safety and quality events, including development and closure of corrective and preventive actions.
- •Ensure assigned processes comply with site management systems and applicable standards including ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
- •Lead compliance with technical aspects of OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) and EPA Risk Management Program (RMP) for assigned processes.
- •Lead Process Hazard Analysis (PHA), Management of Change (MOC), and Pre-Startup Safety Review (PSSR) activities.
- •Develop and maintain documentation including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), operator training, and Process Safety Information (PSI).
- •Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, HSE, and R&I functions.
- •Provide backup coverage for other Operations Engineers, Production Superintendent, or Site Technical Manager as assigned.
- •Utilize problem solving techniques to independently understand and solve complex technical problems.
- •Demonstrate resiliency in completing an assignment with significant time and resource constraints.
- •Influence peers, manager, and cross-functional stakeholders in a positive manner.
- •Effectively build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external customers.
- •Cultivate a continuous improvement mindset exemplifying decisiveness and a bias for action.
You can count on us for
- •We offer the opportunity to join an exciting growth company
- •A full range of benefits as expected of a successful company
- •Opportunities for growth and learning
- •Encouraging a diverse and inclusive workplace culture that values and respects individual differences and backgrounds
You will bring
- •B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering required.
- •2-8 years of experience in a manufacturing environment.
- •Prior experience with batch chemical processes preferred.
- •Prior experience with one or more of the following software packages preferred:
- •SAP
- •AVEVA PI system
- •JMP or Minitab
- •Aspen Plus or CHEMCAD
- •Emerson DeltaV
- •Prior experience in Six Sigma, Lean, or other manufacturing excellence techniques preferred.
You will get
- •Competitive salary and benefits package
- •The U.S. annual base salary range reasonably expected to be paid for this new hire is: $88,480 to $123,400. Actual compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors unique to each candidate, such as skills, experience, qualifications, etc. and can ultimately be more or less than the posted salary range. Total compensation for this role also includes bonus and/or other incentives.
- •16, or more, weeks of maternity/paternity and co-parenting leave, according to local regulations
- •Training platform for all employees
- •Free well-being sessions (physical and psychological)
About Us
- •Syensqo is a science company developing groundbreaking solutions that enhance the way we live, work, travel and play. Inspired by the scientific councils which Ernest Solvay initiated in 1911, we bring great minds together to push the limits of science and innovation for the benefit of our customers, with a diverse, global team of more than 13,000 associates. Our solutions contribute to safer, cleaner, and more sustainable products found in homes, food and consumer goods, planes, cars, batteries, smart devices and health care applications. Our innovation power enables us to deliver on the ambition of a circular economy and explore breakthrough technologies that advance humanity.
- •At Syensqo, we seek to promote unity and not uniformity. We value the diversity that individuals bring and we invite you to consider a future with us, regardless of background, age, gender, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, ability or identity. We encourage individuals who may require any assistance or accommodatio