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Lead Production Engineer
Help Build a More Sustainable Future
At DuPont, we work on things that matter. Every day, our teams develop innovations that help make the world safer, healthier, and more sustainable. Join our Joliet, Illinois manufacturing site, where we produce STYROFOAM™ Brand XPS rigid insulation, a critical product that helps buildings meet energy codes, improve energy efficiency, and contribute to stronger, more sustainable communities. Information about the role and Joliet XPS operations aligns with internal role descriptions and site overview materials.
We're looking for a motivated and technically driven Production Engineer to become a key member of our Operations team. In this highly visible role, you'll apply your engineering expertise to optimize plant performance, solve complex manufacturing challenges, improve reliability, and drive continuous improvement in a fast-paced production environment.
If you're energized by hands-on problem solving, operational excellence, and making a measurable business impact, we'd love to hear from you.
What You'll Do
As a Production Engineer, you'll be the technical leader supporting daily manufacturing operations and continuous improvement efforts. Your responsibilities will include:
Drive Safe & Reliable Operations
- Provide technical leadership to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable production.
- Respond rapidly to plant issues, equipment upsets, and operational emergencies.
- Serve as a technical expert during unplanned events and drive corrective and preventive actions.
- Maintain a strong field presence and reinforce safe operating practices and procedures.
Optimize Plant Performance
- Monitor and improve key operating metrics, KPIs, and production trends.
- Analyze process data, alarm histories, and operating logs to identify improvement opportunities.
- Drive initiatives that improve throughput, quality, reliability, yield, and overall asset utilization.
- Support raw material efficiency efforts and reduce waste generation.
Lead Continuous Improvement
- Challenge the status quo and identify new opportunities to improve safety, productivity, and profitability.
- Diagnose root causes of operational losses and implement sustainable solutions.
- Partner with manufacturing, maintenance, and technical teams to improve operating discipline and performance.
- Apply continuous improvement and financial acumen to maximize plant value and EBITDA generation.
Collaborate Across the Business
- Work closely with Production Coordinators, Supply Chain, and Production Planning teams to optimize production schedules and capabilities.
- Translate business objectives into effective daily operating plans.
- Understand customer requirements and ensure high levels of product quality, responsiveness, and reliability.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, or Electrical Engineering preferred)
- 2–5 years of manufacturing, process engineering, or related industrial experience
- Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills
- Excellent communication and teamwork abilities
- Demonstrated ownership, initiative, and leadership potential
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in Process Safety Management (PSM) environments
- Experience with:
- Process controls and PLC systems
- Equipment start-up and commissioning
- Data analysis and performance monitoring
- Six Sigma Green Belt certification
- Continuous Improvement or Lean Manufacturing experience
What Success Looks Like
Our most successful Run Plant Engineers:
- Take ownership of results and drive meaningful change.
- Build trust through technical expertise and sound decision-making.
- Lead with courage, curiosity, and accountability.
- Balance operational priorities with safety, quality, and cost performance.
- Inspire others through collaboration and a commitment to excellence.
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DuPont is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability or any other protected class. If you need a reasonable accommodation to search or apply for a position, please visit our Accessibility Page for Contact Information.
DuPont offers a comprehensive pay and benefits package. To learn more visit the Compensation and Benefits page.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, or Electrical preferred)
- 2-5 years of manufacturing, process engineering, or related industrial experience
- Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills
- Excellent communication and teamwork abilities
- Demonstrated ownership, initiative, and leadership potential
- Experience in Process Safety Management (PSM) environments
- Experience with process controls and PLC systems
- Equipment start-up and commissioning experience
- Data analysis and performance monitoring experience
- Six Sigma Green Belt certification
- Continuous Improvement or Lean Manufacturing experience
DuPont Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about DuPont and has not been reviewed or approved by DuPont.
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Retirement Support — Employer 401(k) funding is positioned as a strong differentiator, combining a dollar-for-dollar match with an additional company contribution that meaningfully boosts total compensation. This design adds notable long-term value even when base pay is viewed as average in some areas.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave for birth and non-birth parents, together with family-building support and backup care resources, provides robust support for diverse family needs. Programs extend to fertility, adoption, surrogacy, and caregiving.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-off programs include substantial vacation ranges, a broad holiday schedule, and the option to purchase additional time, offering flexibility across tenure levels. Structured sick time and disability income protection further strengthen time-away coverage.
DuPont Insights
What We Do
Beware of recruitment scams! Please read important information for job seekers: https://www.dupont.com/careers/hiring-faqs.html It's a time of incredible progress at DuPont — a time of momentum. It's the time for change makers, for the doers and pioneers, to create essential innovations the world needs. We aren’t just creating a better future, we’re working together to invent a better now. So bring your best self and join us in uncovering insights that will transform the world. Why wait for a better future? Invent a better now. Learn more at dupont.com. Please take the time to review our comments policy before commenting on our page. http://dptn.ws/policy
