Production Optimization Engineer

As a 100% Employee-Owned company, Robert E. Mason & Associates, Inc. believes our Associates are the foundation of both our customers’ and our success.  Our strong company culture, and belief in continued investment in our Associates, has helped us realize long Associate tenures, as well as long lasting relationships with our customers.  Under the Robert E. Mason & Associates, Inc. umbrella there are two divisions: R.E. Mason and Apperture Solutions.

R.E. Mason is an Emerson Impact Partner covering North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.  Emerson is the global leader of process systems and solutions.  R.E. Mason provides industry-leading process equipment and service for process control, automation, safety, and reliability.  The industries served include Chemical, Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences, Power & Utilities, Food & Beverage, and Pulp & Paper. 

Apperture Solutions is a technology independent, professional consulting, and implementation services firm.  Apperture Solutions offers Data Enablement, Production Optimization, Operations Management, and Other Value-Added Services.  Apperture Solutions partners with other providers to offer our customers the technologies and solutions that fit their needs.

What R.E. Mason Offers Associates:

R.E. Mason is a 100% employee-owned company that offers a comprehensive, industry leading benefits package to all eligible Associates:

• Participation in the Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP)
• Retirement plan, including a Safe Harbor contribution
• Medical / Dental / Vision Insurance
• Employer paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Generous paid leave options that include vacation time, sick leave, personal leave time, R.E. Mason Way Half Day, paid Jury Duty, and paid Bereavement Leave
• Paid Parental Leave
• Paid company holidays
• Career Development Program
• Retirement and Financial Wellness program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Alternative/Hybrid Work Schedules

General Description

We are seeking a technically curious and motivated engineer to support the development and deployment of production optimization solutions for industrial manufacturing facilities. This role combines process simulation, alarm management, operator performance improvement, and advanced control technologies to help customers improve safety, reliability, efficiency, and operational excellence.

The Production Optimization Engineer will work closely with customers, control system engineers, operators, and project teams to develop and implement solutions that enhance operator situational awareness, improve training effectiveness, reduce process variability, and optimize plant performance. This position offers opportunities to work with industry-leading technologies including DeltaV Mimic™, AgileOps™, advanced process control (APC), and other digital transformation tools.

The ideal candidate will have a foundational understanding of process control systems, strong problem-solving skills, and a desire to learn and apply advanced manufacturing technologies in real-world environments.

Specific Responsibilities

• Design, configure, test, and deploy production optimization solutions including process simulation, alarm management, operator training systems, and advanced control applications.
• Develop and maintain dynamic simulation models using DeltaV Mimic™ or similar platforms to support control system development, operator training, testing, and commissioning activities.
• Integrate simulation environments with control system emulators and virtualized systems to facilitate off-line testing of control logic, graphics, alarm strategies, and operating procedures prior to startup.
• Support the development and delivery of Operator Training Simulator (OTS) programs that improve operator competency, situational awareness, and response to abnormal operating conditions.
• Conduct alarm system assessments, rationalization workshops, and alarm philosophy reviews in accordance with ISA-18.2 and IEC 62682 standards.
• Configure and implement alarm management solutions using AgileOps™, DeltaV, or other alarm management platforms to improve alarm system performance and reduce operator burden.
• Analyze process events and alarm data to identify opportunities for improving safety, reliability, efficiency, and operator effectiveness.
• Develop alarm performance metrics and KPI reports to evaluate alarm rates, alarm floods, standing alarms, and overall alarm system health.
• Support the implementation of dynamic alarming, alarm shelving, and state-based operating strategies to improve operator focus during changing plant conditions.
• Assist in the design, implementation, and commissioning of advanced process control (APC) applications, including model predictive control, inferential models, optimization strategies, and process analytics.
• Support Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs), Model Acceptance Tests (MATs), Software Acceptance Tests (SATs), and Site Acceptance Tests by validating simulation, alarm management, and control system functionality against project requirements.
• Provide startup, commissioning, troubleshooting, and optimization support for customer facilities.
• Deliver training and technical support to operators, engineers, and plant personnel on simulation tools, alarm management practices, and production optimization technologies.
• Participate in Management of Change (MOC) processes to ensure modifications are properly reviewed, documented, tested, and implemented.
• Collaborate with customers and internal project teams to define requirements, develop technical solutions, and execute projects that improve manufacturing performance.
• Contribute to the development of engineering standards, best practices, reusable tools, and innovative solutions that enhance project execution and customer value.
• Travel within North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, approximately 25%, to support project execution, commissioning, training, and customer engagement activities.
• Work independently and collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-impact production optimization solutions that improve operational performance, operator effectiveness, and manufacturing excellence.

Required Competencies

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work in team environment; a team player
• Self-directed, self-motivated, and detail oriented
• Customer focused
• Organized and reliable; Demonstrates integrity
• Be a United States Citizen with a valid driver’s license.

Required Education & Experience 

• B.S. in CHE, EE, ME, Comp. Eng, Comp. Sci., other related disciplines or equivalent experience
• 0-5 years of relevant experience with DeltaV Mimic or similar platforms
• 0-5 years of relevant experience with DeltaV or other Process Control System
• 0-5 years of relevant experience with Alarm Management practices
• MS Office Experience
• MS Excel Experience

Preferred Experience/Competencies 

• Experience with Control System Emulators
• Understanding of process dynamics
• Experience with alarm management practices
• Understanding of ISA-18.2
• ISA S88 experience 
• Understanding of regulated or validated systems
• Prior experience working in a relevant manufacturing environment

Physical Requirements

• Standing
• Walking
• Sitting
• Kneeling
• Reaching Overhead
• Climbing
• Pushing and Pulling
• Lifting - 30 pounds
• Using a Computer
• Using a Telephone
• Driving

RE Mason Company is a federal contractor and, as such, is required to solicit the disability status and protected veteran status of candidates. Thus, you are required to answer self-identification questions as part of your application process. These questions are part of RE Mason’s Affirmative Action Plan and the completion of these questions will not have any effect on any consideration of your application materials.

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and need to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with RE Mason, please call our office at (704) 375-4465.

This is a drug-free workplace. Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of any required pre-employment and, if applicable, ongoing drug testing, including testing mandated by customer site access requirements.