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Engineer 3, Decatur

Primient · Decatur, IL · $101,819–$127,274 a year · Full time

Posted Jun 19, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a process improvement you designed and specified that affected more than one unit operation.

What they are checking: Whether they have moved beyond troubleshooting into owning design changes with wider plant impact, as this level requires.

Tell me about a time a change you made did not work as expected. What did you do?

What they are checking: Whether they own mistakes, roll back safely if needed and learn what their analysis missed.

How do you mentor Engineer 1s and 2s who bring you their problems?

What they are checking: Whether they teach younger engineers to think through problems rather than just giving them answers.

What would you do

Operations wants a quick fix and you believe a bigger redesign is needed. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they can offer a short-term solution while making a clear case for the right long-term fix.

How do you prioritize when you have several projects and a plant upset at the same time?

What they are checking: Whether they protect safety and production first while keeping longer-term project commitments visible.

About the work

You want to change a process to raise throughput, but it affects the downstream evaporators and dryers. How do you approach it?

What they are checking: Whether they think about the whole system and bottlenecks rather than optimizing one unit at the expense of others.

How do you take a project through management of change at a plant like Decatur?

What they are checking: Whether they know how to document hazards, get reviews and train operators before a change goes live.

Walk me through how you would size a pump or specify a heat exchanger for a new service.

What they are checking: Whether they have real design skills like hydraulic calculations and heat transfer sizing, not just operating experience.

How do you build an economic case for a capital or process improvement project?

What they are checking: Whether they can tie engineering work to payback, energy savings or yield in a way leadership will fund.

What process data would you trust most when troubleshooting a yield loss, and which would you question?

What they are checking: Whether they know instruments drift and lab samples vary, so they cross-check data before drawing conclusions.

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The full job description

As published by Primient.

Engineer 3, Decatur | Primient About Primient Primient is a century old company with an entrepreneurial spirit. We are a leading producer of food and industrial ingredients made from plant-based, renewable sources. We deliver value through deep technical, commercial, and operational excellence that is backed by our long-standing corn wet milling heritage. Wherever we are in the process, from field to customer, our priorities are focused on ensuring we produce the safest, highest quality products through practices that uphold both our responsibility and commitments to the challenge and drive for excellence, our people and our planet. We are a privately held company with locations across the US, Mexico, Poland, and Brazil. W e’re investing in our plants and people to unlock our potential in the industrial and food sectors. Guided by our values of Safety, Excellence, Integrity, and Growth, we’re focused on growing our business, our reputation, and the career of every teammate. About the Role The Engineer 3 sits within the Engineering Technical Track and provides engineering expertise to optimize plant operations through process design, troubleshooting, and efficiency improvements. This role moves beyond troubleshooting to designing and specifying plant operations, taking ownership of process improvements that impact multiple unit operations. The Engineer 3 operates with greater autonomy, overseeing complex projects, driving plant-wide optimizations, and mentoring junior engineers. This role collaborates cross functionally to drive standardization, reliability, and best practices across sites, supporting Primient’s commitment to safety , excellence, integrity, and growth. Primary Responsibilities • Engineering Project Execution: Lead and contribute to moderately complex engineering projects, designing and implementing process improvements that enhance efficiency, safety, and product quality. Oversee end-to-end executing, ensuring timely and budget-compliant delivery. ​ • Technical Leadership and Mentorship: Serve as a key technical resource, providing guidance and instructions to junior engineers, operators, and cross-functional teams. Support the development of technical expertise within the plant by mentoring less- experienced engineers. ​ • Cross Function & Multi-Plant Collaboration: Collaborate with engineers, production teams, and leadership across sites to drive operational consistency, share best practices, and troubleshoot plant-wide challenges. Engage with external partners and vendors to implement solutions. ​ • Process Optimization & Troubleshooting: Analyze process performance data, identify inefficiencies, and develop independent solutions to optimize energy consumption, material usage, and production throughput. Work proactively to design process enhancements rather than reacting to troubleshooting alone. ​ • Regulatory & Compliance Standards: Ensure engineering projects and process changes comply with environmental, safety, quality, sustainability, and internal/external regulations. Maintain awareness of evolving industry regulations and implement necessary adjustments. ​ • Data-driven Decision-Making : Collect, analyze, and report operational data to identify performance gaps, generate insights, and recommend process improvements. Use benchmarking and cross-plant comparisons to drive continuous improvement initiatives. Primary Responsibilities Knowledge ​ • Process Design (Material & Energy Balance, Fluid Dynamics, Process Control, Thermodynamics, Material of Construction & Compatibility, Equipment Sizing) ​ • Technical expertise in engineering principles in applicable areas ​ • Knowledgeable about project workflow and disciplines involved ​ • Expertise in business systems ( i.e. Microsoft Office, Outlook, SAP, CATS, Gensuite , etc ) ​ • Safety & environmental regulations and best practices ​ Skills ​ • Excellent written and verbal communication ​ • Project management of complex projects ​ • Implementation of process changes and engineering improvement ​ • Critical thinking and problem solving ​ • Root cause analysis ​ • Cross-functional leadership and coordination ​ • Documentation ​ Mindsets ​ • Data driven ​ • Collaborative ​ • Technical Curiosity ​ • Innovative ​ • Goal-oriented ​ • Attention to safety, quality, sustainability ​ • Operational excellence ​ • Continuous improvement mindset ​ • Economic consideration ​ Required and/or Education/Certification ​ • BS in Chemical, Mechanical, Bio, Electrical Engineering or a related field from ABET accredited institution (required) ​ • Master’s Degree in Engineering or a related field. (preferred) ​ • Certification in Six Sigma, Green Belt or Black Belt, and Lean Manufacturing (preferred) ​ Required and/or Preferred Work Experience ​ • 5+ years of experience in engineering in related field (preferred) ​ • Experience leading optimization and cost reduction initiatives, including capital projects. (required) ​ • 5+ years of experience in engineering in a continuing manufacturing environment. (preferred) ​ • Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma or other continuous improvement methodologies. (preferred) ​ Total Rewards The annual pay range estimated for this position is $101,819.20 - $127,274.00 and is bonus eligible. Please note that while this range reflects the full spectrum of compensation available for this role, individual compensation will be determined based on several factors including your experience, skills, and alignment with the role's responsibilities. During the interview process there will be an opportunity to discuss how your background fits into the pay range. ​ ​ We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes : • Competitive Pay ​ • Multiple Healthcare plan choices ​ • Dental and vision insurance ​ • A 401(k) plan with company and matching contributions ​ • Short- and Long-Term Disability ​ • Life, AD&D, and Voluntary Insurance plans ​ • Paid holidays & vacation ​ • Floating days off ​ • Parental leave for new parents ​ • Employee resource groups ​ • Learning & development programs ​ • Fun culture where you have an opportunity in shaping our future Career Path & Culture Primient is committed to a workplace that is all in – ensuring everyone has the opportunity to develop and shape a career that matters in an open culture which embraces equity, diversity and belonging. We challenge old ways of thinking; and encourage employee voices to be a guiding force for ongoing learning. ​ ​ Primient supports a culture of inclusion that respects individual strengths, views, and experiences. We believe our differences make better decisions, drive excellence, and deliver better business results. Primient employees experience autonomy and accountability in their role. Here, employees control their destiny as there is opportunity for career growth and pathways outside the norm. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging We are believers in the power of difference. We strive to represent the communities in which we operate and to provide an inclusive, welcoming environment for all. We want Primient to be a place where every employee feels they belong and knows they are seen, heard, valued and safe to speak up. Our aspiration is to unlock the full potential in diverse perspectives, while offering everyone an equal chance to grow, Primient is an equal opportunity employer, committed to the strength of an inclusive workforce . California Consumer Privacy Act ("CCPA") The Company is committed to complying with the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) and all data privacy and laws in the jurisdictions in which it recruits and hires employees. We collect the following categories of personal information for the purpose of hiring the best qualified applicants and to comply with applicable employment laws: Name and contact information; Job preference and work availability; Social Security Number and/or other identification information; Education and qualifications; Employment history and experience; Military service; Reference and background check information, including relevant criminal history and credit history; Social media information; Pre-employment test results; Post-offer medical examination information and results, including drug test results; Voluntary self-disclosure information regarding minority, veteran, and disability status; and Information provided by you during the hiring process.

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