Technical Engineer (Plating and Water Treatment Operations)

Technical Engineer (Plating and Water Treatment Operations)Position OverviewThe Technical Engineer will support and optimize plating and wastewater treatment operations to ensure regulatory compliance, product quality, and efficient use of resources. This role combines hands-on process engineering for metal finishing/plating lines with oversight of wastewater treatment systems, troubleshooting operational issues, implementing improvements, and coordinating testing and regulatory reporting. The ideal candidate has strong experience in plating and wastewater treatment, a safety-first mindset, and the ability to collaborate with production, maintenance, and environmental teams.Key ResponsibilitiesOperate, monitor and optimize plating lines and associated chemical feed systems to meet product quality, throughput and cost targets.Oversee wastewater treatment processes (chemical dosing, biological treatment, filtration, neutralization) to ensure effluent meets regulatory and company discharge limits.Perform root-cause analysis and troubleshoot process upsets across plating and treatment systems, working with maintenance and operators to implement corrective actions.Develop, execute and review sampling and testing programs (process water, effluent, plating baths) to support process control and regulatory compliance.Design and implement process improvements and control strategies to reduce waste, lower chemical consumption, and improve plating consistency.Maintain accurate process documentation, SOPs, batch records and environmental reports; prepare regulatory submissions and support inspections.Support chemical inventory management, safety data sheets (SDS) management, and safe handling/disposal practices for plating and wastewater chemicals.Train and mentor operations staff on plating procedures, treatment system operation, safety practices and emergency response.Collaborate with cross-functional teams (production, maintenance, environmental health & safety, engineering) on scale-up, capital projects and continuous improvement initiatives.Monitor and maintain treatment system equipment (pumps, mixers, analyzers) and coordinate preventative maintenance and repairs with maintenance teams.QualificationsRequired: Proven hands-on experience in plating (metal finishing) processes including bath maintenance, chemistry control and process troubleshooting.Required: Experience with wastewater treatment operations (chemical/physical and biological processes), monitoring and regulatory compliance for industrial effluent.Required: Strong understanding of safety, environmental regulations, and good manufacturing practices relevant to plating and wastewater operations.Required: Technical degree (Chemical, Environmental, Industrial Engineering or related) or equivalent technical/vocational experience plus demonstrated engineering/problem-solving skills.Required: Excellent analytical skills, familiarity with process control, and ability to interpret lab/test data to drive operational decisions.Nice to have: Experience with testing protocols and analytical instrumentation used for water and effluent analysis.Nice to have: Background in chemical engineering or industrial engineering to support process design and optimization.Nice to have: Proven troubleshooting experience across plating process, water treatment systems and associated mechanical/electrical equipment.Nice to have: Specific experience with plating process optimization and bath chemistry control.Nice to have: Wastewater Operator Class B (or equivalent 'Wastewater B') certification or other wastewater treatment licenses/certificates.