Senior Technician – Pilot Plant

U.S. Silica Holdings Inc. is a global performance materials company and is a leading producer of commercial silica used in the oil and gas industry and in a wide range of industrial applications. Over its 124-year history, U.S. Silica has developed core competencies in mining, processing, logistics, and materials science that enable it to produce and cost-effectively deliver more than 800 diversified products to customers across our end markets.

U.S. Silica's wholly-owned subsidiaries include EP Minerals and SandBox Logistics™. EP Minerals is an industry leader in the production of products derived from diatomaceous earth, perlite, engineered clays, and non-activated clays. SandBox Logistics™ is a state-of-the-art leader in proppant storage, handling and well-site delivery, and is dedicated to making proppant logistics cleaner, safer, and more efficient. The company has 26 operating mines and processing facilities and two additional exploration stage properties across the United States and is headquartered in Katy, Texas.

The Senior Technician – Pilot Plant will support research scientists and engineers to create new products and business opportunities for U.S. Silica (USS). This position will safely operate a range of production equipment, execute regular preventative maintenance, and perform other duties to support business growth. The position may require up to ten percent travel time to USS plants and potentially customers to assist in implementing new products. The Senior Technician – Pilot Plant will report into the R&D Engineer.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Responsible to meet site safety requirements and product quality requirements.
• Perform and document pre-shift inspections on mobile equipment.
• Inspect and document work area for safety/environmental concerns.
• Maintain housekeeping in immediate work area and other areas as instructed.
• Maintain an inventory of critical spare parts.
• Operate equipment to produce new products that meet customer specifications
• Operate select lab instruments for characterization/production tracking
• Assemble and install equipment such as shafting, conveyors, tram rails, pumps, and piping
• Read blueprints and schematic drawings to determine work procedures
• Mobilize machinery and equipment
• Must be very good at troubleshooting “break downs” and capable of making repairs necessary to restore machinery to running conditions with little or no supervision.
• Must be able to perform basic electrical functions, such as disconnecting and then reconnecting motors.
• Work with a small team to Identify and investigate abnormal test results, conducting root cause analysis.
• Prepare and record documents that report the results of pilot plant/lab work.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• High School Diploma or GED.
• College degree preferred – Science or engineering
• Trade school – welding or millwright also acceptable
• Must have a minimum of 3 years industrial experience.
• The ideal candidate should have experience operating both lab and manufacturing equipment.
• Demonstrated mechanical skillset.
• Must be willing to receive training and operate both a Forklift and Scissor Lift
• History of building collaborative relationships
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Knowledge and experience with safe industrial laboratory procedures including chemical handling
• Moderate analytical testing experience

U.S. Silica is an equal opportunity employer for all without regard to race, gender, color, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. U.S. Silica is a smoke- and drug-free workplace. The above description is intended to capture the essential functions of the job, nature and level of work as of the preparation date. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties that may be required of the position. This job description may be modified at any time with or without notice.