Customer Support Account Engineer – Ethanol

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Minnesota.

📋 Description

• Oversee a portfolio of plants, acting as the primary technical and commercial liaison for the client following project completion.

• Collaborate with the plant manager as a Whitefox counterpart, aligning cartridge reliability with process advantages, operations, and commercial considerations.

• Engage in project execution teams, attend weekly meetings, conduct kickoff site visits, develop PFDs, review P&IDs, layouts, and participate in HAZOP assessments.

• Create programming guidelines and SOPs while managing automation programming and the integration of controls/data collection.

• Ensure readiness for commissioning and complete the Ready for Commissioning Checklist.

• Lead the commissioning process from initiation through handover, encompassing objectives, startup/shutdown logic testing, and cartridge installation and acceptance documentation.

• Maintain the core technical file and conduct technical assessments during the commissioning and startup phases.

• Finalize commissioning closeout, conduct customer training, prepare O&M handover documentation, and facilitate lessons-learned sessions.

• Conduct client check-ins, generate operations reports, provide remote engineering support, oversee plant operations, and ensure effective training verification.

• Advise on cartridge maintenance decisions and manage lab sampling coordination with the Whitefox Calgary lab.

• Evaluate energy and cooling-water benefits, monitor data, optimize systems, and guide customer operational modifications.

• Enhance customer satisfaction and maximize operational advantages.

• Oversee cartridge-replacement commitments, manage stock levels, prepare quotes, and explore future expansion opportunities.

• Monitor plant changes and communicate their effects on cartridge lifespan, energy, and operations to the Commercial and Innovation teams.

• Lead a cross-functional O&M team consisting of field technicians, process engineers, and product team members.

• Establish objectives, prioritize tasks, coordinate delivery, track O&M support hours, and develop proposals for out-of-scope work.

• Travel to customer locations for commissioning, O&M activities, and other client-related requirements.

• Enhance team efficiency by updating and creating templates, utilizing AI tools to optimize recurring tasks, and contributing to internal projects.

• Represent Whitefox at industry conferences and maintain relationships with vendors and third-party networks.

• Participate in health and safety programs, including conducting hazard assessments, quarterly process safety reviews, and incident reporting.

⛳️ Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in a chemical engineering discipline from an accredited institution.

• Over 5 years of industry experience; experience in ethanol is preferred but not mandatory.

• Familiarity with and experience in generating engineering deliverables, including PFDs, P&IDs, SOPs, and programming guidelines.

• Practical site experience in a production facility.

• Proven experience in leading a team towards a unified objective.

• Experience managing client relationships across multiple sites is advantageous.

• Strong commitment to health and safety and adherence to safe work practices.

• Capability to coordinate timely and accurate client-facing communications.

• Ability to collaborate with process design, detailed engineering, operations, and project teams.

• Proficient in assessing complex issues, determining ownership, and escalating concerns as necessary.

• Capability to work independently across geographically diverse customer locations and internal teams.

• Ability to quickly learn new technologies, processes, and operational environments.

• Competence in safeguarding client and Whitefox intellectual property and confidential information.

• Ability to embody Whitefox's values, maintain professional standards, and promote a safety culture.

• Skill in executing tasks and leading a team with minimal supervision.

• Ability to develop structured solutions and escalate larger challenges as required.

• Willingness to travel within the USA up to 50% of the time.

🏝️ Benefits

• Bonus pay

• 401(k) matching

• Dental insurance

• Health insurance

• Paid time off

• Professional development assistance

• Standard US full-time hours (40 hrs/week), Monday to Friday, with flexibility for field roles