How to hire a pilot plant operator

How to hire a pilot plant operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step pilot plant operator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a pilot plant operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new pilot plant operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your pilot plant operator job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a pilot plant operator for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect pilot plant operator also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of pilot plant operator salaries for various roles:

   Type of Pilot Plant Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Pilot Plant Operator		$12-31
   Pilot	A pilot is a professional who works in the aviation industry to operate aircraft and transport passengers and cargos from one location to another. Pilots can fly and navigate different types of aircrafts such as helicopters, large commercial aircraft, or cargo planes... Show more	$27-56
   Operator	Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them... Show more	$12-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • PowerPoint
   • NAS
   • Federal Aviation Administration
   • Voice Commands
   • Air Traffic Control
   • GMP
   • Safety Procedures
   • Process Equipment
   • Cell Culture
   • CIP
   • Plant Equipment
   • Pilot Plant Operations
   • Control Systems
   • Catalyst

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop and manage a comprehensive vendor qualification program to support the GMP manufacture of vaccine products.
   • Set up and maintain distillation columns.
   • Utilize GC's for routine process analysis.
   • perform corrective and preventative maintenance of DCS.
   • Perform LOTO procedures and issue hot work and confine entry permits.
   • Operate and maintain the batch plant including drycast and wetcast mixers.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your pilot plant operator job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A pilot plant operator can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, pilot plant operators' average salary in florida is 41% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level pilot plant operators 58% less than senior-level pilot plant operators.
   • Certifications. A pilot plant operator with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a pilot plant operator's salary.

   Average pilot plant operator salary

   $42,462yearly

   $20.41 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level pilot plant operator salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing a pilot plant operator job description

   A pilot plant operator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a pilot plant operator job description:

   Pilot plant operator job description example

   Energy Exploration Technologies has a mission to become a worldwide leader in the global transition to sustainable energy. Founded in 2018, the company is fundamentally changing the way humanity is powering our world and storing clean energy with breakthrough lithium-ion technology and energy storage solutions.

   
   

   Purpose of the Job

   
   

   This position is for laboratory support of the lithium separations team. 80% of the work will be in the lab/operations with roughly 20% administrative. The work will directly support the development of new lithium separations technologies and the field testing of developed technology. This may well include up to 10% travel.

   
   

   Principal Responsibilities

   
   

   1. Pilot plant operations

   
   

   Learn all standard hydrometallurgical techniques and procedures for running a dynamic solvent extraction circuit, an IX circuit, or an absorbent circuit

   Maintain equipment

   
   

   2. Administration

   
   

   Track and submit samples for standard lab testing

   Ensure that needed chemicals are in stock and properly disposed

   Prepare laboratory QC solutions, diluents, and standards

   Ensure that samples meet specifications

   Maintain logs of pilot plant operations

   Log and report results of all testing

   Inventory management and organization

   Report results within 24hrs of receiving results

   
   

   3. Regulatory Support

   
   

   Ensure that work is safe and be able to stop any unsafe behavior

   Follow all waste disposal procedures

   
   

   4. Operate pilot plant in the field

   
   

   Travel to customer sites Build pilot plant on-site

   Operate pilot plant as required by customer

   Basic Qualifications

   
   

   Minimum 2 years of experience operating a chemical process

   Self-directed and motivated

   Basic knowledge of chemical and lab safety

   Proficient with Microsoft Excel and Word

   While not required, a working knowledge of Spanish is desired

   
   

   
   

   
   

   EnergyX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with EnergyX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find pilot plant operators for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any pilot plant operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level pilot plant operators with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your pilot plant operator job on Zippia to find and recruit pilot plant operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting pilot plant operators requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new pilot plant operator

   Once you've selected the best pilot plant operator candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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