How to hire a plant safety engineer

How to hire a plant safety engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step plant safety engineer hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your plant safety engineer 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 plant safety engineer 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

   A plant safety engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, plant safety engineers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of plant safety engineer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Plant Safety Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Plant Safety Engineer	Health and safety engineers develop procedures and design systems to prevent people from getting sick or injured and to keep property from being damaged. They combine knowledge of systems engineering and of health and safety to make sure that chemicals, machinery, software, furniture, and other consumer products will not cause harm to people or damage to buildings.	$25-66
   EHS Coordinator	An EHS coordinator develops and organizes environmental health and safety (EHS) programs and protocols in a company. They typically perform research and analysis to determine the ideal practices, gather and analyze data to identify problem areas and their corresponding solutions, spearheading information drives within the company, and coordinating with different departments... Show more	$20-42
   Industrial Hygienist	An Industrial Hygienist plans and conducts health programs to educate employees about cleanliness, safety, and sanitation in the workplace. They investigate adequacy of ventilation, exhaust equipment, lighting, and other conditions that can affect employees' health, comfort, or efficiency.	$21-49

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • OSHA
   • Safety Policies
   • Safety Inspections
   • PPE
   • Safety Engineering
   • Safety Program
   • Safety Training
   • PSM
   • EHS
   • Capital Projects
   • Incident Investigations
   • Safety Committee
   • Safety Culture
   • Hazardous Waste

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead cross functional team on FMEA analysis, root cause analysis to improve the existing process.
   • Facilitate OSHA training for all power plant employees and outside contractors.
   • Participate on ZCLP PSM audit teams that conduct compliance audits in Texas, Mississippi and Kentucky manufacturing sites.
   • Develop and coordinate departmental ergonomics project that contribute to equipment design changes, business system modifications and revise employee work habits.
   • Confine space training and monitoring, HazMat plans and decontamination procedures when require.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your plant safety engineer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A plant safety engineer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, plant safety engineers' average salary in hawaii is 56% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level plant safety engineers earn 62% less than senior-level plant safety engineers.
   • Certifications. A plant safety engineer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a plant safety engineer's salary.

   Average plant safety engineer salary

   $86,305yearly

   $41.49 hourly rate

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   Entry-level plant safety engineer salary

   $53,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

4. Writing a plant safety engineer job description

   A plant safety engineer 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 plant safety engineer job description:

   Plant safety engineer job description example

   * Telework Type: Full-Time Office/Project
   
   Bechtel is designing, constructing, and commissioning the world's largest radioactive waste treatment plant for the U.S. Department of Energy at the Hanford Site in southeastern Washington State. The Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant will use vitrification technology to process and solidify 56 million gallons (210 million liters) of radioactive and chemical waste stored at the Hanford site, which is a byproduct of plutonium production during World War II and the Cold War era.
   
   The project is the largest undertaking of its kind and one of DOE's most technically challenging cleanup projects. Its construction spans 65 acres (26 hectares) with four major nuclear facilities - Pretreatment, Low-Activity Waste Vitrification, High-Level Waste Vitrification and Analytical Laboratory - as well as operations and maintenance buildings, utilities, other support facilities.
   
   This position is located at the Construction Site (22 miles north of Richland) and works a 4 x 10 schedule, M-Th, 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Selected applicant needs to be able and willing to work weekends as needed.
   
   Selected applicant needs to be able and willing to work night shift (5:30pm to 4:00am) and weekends as needed.
   
   The Waste Treatment Completion Company (WTCC) is a limited liability corporation created by Bechtel National Inc. (BNI) and Amentum. WTCC is a subcontractor to BNI, the prime contractor, to deliver the construction, turnover, startup, and commissioning activities for the WTP project.
   
   The Plant Engineer job family is responsible for technical activities relating to operations and maintenance of plant equipment during Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) and Commissioning and Operations The Plant Engineer protects the installed configuration of the plant systems and provides technical support and issue resolution needed for operation and maintenance of the plant equipment. Under direction of the Plant Engineering Manager interacts with other Plant Engineers, Operations, Maintenance, WTP Project groups, subcontractors, and equipment vendors as required to perform job assignments.
   Responsibilities: * Support Nuclear Safety program * Perform unreviewed safety question (USQ) reviews / screenings * Support the Chemical Safety Management Program (CSMP) * Support the Pressure safety program. * Implement Plant Engineering program elements as assigned * Develop, review, concur with and/or assess engineering technical documents * Develop, review, concur with and/or assess management control procedures, technical procedures, or guides * Assess facilities, systems, and/or processes anomalies or degraded conditions * Resolve condition report issues or other similar discrepancies as assigned * Develop or request support to develop engineering products for system or equipment repair or replacement * Provide on-site technical support during preventative or corrective maintenance activities or commissioning * Assist assigned engineers in determining operability and correcting out-of-specification conditions * Ensure the health and safety of self and staff by implementing the principles of ISMS * Ensure that personal conduct of work is consistent with nuclear safety and quality culture expectations * Meet training requirements and maintain qualifications to perform work * Support control of field work in assigned areas, including integration of project activities, repairs, and equipment operations activities * Support operations, maintenance, and commissioning of the WTP Facilities * Remain apprised of operational status and ongoing modification activities * Provide technical review of facility/system related procedures and work instructions * Assist with resolution of design issues necessary to support plant operations and/or maintenance * Review Project design and other documents for operations, maintenance, and testing impacts and providing alternative solutions * Interface with subcontractors, vendors, and project support groups * Ensures timely and accurate oral and written technical reports on assigned activities * Complete required training and maintain qualifications associated with assignments * Support the Waste Treatment Plant Nuclear Safety Quality Culture by emphasizing the values of safety and quality in the performance of work to protect self, others, and the environment * This job description is not intended to include every duty, task, or instruction for which an employee is responsible. Other tasks may be assigned, based on business needs and the department supervisor's request Qualifications and Skills: Basic Qualifications * Bachelor of Science degree (or equivalent education) in an appropriate engineering discipline or related science from a four-year accredited college or university and minimum of 3+ years of professional experience. One year of Nuclear facility experience required. (Nuclear Experience when used in reference to Nonreactor Nuclear Facilities, is experience acquired at any facility in which radioactive materials are routinely handled, stored, processed, or utilized.) A Bachelor of Science (BS) may be substituted for up to 3 years of nuclear experience.) Preferred Qualifications: * Experience with Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations (10CFR) Part 830 Nuclear Safety Management * Experience 10 CFR 851 Appendix A Part 4 Worker safety & Health - Pressure Safety. * Experience with national consensus codes and standards. * Familiarity with the following: * DOE Order 420.1C * DOE Order 426.2 * DOE Order & Guide 433.1 * DOE-STD-3009 #LI-LM1 Shaping tomorrow together Bechtel is one of the most respected global engineering, construction, and project management companies. Together with our customers, we deliver landmark projects that foster long-term progress and economic growth. Since 1898, we've completed more than 25,000 extraordinary projects across 160 countries on all seven continents. We operate through four global businesses: Infrastructure; Nuclear, Security & Environmental; Energy; and Mining & Metals. Our company and our culture are built on more than a century of leadership and a relentless adherence to our values, the core of which are safety, quality, ethics, and integrity. These values are what we believe, what we expect, what we deliver, and what we live. www.bechtel.com Bechtel is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, national origin, disability, citizenship status (except as authorized by law), protected veteran status, genetic information, and any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In accordance with Bechtel's duty to provide and maintain a safe workplace for our employees and to safeguard the health of our families, customers, and visitors, we have adopted mandatory COVID-19 safety protocols for each work location, which may include a vaccination or testing requirement. Please speak with your Bechtel recruiter to determine which protocols apply to the work location for the job you are seeking.

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right plant safety engineer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit plant safety engineers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 plant safety engineer

   Once you've decided on a perfect plant safety engineer candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   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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