Plant Engineer Jobs in Tennessee
Plant engineer jobs in Tennessee are in strong demand, concentrated in automotive manufacturing, chemical processing, food and beverage production, and industrial facilities, with openings at every level from entry-level process engineers through senior plant engineering managers. The busiest hiring markets are Nashville, Chattanooga, and Memphis, where employers like Volkswagen Group of America, Eastman Chemical Company, and FedEx maintain large-scale operations requiring ongoing plant engineering talent. Process improvement, utilities management, and capital project execution are among the most sought-after specialties across Tennessee facilities. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today, SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of making life multiplanetary and expanding consciousness to the stars.
SpaceXSI is building Super Intelligence to help humanity understand the universe. Our teams are building the full Super Intelligence stack: from our Colossus supercomputers, to Grok models, to our suite of applications, including Grok Bot, Grok Build, Grok Imagine, Grok Voice, and X. We're creating a powerful flywheel where more compute trains better models, better models power more useful products, and what we learn from people using those products shapes what we build next.
OPERATION & MAINTENANCE ENGINEER (POWER PLANT)
As an Operation & Maintenance Engineer, you will keep SpaceXSI's on-site power plant running. The plant supplies power for high-density AI supercomputing facilities in the Memphis and Southaven area, and it has to stay online 24/7.
You will work across gas turbines and generators, balance-of-plant, fuel gas and process/fluid systems, water, compressed and instrument air, HVAC and cooling, and plant electrical systems. The turbine fleet is several different manufacturers. You are expected to be proficient on every type on site, not specialized in one OEM. You will troubleshoot equipment, direct contractors, and use AI to simplify how the plant is operated and maintained. Your schedule flexes, including nights, weekends, holidays, and callouts, so the plant always has engineering coverage. This is a full-time, on-site role in the Memphis region.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Provide operation and maintenance engineering support for the multi-manufacturer gas turbine fleet, generators, balance-of-plant, process and fluid systems, and plant electrical systems, including protection, e-houses, blackstart, and switching.
- Be proficient across all turbine types on site and apply that knowledge to troubleshooting, maintenance, and operating decisions.
- Flex shifts and work hours, including nights, weekends, holidays, and callouts, to maintain 24/7 engineering coverage.
- Troubleshoot trips, alarms, and equipment failures with the shift team and return the plant to service.
- Direct contractors: define the work, set when it is done, and confirm it is completed safely and correctly.
- Use AI to streamline and simplify engineering, operating, and maintenance work.
- Own reliability on assigned systems: bad-actor elimination, root-cause investigations, and corrective actions.
- Write and maintain the engineering plans and procedures the plant is being stood up on, including operating, maintenance, and switching and isolation instructions.
- Manage the critical-parts list so the right parts are identified, stocked, and ready.
- Build and maintain the preventive and predictive maintenance program in the CMMS, including tasks, frequencies, and as-found/as-left records.
- Support outage planning and execution, and support start-up, shutdown, commissioning, and turnover of new generation and balance-of-plant systems.
- Apply SpaceXAI safety standards in the field, including LOTO, NFPA 70E / arc-flash, confined space, and hot work. Stop work when conditions are unsafe.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, or other engineering discipline.
- 3+ years of operation or maintenance engineering experience in a power plant, generating station, or other high-reliability industrial facility.
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Experience with gas turbines from more than one manufacturer, plus balance-of-plant, fuel gas, water, compressed air, and plant electrical systems.
- Willingness to work rotating or flexible shifts, including nights, weekends, holidays, and on-call, to support 24/7 plant coverage.
- Experience using AI tools to streamline or simplify engineering, maintenance, or operating processes.
- Experience directing contractors, including assigning work and setting the schedule.
- Experience managing critical-parts lists.
- Experience with engineering planning and procedure writing.
- Working knowledge of P&IDs, single-line diagrams, electrical schematics, protection, and switching.
- Experience with LOTO and NFPA 70E / arc-flash practices.
- Experience with a CMMS, including preventive maintenance, work orders, and equipment history.
- Experience supporting outages, commissioning, or root-cause investigations on power plant equipment.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Willingness to be in the plant and to perform hands-on work in all environments (heat, cold, rain), in tight quarters or at heights.
- Remain focused while working in hazardous environments, while wearing appropriate PPE.
- Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted.
- Lifting, standing, climbing, bending, grasping, sitting, pulling, pushing, stooping, stretching, and carrying are generally required to perform the functions of this position.
- Must be able to work on-site at the power generation facility, with potential travel to other SpaceXAI sites.
- Valid driver's license.
SpaceXSI is an equal opportunity employer. For details on data processing, view our Recruitment Privacy Notice.
See All 19 Plant Engineer Jobs in Tennessee
Find roles in Tennessee that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Plant Engineer JobsPlant Engineer Jobs by City in Tennessee
Where Tennessee roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Plant Engineer Job Market in Tennessee
A snapshot from current Tennessee openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring


Top Industries Hiring
- Energy
- Manufacturing
- Technology & Software
What Tennessee Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in plant engineer jobs across Tennessee.
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical, chemical, industrial, or electrical engineering required
- Professional Engineer (PE) license from the Tennessee State Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners preferred for senior roles
- Three or more years of experience in a manufacturing or industrial plant environment
- Proficiency with AutoCAD, PLC systems, or CMMS platforms such as SAP or Maximo
- Demonstrated knowledge of OSHA process safety management and environmental compliance regulations
- Experience leading capital improvement projects, equipment installations, or plant expansion initiatives
Plant Engineer Jobs in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a plant engineer in Tennessee?
The standard path is a bachelor's degree in mechanical, chemical, industrial, or electrical engineering, followed by gaining hands-on experience in a manufacturing or plant environment. Tennessee does not require a license to work as a plant engineer in most industrial roles, but many employers prefer or require a Professional Engineer license issued by the Tennessee State Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners, which involves passing the FE and PE exams and documenting relevant engineering experience.
How much do plant engineers make in Tennessee?
Plant engineers in Tennessee earn a median of about $99,080 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $72,200 for the lowest 10% to over $132,040 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire plant engineers in Tennessee?
Employers hiring plant engineers in Tennessee right now include Sargent & Lundy, BNH, and Schneider Electric, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Tennessee's strong concentration of automotive assembly plants, chemical manufacturers, and large distribution operations means consistent plant engineering demand across the state year-round.
Which Tennessee cities have the most plant engineer jobs?
Knoxville, Memphis, and Arnold AFB have the most plant engineer openings in Tennessee. Nashville anchors hiring through its growing advanced manufacturing base and corporate facility operations, Chattanooga draws demand from Volkswagen's assembly plant and its supplier network, and Memphis supports plant engineering roles through its heavy logistics, food processing, and distribution infrastructure.
Are there remote plant engineer jobs in Tennessee?
Yes, but they're rare. Plant engineering is fundamentally an on-site role, as the work centers on physical equipment, production lines, and facility systems that require direct presence. About 40% of plant engineer openings tied to Tennessee are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those tend to involve project planning, capital budgeting, or technical documentation phases rather than day-to-day plant floor responsibilities.
How can I get hired as a plant engineer in Tennessee with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry point is applying for a process engineering associate, maintenance engineer, or manufacturing engineer role at one of Tennessee's major industrial employers, many of which run structured new-graduate rotational programs. Volkswagen's Chattanooga operations, Eastman Chemical in Kingsport, and large food manufacturers in Memphis regularly bring on recent engineering graduates. Completing an FE exam or earning a relevant co-op credential from Tennessee Technological University or the University of Tennessee strengthens a new applicant's profile considerably.
Where can I find and apply to plant engineer jobs in Tennessee?
You can find and apply to plant engineer jobs in Tennessee on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers hiring in the state right now. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience and location, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 19 Plant Engineer Jobs in Tennessee
Find roles in Tennessee that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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