Plant Engineer Jobs in Virginia

Plant engineer jobs in Virginia are active across defense manufacturing, chemical processing, power generation, and food production, with demand at every level from junior process engineer to senior plant operations lead. The heaviest hiring concentrates in the Northern Virginia corridor, the Richmond metro, and the Hampton Roads area, where employers such as Huntington Ingalls Industries, Dominion Energy, and DuPont maintain large, established operations. Maintenance reliability, process optimization, and environmental compliance are the specialties appearing most consistently in Virginia listings. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles16
Top employerSargent & Lundy
Top cityReston, VA
Cities hiring13
Work type100% On-site
Top industryChemicals

Showing 5 of 16+ Plant Engineer jobs

Plant Engineer II - Central Laundry Virginia Beach Oceanfront
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Added 3d ago
Plant Engineer II - Central Laundry Virginia Beach Oceanfront
HEI Hotels & Resorts
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Engineering (Non-Software)
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
Maintenance & Repair
HVAC Certification
10,000+

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Plant Quality Engineer
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Added 4d ago
Plant Quality Engineer
BGF Industries
Altavista, Virginia
Customer Service & Support
Customer Support
Product Management
Technical Program Management
$60k - $65k/yr
ISO certification process
501-1,000

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Assistant Plant Engineer
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Added 1w ago
Assistant Plant Engineer
O-I
Toano, Virginia
Specialized Engineering
Manufacturing Operations
Maintenance & Repair
$92k - $115k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Outside Plant Engineer
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Added 1w ago
Outside Plant Engineer
Timmons Group
Richmond, Virginia
Engineering (Non-Software)
Program Management
Project Management
$38.46 - $43.26/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's degree in engineering

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Maintenance Manager/Head Plant Engineer
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Added 1w ago
Maintenance Manager/Head Plant Engineer
Southern Textile Service, Inc.
South Hill, Virginia
Maintenance & Repair
Skilled Trades
$100k - $130k/yr
Experience equivalent to degree accepted

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See All 16 Plant Engineer Jobs in Virginia

Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Plant Engineer Jobs by City in Virginia

Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Reston
3 jobs
Toano
2 jobs
Amherst
1 job
Richmond
1 job
Altavista
1 job
Lynchburg
1 job
Chesapeake
1 job
Petersburg
1 job
South Hill
1 job

Plant Engineer Job Market in Virginia

A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Sargent & Lundy3 open roles
HII1 open role
O-I1 open role

Top Industries Hiring

  • Chemicals & Materials

What Virginia Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in plant engineer jobs across Virginia.

  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical, chemical, or industrial engineering from an accredited program
  • Professional Engineer license issued or recognized by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation preferred for senior roles
  • Three or more years of experience in plant operations, process engineering, or facilities maintenance
  • Proficiency with CMMS platforms, AutoCAD, or process simulation software used in industrial settings
  • Demonstrated knowledge of OSHA safety standards, environmental regulations, and Virginia workplace compliance requirements
  • Strong ability to lead cross-functional maintenance and capital improvement projects from planning through execution

Plant Engineer Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a plant engineer in Virginia?

You typically start with a bachelor's degree in mechanical, chemical, industrial, or electrical engineering from an ABET-accredited program. For roles with public oversight or senior design responsibility, Virginia requires licensure through the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, which administers the Professional Engineer credential after you pass the Fundamentals of Engineering exam and accumulate qualifying work experience. Many employers also value the Certified Plant Engineer credential from the Association for Facilities Engineering.

How much do plant engineers make in Virginia?

Plant engineers in Virginia earn a median of about $102,550 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $69,880 for the lowest 10% to over $157,160 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire plant engineers in Virginia?

Employers hiring plant engineers in Virginia right now include Sargent & Lundy, HII, and O-I, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Virginia's mix of defense contractors, utilities, chemical manufacturers, and food processing facilities means openings appear across a wide range of industries rather than clustering in a single sector.

Which Virginia cities have the most plant engineer jobs?

Reston, Toano, and Amherst consistently post the most plant engineer openings in Virginia. The Northern Virginia corridor draws demand from defense and government contractors, Richmond's role as an energy and chemical manufacturing hub drives steady postings there, and Hampton Roads sees strong hiring tied to naval operations, shipbuilding, and industrial logistics facilities.

Are there remote plant engineer jobs in Virginia?

Yes, but they're rare. Plant engineering is inherently hands-on, requiring on-site presence for equipment inspections, process troubleshooting, and safety compliance. About 0% of plant engineer openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those tend to cover project engineering, capital planning, or technical consulting roles rather than day-to-day plant operations.

How can I get hired as a plant engineer in Virginia with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is a new-graduate or rotational engineering program at a large Virginia industrial employer. Dominion Energy and Huntington Ingalls Industries both run structured early-career engineering programs that place candidates into plant-adjacent roles. Entry titles such as process technician, maintenance engineer, or reliability engineer trainee are common stepping stones. Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam and completing internships at Virginia manufacturing or utility sites strengthens any early-career application significantly.

Where can I find and apply to plant engineer jobs in Virginia?

You can find and apply to plant engineer jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings updated regularly. Find the roles that fit your experience and specialization, then apply directly to each one.

See All 16 Plant Engineer Jobs in Virginia

Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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