Electrician at Synthomer in Jefferson Hills, PA

Synthomer is a leading supplier of high-performance, highly specialised polymers and ingredients that play vital roles in key sectors such as coatings, construction, adhesives, and health and protection – growing markets that serve billions of end users worldwide. Headquartered in London, UK and publicly listed there since 1971, we employ c.3,900 employees across our 5 innovation centres of excellence and more than 29 manufacturing sites across Europe, North America and Asia. Around 20% of our sales volumes are from new and patent protected products.

At our innovation centres of excellence in the UK, Germany, China, Malaysia and Ohio, USA we collaborate closely with our customers to develop new products and enhance existing ones tailored to their needs, with an increasing range of sustainability benefits. Since 2021, we have been proud holders of the London Stock Exchange Green Economy Mark, which recognises green technology businesses making a significant contribution to a more sustainable, low-carbon economy.

The Plant Electrician is responsible for the installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of electrical systems and equipment in a chemical processing environment. This role requires strict adherence to safety standards due to hazardous materials, classified areas, and critical continuous operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Safety & Regulatory Compliance
• Strictly follow all plant safety procedures, including LOTO, confined space, and hot work permits.
• Comply with NEC, NFPA 70E, OSHA, and plant-specific safety standards.
• Work safely in hazardous (classified) locations such as Class I, II, and III environments.
• Utilize intrinsically safe equipment and understand explosion-proof installations.

Electrical Troubleshooting & Repair

• Diagnose, isolate, and repair faults on 480V, 4160V, and 25kV, 3-phase systems.
• Troubleshoot electrical issues on process-critical equipment, minimizing downtime.
• Maintain and repair:
• Switchgear and substations
• MCCs (Motor Control Centers)
• Transformers and feeders
• Provide emergency support during plant upsets, outages, and shutdowns.

Instrumentation & Process Control

• Troubleshoot and maintain process instrumentation, including:
• Pressure, flow, level, and temperature transmitters
• Control valves and positioners
• Calibrate and verify instruments for process accuracy and safety.
• Support distributed control systems (DCS), PLCs, and SCADA systems.

PLC, Automation & Drives

• Troubleshoot and maintain PLC-based control systems and automated processes.
• Assist with program modifications and diagnostics.
• Maintain and repair VFDs, soft starters, and motor controls.
• Work with industrial communication systems (Ethernet/IP, Modbus, Profibus if applicable).

Equipment Maintenance

• Disassemble, inspect, and repair:
• Pumps, compressors, and agitators (electrical components)
• Motors and M.G. sets
• Bearings, brushes, and rotating equipment parts
• Perform motor testing (megger, winding resistance, etc.).

Installation & Electrical Work

• Install and run conduit in corrosive and hazardous environments.
• Pull and terminate low, medium-voltage cables.
• Install and maintain explosion-proof and intrinsically safe systems.
• Build and modify control panels and field junction boxes.

Preventive & Predictive Maintenance

• Perform routine preventive maintenance (PMs) on critical process equipment.
• Conduct predictive maintenance, including:
• Infrared thermography
• Vibration monitoring (as applicable)
• Maintain detailed maintenance logs and compliance records.

Power Distribution Systems

• Maintain and troubleshoot plant power distribution systems.
• Safely perform switching operations for medium-voltage systems.
• Understand redundant power systems and backup generation.

Turnarounds, Shutdowns & Projects

• Participate in planned plant shutdowns (turnarounds).
• Support new installations, capital projects, and upgrades.
• Coordinate with engineers, operators, and contractors.
• Perform root cause failure analysis (RCFA) and implement corrective actions.

Work Environment

• Work in harsh industrial conditions (heat, chemicals, noise).
• Use ladders, scaffolding, and MEWPs.
• Wear required PPE including FR clothing, respirators, and chemical protection when necessary.

Qualifications

• Experience in industrial electrical maintenance, preferably in chemical, petrochemical, or refinery environments
• Strong knowledge of:
• Hazardous location classifications (Class I, Div 1 & 2)
• NEC and NFPA 70E
• Experience with instrumentation, process control systems, and DCS/PLC environments
• High level of mechanical and electrical aptitude
• Strong troubleshooting and diagnostic skills

Core Competencies

• Strong initiative and ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills
• Effective team collaboration with operations and engineering
• Ability to interpret P&IDs, one-lines, schematics, and loop diagrams

Journeyman papers or equivalent education and experience are required. 🌍 Global Benefits Overview

• 💰 Competitive, market-aligned compensation

• 🎯 Discretionary global bonus scheme

• 📈 Discretionary Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) – for senior positions

• 🚗 Company car or car allowance – varies by region and role

• 🩺 Healthcare – tailored to regional locations

• 👶 Parental leave and family support – maternity, paternity, adoption (aligned with regional policies)

• 🏡 Working options – flexibility where it matters, based on role and business needs

• 📚 Learning & development opportunities – training, online platforms, buddy/mentorship programs, Internal Synthomer University with L&D offers

• 💙 Wellbeing support – employee assistance program (EAP), mental health resources, wellbeing initiatives

• 🌱 Retirement / pension contributions – plans vary by country

• 🤝 Culture of Inclusion – where everyone can thrive

• 🏆 Performance culture, global reward & recognition programmes