H

Hydrite

Chemical products and technical support provider

Reliability Engineer

Full-Time
No salary listed
Junior, Mid
Bachelor's
Terre Haute, IN, USA
In Person
Mechanical EngineeringMechanical Maintenance and Reliability Engineering

About the job

Requirements
  • A Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Chemical Engineering is required.
  • One to three years of chemical, food processing, or manufacturing experience with supervisory or management experience is required.
  • Experience with Computerized Maintenance Management Systems, including their design, function, and processes, is required; Maximo is preferred.
  • Strong computer skills and knowledge of PowerPoint, Word, and Excel are required.
  • Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with employees and management.
  • Ability to read, write, and speak English.
  • Communication and interpersonal skills, along with the ability to plan, organize, guide projects, and consult with others at the facilities.
Responsibilities
  • Champion safety principles, job planning, and process safety initiatives.
  • Ensure assets operate within design parameters and meet regulatory standards.
  • Maintain robust safety practices and assist with hazard assessments to prevent future incidents.
  • Develop and implement reliability strategies for critical equipment or systems using maintenance best practices and key performance indicators to improve equipment reliability, operational safety, and performance.
  • Develop design, installation, testing, and inspection criteria for equipment and suppliers.
  • Inspect new installations to ensure they meet specifications and recommend modifications to current installations when needed.
  • Define, develop, and maintain an asset maintenance plan and Mechanical Integrity program.
  • Support site Mechanical Integrity element owners and other Process Safety Management, Risk Management Plan, and CalARP programs.
  • Develop continuous improvement opportunities to remove waste and control costs around plant maintenance.
  • Become knowledgeable about the functionality of the Computerized Maintenance Management System, Maximo, and historian software such as Delta-V PI to improve maintenance operations.
  • Develop, implement, and maintain a process for communicating plant maintenance and reliability key performance indicators so quality information is available to evaluate equipment life, performance, and issues.
  • Investigate equipment failures and bad actors, determine root causes, and implement corrective actions to eliminate failures.
  • Develop preventive maintenance schedules, monitor their effectiveness, and update them as needed.
  • Collaborate with facilities maintenance and operations teams to drive safety, quality, reliability, and performance.
  • Provide technical and operational support for the site regarding plant equipment and operations.
  • Assist in training and developing maintenance personnel on technical and procedural practices.
  • Identify and attend regular training to improve department knowledge and capabilities, including membership in relevant organizations.
Desired Qualifications
  • Maximo experience is preferred.
  • Business intelligence experience is preferred.

About the company

H

Hydrite

View
cbWebsite

Hydrite provides chemical products along with on-site and remote technical support to a wide range of industries, including agriculture, food processing, and water treatment. Its offering combines specialty chemicals with the expertise of chemists and engineers who diagnose problems and tailor formulations to client needs. Hydrite differentiates itself through deep technical service, problem-solving capabilities, and a growing portfolio from acquisitions like the Organic Defoamer Group and Servco Chemical, plus a focus on sustainability. The company aims to help customers improve performance and sustainability with customized chemical solutions and dedicated support while expanding its market reach.

Company Size

501-1,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Brookfield, Illinois

Founded

1929

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Hydrite announced a $63 million Laurens expansion on February 10, 2026.
  • South Carolina awarded Hydrite a $300,000 Set-Aside grant for site preparation.
  • Hydrite won 2025 Top Workplaces recognition, supporting recruitment and retention across 2026.

What critics are saying

  • Hydrite's Laurens plant targets 2028 startup, delaying Southeast returns and exposing execution slippage.
  • Enterprise Specialty Products integration since September 2025 creates customer-retention risk in Laurens relationships.
  • Hydrite's 1,167-person workforce and 112 2026 postings signal dependence on hiring to fund growth.

What makes Hydrite unique

  • Hydrite blends chemical distribution with technical services across food, water, and industrial applications.
  • Hydrite's September 2025 Enterprise Specialty Products acquisition added Southeast foam-control expertise.
  • Hydrite's April 2026 tec5USA agreement strengthens real-time sanitation control for food manufacturers.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • 401(k) Company Match
  • Paid Vacation
  • Wellness Program
  • Legal Services

Company News

BizTimes Media
Aug 31st, 2026
Notable leaders in human resources: Erin Lau.

Notable leaders in human resources: Erin Lau. Class of 2026 August 31, 2026 Erin Lau has been with Hydrite for more than nine years, beginning as a summer intern. After joining the Brookfield-based company full time as a recruiting specialist, she created a college recruiting program. Lau has served in her current role as director of recruiting and employee relations since September 2025. As her responsibilities expanded into employee relations, Lau became an advisor to employees at every level at Hydrite. She also plays a role in succession planning and leadership development. "Her leadership has helped strengthen Hydrite's culture and contributed to its recognition as a Wisconsin Top Workplace," said Lynda Kohler Welsh, president and CEO of SHARP literacy in Milwaukee. Lau has served on SHARP Literacy's board of directors for a relatively short time, according to Welsh, but her impact "has been immediate and meaningful. Her expertise in human resources has been invaluable." Lau also leads Hydrite Helps, the company's philanthropic initiative. Under her leadership, employee participation increased from approximately 20% to more than 80%, helping earn Hydrite the 2024 Corporate Citizen of the Year Award from BizTimes Media.

The Clinton Chronicle
Feb 12th, 2026
Welcome, Coastal Precast Systems

Welcome, Coastal Precast Systems. 5 industrial prospects are before the Laurens County Council for 3rd - final - 2nd & 1st readings. Laurens County Development Corporation announcement of Coastal Precast Systems' Clinton location Posted Thursday, February 12, 2026 12:49 pm Vic MacDonald-Editor Laurens County will partner with Spartanburg County to develop an industrial park near Clinton, and the first tenant will be Coastal Precast Systems LLC and Dubrook Properties LLC for a $9 Million investment. The Clinton Chronicle posted the name of the company, based on a legally required ad for a 3rd and final public hearing before the Laurens County Council, but took the post down at the request of a public official. There was a fear that naming the company in a news setting would jeopardize the project before the name was revealed at the Feb. 9 Laurens County Council meeting (the advertisement appeared on Jan. 28). Jon Coleman, executive director of the Laurens County Development Corporation, told the council that the 5 projects on its agenda for action would invest more money in just the first 2 months of 2026 than the county saw invested in all of 2025. Hydrite Chemical Co. announced a $68.6 Million investment in the Laurens' Hunter Industrial Park. It will be the first tenant once a new park agreement is given final approval, and the other industries there then will be listed as Hunter tenants. It was not acted on for 3rd reading last Monday, but at the Jan. 12 meeting, 2nd reading was given to an ordinance forming the Clinton Multi-county Industrial Park. Laurens County gets 99% of the fee-in-lieu-of-taxes revenue there, and Spartanburg County gets 1% - the 99% figure is then divided this way: 25% to School District 56, 25% to Laurens County, 25% to the City of Clinton, and 25% to the Laurens County economic development fund. Coastal Precast Systems, based in Virginia, will locate behind the Pilot station on Hwy 56 on tracts of 32.81 acres, 11.99 acres, and 7.19 acres, according to its FILOT agreement. The company is "a manufacturer of precast and prestressed concrete components for bridge and marine infrastructure," according to a SC Commerce Department announcement (it was referred to as Project Diamond before it was publicly named ahead of the FILOT ordinance public hearing). "The newspaper said they make pre-cast bridges, but they are a lot more than that," Coleman told the county council. The company's main office is in Chesapeake, Virginia. It has an office in Wilmington, North Carolina (2014), and an Eastern Shore office in Cape Charles, Virginia (2019), with a South Carolina office coming soon (2025), according to its website. It started as a trucking company in 1946 in Brookeville, Pennsylvania. It expects to employ 70 people at the Clinton location, which is within the city limits adjacent to I-26. When Hydrite Chemical goes into the Hunter Industrial Park, that long-established area will continue to be a Laurens County - Greenville County partnership. Laurens County gets 99% of the revenues there, and Greenville County gets 1%. Of the 99%, this is the distribution: 25% to the City of Laurens, 25% to the Hunter Economic Development Fund (under a March 14, 2021 agreement), 25% to Laurens County, and 25% to School District 55. These two projects - Coastal Precast/Project Diamond and Hydrite Chemical/Project Floyd - were approved on 3rd and final reading Feb. 9 by the Laurens County Council. No one spoke at legally-required public hearings - the projects are code-named until final action for competitive reasons. There are 3 other projects before the council on 2nd and 1st readings. Project Palmetto (company not named) is a New York firm's headquarters relocation of a company already in The Connexial Center near Gray Court, a $20.2 Million investment to bring in 57 jobs (second reading). The proposed FILOT agreement sets the investment at $19,216,000 and says the land description will be provided later to the county. Project Basel (company not named) is an amendment to a current agreement, providing a $40 Million investment, bringing the company's total investment in Laurens County to over $110 Million. A document lists these previous investments by this company: 2015, $17.6M, 38 jobs; 2019, $12.1M, 25 jobs; and 2021, $49.56M, 39 jobs. No property description accompanies the paperwork. Finally, revealed for the first time at the Feb. 9 meeting, Project Oracle is projected also for Connexial - a partnership of Laurens and Greenville counties on I-385 - with an investment of $120,815,000. This is a Tier 1 auto supplier expecting to create 277 new jobs, Coleman said. A document said The Connexial Center will be enlarged to include additional property for Project Oracle. More about Coastal Precast Systems here. More about Hydrite Chemical Company here. More about investing in Laurens County here.

GoLaurens.com
Feb 10th, 2026
Hydrite Chemical Co. to build 50,000 sq. ft. facility in Laurens County

Hydrite Chemical Co. to build 50,000 sq. ft. facility in Laurens County. * STAFF REPORT * Feb 10, 2026 Updated Feb 10, 2026 COLUMBIA, S.C. - Hydrite Chemical Co. (Hydrite), a chemical solutions manufacturer and distributor, today announced it is expanding its operations in Laurens County. The company's $63 million investment will create 13 new jobs. Founded in 1929, Hydrite offers a wide range of sustainable solutions that keep food safe, water clean and plants thriving through its three distinct business units: Food & Beverage Solutions, Manufactured Solutions, and Agriculture & Sulfur Solutions. In addition to the Laurens County plant, the company operates a network of manufacturing facilities, warehouses and laboratories located in California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin and Texas. "Building on our recent acquisition of Enterprise Specialty Products, Inc. in Laurens County, we're proud to deepen our roots in South Carolina with a new greenfield facility," said Hydrite CEO Kevin Honkamp. "The state's exceptional business climate and talented workforce make it the right place to invest, create quality jobs and better serve customers across the Southeast and beyond. We are grateful for the support from South Carolina and look forward to being a long-term partner in the Laurens County community's growth." Located in the Hunter Industrial Park in Laurens, the 43-acre greenfield site will serve as the future hub of Hydrite operations in the Southeast region, which includes the recently acquired operations of Enterprise Specialty Products, Inc. At the greenfield site, Hydrite will build a 50,000-square-foot facility with offices, laboratories, warehouses, and operations and logistics spaces to be used for chemical manufacturing and distribution. ADVERTISING "Laurens County would like to thank Hydrite for expanding operations in our county," said Laurens County Council Chairman Jeff Carroll. "Their investment and job creation will have a tremendous impact on our community. We wish them much success and look forward to a long and prosperous relationship." Operations are expected to be online in 2028. Individuals interested in joining the Hydrite team should visit the company's careers page. The Coordinating Council for Economic Development awarded a $300,000 Set-Aside grant to Laurens County to assist with the costs of site preparation and building construction.

PR Newswire
Feb 10th, 2026
Hydrite expands South Carolina operations with 43-acre facility following Enterprise acquisition

Hydrite, a Wisconsin-based chemicals provider, is expanding its South Carolina operations with the purchase of a 43-acre property in Laurens. The new facility, expected to come online in 2028, will serve as the hub for Hydrite's Southeast operations. The expansion builds on Hydrite's recent acquisition of Enterprise Specialty Products, Inc. in Laurens. Chief executive Kevin Honkamp said the greenfield facility will bring Hydrite's broader portfolio to the Southeast and enable better service to regional customers. Founded in 1929, Hydrite is one of the largest independent chemical providers in the United States. The family-owned company operates manufacturing facilities, warehouses and laboratories across eight states, employing approximately 1,000 people.

The Clinton Chronicle
Feb 10th, 2026
INDUSTRY EXPANSION - 13 jobs

INDUSTRY EXPANSION - 13 jobs. Hydrite Chemical Co. expands Laurens County operations; $63 million investment will create 13 new jobs. Posted Tuesday, February 10, 2026 10:47 am This is Project Floyd, approved on 3rd and final reading Monday night by the Laurens County Council for a fee-in-lieu-of-taxes - the FILOT agreement says the investment is $68.6 Million, and inducement resolution was adopted on Nov. 10, 2025. SC Department of Commerce Hydrite Chemical Co., a chemical solutions manufacturer and distributor, today (Feb. 10) announced it is expanding its operations in Laurens County. The company's $63 million investment will create 13 new jobs. Founded in 1929, Hydrite offers a wide range of sustainable solutions that keep food safe, water clean and plants thriving through its three distinct business units: Food & Beverage Solutions, Manufactured Solutions, and Agriculture & Sulfur Solutions. In addition to the Laurens County plant, the company operates a network of manufacturing facilities, warehouses and laboratories located in California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin and Texas. Located in the Hunter Industrial Park in Laurens, the 43-acre greenfield site will serve as the future hub of Hydrite operations in the Southeast region, which includes the recently acquired operations of Enterprise Specialty Products, Inc. At the greenfield site, Hydrite will build a 50,000-square-foot facility with offices, laboratories, warehouses, and operations and logistics spaces to be used for chemical manufacturing and distribution. Operations are expected to be online in 2028. Individuals interested in joining the Hydrite team should visit the company's careers page. The Coordinating Council for Economic Development awarded a $300,000 Set-Aside grant to Laurens County to assist with the costs of site preparation and building construction. "Building on our recent acquisition of Enterprise Specialty Products, Inc. in Laurens County, we're proud to deepen our roots in South Carolina with a new greenfield facility. The state's exceptional business climate and talented workforce make it the right place to invest, create quality jobs and better serve customers across the Southeast and beyond. We are grateful for the support from South Carolina and look forward to being a long-term partner in the Laurens County community's growth." -Hydrite CEO Kevin Honkamp "Thanks to South Carolina's strong business environment, companies like Hydrite Chemical Co. continue to find success in our state. We congratulate Hydrite on this expansion and look forward to the new opportunities this investment will create in Laurens County." -Gov. Henry McMaster "Congratulations to Hydrite on expanding operations in Upstate South Carolina. The company's $63 million investment in Laurens County demonstrates the Palmetto State's continuing economic growth and development." -Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III "Laurens County would like to thank Hydrite for expanding operations in our county. Their investment and job creation will have a tremendous impact on our community. We wish them much success and look forward to a long and prosperous relationship." -Laurens County Council Chairman Jeff Carroll FIVE FAST FACTS * Hydrite Chemical Co. (Hydrite) is expanding operations in Laurens County. * The company's $63 million investment will create 13 new jobs. * Hydrite is a chemical solutions manufacturer and distributor offering a wide range of solutions through its three distinct business units: Food & Beverage Solutions, Manufactured Solutions, and Agriculture & Sulfur Solutions. * The company's new facility will be located in the Hunter Industrial Park in Laurens, S.C. * Individuals interested in joining the Hydrite team should visit the company's careers page.