Senior Process Engineer (Chemicals)

Senior Process Engineer (Chemicals)

Location: Corpus Christi, TX

Description:

The Chemical Process Engineer will be instrumental in driving technical innovation and operational excellence within our chemical processing units. This role requires a blend of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and leadership capabilities to enhance the performance and efficiency of our operations.

Ideal Candidate has experience with:

• Minimum 10 years operating refinery petrochemical units (unit process engineer, senior process engineer)
• Naphtha Reforming, Parex, Udex, Sulfolane, Xylene Isomerization, Cumene
• Strong Chemical Engineering skills (hydraulics, heat/mass transfer, reactions, etc.)
• Catalysts (working with catalyst vendors, catalyst procurement, etc.)
• PHA/LOPA/HAZOP, strong PSM background (ideally with refinery petrochemical units)
• Thorough understanding of refinery petrochemical unit KPIs, unit monitoring, optimization, revamps, etc.
• Economic thinking (project idea generation, economic analysis, etc.)
• Process modeling (Aspen HYSYS)
• Leadership (mentoring younger engineers)

Key Responsibilities:

1. Technical Networking and Innovation:

• Establish and grow a robust technical network both within the company and in the broader industry. This involves engaging with peers, industry experts, and stakeholders to stay abreast of new technologies and best practices.
• Develop innovative ideas for value creation and perform detailed economic analyses to assess their viability and potential impact on operations.

2. Performance Monitoring and Tool Development:

• Continuously monitor the performance of assigned units, using industry benchmarks to identify areas for improvement.
• Collaborate in the creation of a comprehensive unit monitoring toolkit specifically tailored for chemical technologies such as Reforming, Extraction, Xylenes, Cumene, and Solvents. This toolkit will enable effective monitoring and troubleshooting of unit operations.

3. Auditing and Benchmarking:

• Conduct thorough audits of unit performance reports and long-term operational calculations to ensure accuracy and reliability.
• Review and provide support for benchmark studies, including Solomon and PTAI studies, to maintain competitive performance standards.

4. Project and Technical Support:

• Ensure that the technical aspects of projects align with business objectives, providing oversight and guidance to project teams.
• Mentor and support Production Engineers in activities such as unit troubleshooting, process hazard analyses (PHAs), and critical procedural tasks. Facilitate knowledge transfer and skill development to enhance team capabilities.

5. High-Profile Troubleshooting:

• Lead and support high-profile troubleshooting initiatives, leveraging technical expertise to resolve complex operational issues and improve unit reliability.

6. Experimental Design and Process Guidelines:

• Collaborate with Operations to design experiments and establish process guidelines that optimize unit performance and drive innovation.

7. Modeling and Economic Decision-Making:

• Take ownership of Process Engineer modeling programs, utilizing advanced software like Aspen HYSYS to build technology loop models. This will support economic decision-making in unit operations and enhance process efficiency.

8. Turnaround and Safety Support:

• Provide technical support for turnaround programs, ensuring that technical scoping aligns with operational goals.
• Actively contribute to process safety and environmental performance through participation in PHAs, management of changes (MOC), and investigation teams, either as a member or leader.

Basic Qualifications:

• A Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering is required.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in refining or chemical plant process engineering, with hands-on experience in units such as Reforming, Extraction, Parex, Xylene Isomerization, or Cumene.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Over 15 years of experience in a refinery setting, with a strong track record in process engineering.
• Proven experience as a Process Engineer or Project Engineer, successfully leading and implementing projects in an oil refinery.
• Expertise in process modeling simulation using tools like Aspen HYSYS.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams effectively, fostering collaboration and driving project success.