Sr. Systems Engineer / Specialist – Operational Technology (OT)

Company: INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA

Interested in joining a winning team? A team whose employees are empowered to make a difference?

Salary Range $122,229 - $174,556 (commensurate with relevant work experience and/or required education)

Location Alvin, Texas

Organizational Context And Job Purpose

The Olefins & Polymers USA division of INEOS is one of the largest producers of olefins and polyolefins in North America. From its manufacturing locations at Chocolate Bayou and the Battleground Manufacturing Complex, it is a merchant marketer of butadiene, ethylene, polypropylene and high-density polyethylene with annual revenue of over $4b.

Located 40 miles south of Houston, the Chocolate Bayou Site in Southeastern Texas houses two Olefins units producing about 4 billion pounds annually of ethylene, two Polypropylene units producing around 1 billion pounds annually of polypropylene, and Light Ends storage & transfer facilities at Stratton Ridge.

How The Role Fits In

This OT Systems Engineer role is part of the Process Control and Optimization group, part of the Central Applied Technology organization. Engineers in this group support advanced applications, process control infrastructure systems, and projects across O&P USA. This role would provide advanced support for control systems and networks as well as perform hands-on work for projects, primarily at our Houston-area facilities.

Responsibilities And Accountabilities

The role entails understanding and implementing the INEOS 20 Principles and ensuring effective communication of these principles within the work group.

Accountabilities:

• Lead the implementation of the ticketing system for process control and manage incoming tickets with appropriate documentation.
• Ensure compliance with INEOS cybersecurity guidelines and rules.
• Lead the implementation and maintaining of cybersecurity solutions on all OT systems including but not limited to DCS, SIS, IE , analyzer and other networks.
• Manage and maintain OT systems, including building, imaging, and deploying virtual and physical machines related to Honeywell and other third-party applications.
• Train and mentor site Digital System Specialists in the selection, installation, configuration, maintenance, and troubleshooting of TPS and EPKS hardware and networks.
• Collaborate with operations to resolve software and system bugs, ensuring high standards of customer service.
• Assist site Digital System Specialists during complex, non-routine activities.
• Audit process control networks, apply patches, and ensure system updates and availability.
• Support additional software applications such as PI, PHD, IP21, Aspen DMC, D4K, Integrity, PSS, network performance monitoring software, and system and data backup software, which interface with Honeywell systems for data collection, point configuration, or process reliability.
• Lead all systems-related projects, including DCS Systems Migration and application-related migrations/upgrades.
• Collaborate with the Networking group to uphold patching and cybersecurity standards across all systems.
• Work proactively with Lead Process Control Engineers and other discipline engineers to ensure systems are incorporated in project scopes and executed according to project schedules.
• Lead backup and disaster recovery plans for the site.
• Manage applications licensing and asset management inventory for on-site systems, including all OT assets.
• Serve as a system administrator for all DCS applications, ensuring high availability of systems and applications.
• Work with Honeywell TAC and other applications customer support to address system and application issues.
• Support all phases of assigned capital projects, including equipment selection, installation, configuration, start-up, checkout, and supervision of contracted personnel for specialized equipment installation. Identify reliability issues and recommend system improvements.
• Collaborate with the site network administrator to manage and update the site OT network architecture.

Education And Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, preferably in Chemical or Electrical Engineering.
• 5 years of process control engineering experience required.
• 5 years of operational technology system management experience required.
• Experience with Microsoft Windows Servers 2012, 2016, 2019; Microsoft certifications preferred.
• ISA62443 certification preferred.

Key skills and competencies are:

• Client Service Oriented, Skilled in partnering with internal customers at all levels to define problems, identify solutions, and facilitate change.
• Impact and influence, able to persuade others to a particular course of action.
• Teamwork, shares accountability for team results and utilizes interpersonal skills to improve team performance.
• Strong analytical and conceptual thinker, adept at recognizing details and systemic issues to develop innovative business solutions.
• Innovative and information seeking, monitors internal and industry trends to identify new opportunities. Organizes work effectively and uses available resources.
• Anticipate problems and adjust accordingly.
• Demonstrated ability to manage progress and deliver multiple and competing priorities.
• Professional experience in the administration of a network of servers, desktop systems and communication devices.
• Capable of managing multiple projects and tasks simultaneously.
• Expertise in data protection, business continuity, and disaster recovery strategies, configuration, and implementation.
• Experience with support of IT/OT systems, including network implementation & segmentation, PLC's and field devices, and IT systems preferred.
• Understands both Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) / Distributed control Systems (DCS) , Windows based PC's and server VM's and industrial network architectures and how to effectively support these technologies.
• Possess knowledge on Cisco Networking & Virtualization platforms such as VMWare, VXRail, vSAN and NSX. Willingness to learn and develop new skills.

Other Requirements

Must be able to perform office tasks to include but is not limited to computer work that involves but is not limited to generation of reports, scheduling, data entry, calculations, research and electronic mail. Computer tasks may be performed up to 4-6 hours per day. These tasks may include but would not be limited to frequent:

• prolonged sitting
• prolonged mouse and keyboard usage
• prolonged visual focusing
• reaching in various planes
• other physical tasks as needed

Our culture is one of honesty and integrity with an emphasis on safety, health and environmental performance. On our team, people are acknowledged for embracing new practices that help create real value for customers.