Air Separation Unit Engineer

NPAworldwide; Ashtabula (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

20% annual bonus

9% company retirement contribution

Relocation assistance

Job summary

NPAworldwide is seeking a senior process engineer to act as the technical expert for a cryogenic Air Separation Unit (O2, N2, Ar) at our Ohio site. You will support daily operations, ensure product purity, and drive reliability and energy optimization across the plant.

Responsibilities include leading startups and shutdowns, developing procedures, mentoring operators, and participating in RCFA/FMEA, HAZOPs, and PSM activities to uphold operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Direct experience supporting or operating a cryogenic ASU is required.
• Strong technical understanding of cryogenic distillation, molecular sieve beds, turbo-expanders and rotating equipment such as compressors and pumps.
• Experience with Distributed Control Systems (DCS) and SAP/Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical expert for the site's cryogenic Air Separation Unit (O, N, and Ar production).
• Provide daily process engineering support to operations while ensuring product purity and reliable production.
• Troubleshoot complex process upsets and lead safe recovery during plant disturbances and unplanned shutdowns.
• Optimize operating parameters including temperatures, pressures, flow rates, and energy consumption.
• Lead and support plant startups, shutdowns, cool-downs, derimes, and load changes.
• Develop, maintain, and improve operating procedures and best practices.
• Train, mentor, and qualify operators while improving technical knowledge throughout the organization.
• Standardize startup, shutdown, and upset recovery procedures.
• Develop maintenance strategies for critical ASU assets including cryogenic distillation columns, molecular sieve purification beds, turbo-expanders, centrifugal compressors, pumps and valves.
• Analyze operating data to identify performance trends and reliability improvement opportunities.
• Support debottlenecking projects, capacity improvements, and energy optimization initiatives.
• Participate in outage planning, turnarounds, and major maintenance activities.
• Lead or participate in RCFA, FMEA, and other reliability initiatives.
• Partner with maintenance and operations teams to prioritize equipment repairs and improve long-term asset performance.
• Participate in HAZOPs, PSM activities, risk assessments, and compliance audits.
• Promote a strong culture of process safety and operational excellence.

Job description

• Serve as the technical expert for the site's cryogenic Air Separation Unit (O, N, and Ar production).
• Provide daily process engineering support to operations while ensuring product purity and reliable production.
• Troubleshoot complex process upsets and lead safe recovery during plant disturbances and unplanned shutdowns.
• Optimize operating parameters including temperatures, pressures, flow rates, and energy consumption.
• Lead and support plant startups, shutdowns, cool-downs, derimes, and load changes.
• Develop, maintain, and improve operating procedures and best practices.
• Train, mentor, and qualify operators while improving technical knowledge throughout the organization.
• Standardize startup, shutdown, and upset recovery procedures.
• Develop maintenance strategies for critical ASU assets including:
• Cryogenic distillation columns
• Molecular sieve purification systems
• Centrifugal compressors
• Pumps
• Valves
• Analyze operating data to identify performance trends and reliability improvement opportunities.
• Support debottlenecking projects, capacity improvements, and energy optimization initiatives.
• Participate in outage planning, turnarounds, and major maintenance activities.
• Lead or participate in Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA), Failure Modes & Effects Analysis (FMEA), and other reliability initiatives.
• Partner with maintenance and operations teams to prioritize equipment repairs and improve long-term asset performance.
• Participate in HAZOPs, Process Safety Management (PSM) activities, risk assessments, and compliance audits.
• Promote a strong culture of process safety and operational excellence.

Job Description

• Serve as the technical expert for the site's cryogenic Air Separation Unit (O, N, and Ar production).
• Provide daily process engineering support to operations while ensuring product purity and reliable production.
• Troubleshoot complex process upsets and lead safe recovery during plant disturbances and unplanned shutdowns.
• Optimize operating parameters including temperatures, pressures, flow rates, and energy consumption.
• Lead and support plant startups, shutdowns, cool-downs, derimes, and load changes.
• Develop, maintain, and improve operating procedures and best practices.
• Train, mentor, and qualify operators while improving technical knowledge throughout the organization.
• Standardize startup, shutdown, and upset recovery procedures.
• Develop maintenance strategies for critical ASU assets including:
• Cryogenic distillation columns
• Molecular sieve purification systems
• Turbo-expanders
• Centrifugal compressors
• Pumps
• Valves
• Product purification equipment
• Analyze operating data to identify performance trends and reliability improvement opportunities.
• Support debottlenecking projects, capacity improvements, and energy optimization initiatives.
• Participate in outage planning, turnarounds, and major maintenance activities.
• Lead or participate in Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA), Failure Modes & Effects Analysis (FMEA), and other reliability initiatives.
• Partner with maintenance and operations teams to prioritize equipment repairs and improve long-term asset performance.
• Participate in HAZOPs, Process Safety Management (PSM) activities, risk assessments, and compliance audits.
• Promote a strong culture of process safety and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Direct experience supporting or operating a cryogenic Air Separation Unit (ASU) is required.
• One of the following:
• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field with approximately 5-8 years of ASU experience, or
• High school diploma or technical training with 15-20 years of extensive hands‑on ASU experience.
• Strong technical understanding of:
• Cryogenic distillation systems
• Molecular sieve purification beds
• Turbo-expanders
• Rotating equipment including compressors and pumps
• Experience working with Distributed Control Systems (DCS).
• Ability to troubleshoot complex process and equipment issues in a continuous manufacturing environment.
• Ability to read and interpret:
• P&IDs
• Electrical schematics
• Process flow diagrams
• Thermodynamic flow charts
• Experience with reliability methodologies such as RCFA and FMEA is preferred.
• Knowledge of OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM), industrial safety practices, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Experience using SAP and Microsoft Office.
• Strong analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Six Sigma or other continuous improvement training is a plus.

Why Is This a Great Opportunity

Join a well-established chemical manufacturing operation as the technical leader for a cryogenic Air Separation Unit (ASU). This role serves as the subject matter expert for oxygen, nitrogen, and argon production, providing day-to-day operational support while driving reliability, efficiency, process optimization, and safe plant performance. You'll work closely with operations, maintenance, and engineering teams to troubleshoot complex process issues, improve equipment reliability, and lead continuous improvement initiatives within a Process Safety Management (PSM) environment.

• 20% annual bonus opportunity
• 9% combined company retirement contribution
• Relocation assistance available