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The Galveston Bay Refinery (GBR) has an opening for a Laboratory Technician located in Texas City, TX.
Position Summary
The Laboratory Instrument Maintenance Technician (IMT) is a Lab Technician position responsible for ensuring the reliability, accuracy, and availability of analytical instrumentation supporting refinery laboratory operations. The position performs preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, repair, calibration, equipment evaluation, and technical support for laboratory instruments and associated systems. The IMT works closely with laboratory technicians, chemists, supervision, maintenance personnel, and equipment vendors to maintain safe, accurate, and efficient laboratory operations.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform preventive maintenance in accordance with established maintenance schedules, safety requirements, corporate standards, laboratory SOPs, and applicable analytical methods.
- Troubleshoot and repair laboratory instrumentation and associated support equipment as requested or required.
- Calibrate and verify analytical equipment, including gas chromatographs (GCs), titrators, distillation units, flash point analyzers, and other laboratory instrumentation.
- Track instrument performance, reliability, downtime, and recurring problems using statistical quality control and statistical process control (SQC/SPC) charts and other performance indicators.
- Identify critical instruments and maintain an appropriate inventory of spare parts and maintenance materials to minimize equipment downtime.
- Prepare troubleshooting guidelines that enable laboratory technicians to perform appropriate initial troubleshooting of equipment problems.
- Provide technical information to chemists for incorporation into analytical methods and related laboratory documentation.
- Evaluate, set up, and support the commissioning of new laboratory instruments and technologies.
- Audit gas chromatography and other instrument software, configurations, and related systems.
- Work with chemists on analytical method development, equipment evaluations, technical duties, and project assignments.
- Interact with chemists and supervision to manage and control the cost of maintenance materials and services.
- Develop and maintain a working knowledge of laboratory instrumentation, instrument software, and emerging analytical technology.
- Maintain and repair specialized instruments that require an advanced level of technical expertise.
- Coordinate with equipment vendors and service providers for specialized repair, technical support, and vendor-specific training.
- Perform other related technical duties and work assignments as directed.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Instrumentation and Maintenance
- Knowledge of preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance practices for analytical laboratory instrumentation.
- Ability to troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, electronic, pneumatic, and instrument-control problems.
- Ability to interpret technical manuals, wiring diagrams, schematics, flow diagrams, and vendor documentation.
- Calibration and Analytical Systems
- Ability to calibrate, verify, and document instrument performance with accuracy, precision, and traceability.
- Working knowledge of gas chromatography, instrument detectors, carrier gas systems, sample introduction systems, and other refinery laboratory analyzers.
- Understanding of factors such as temperature, pressure, vibration, gas quality, and environmental conditions that may affect instrument performance.
- Quality and Reliability
- Ability to use SQC/SPC charts, equipment histories, and performance trends to identify recurring problems and support corrective action.
- Working knowledge of laboratory SOPs and applicable ASTM, AGA, GPA Midstream, or other relevant industry standards.
- Ability to maintain complete maintenance, calibration, and equipment-performance records.
- Safety
- Ability to recognize hazards and apply appropriate controls before and during maintenance activities.
- Knowledge of Lockout/Tagout requirements and the safe use of tools, chemicals, compressed gases, and electrical equipment.
- Commitment to using required personal protective equipment and stopping work when unsafe conditions exist.
- Communication and Teamwork
- Ability to communicate technical conditions, troubleshooting findings, and repair recommendations clearly in writing and verbally.
- Ability to work effectively with laboratory technicians, chemists, supervision, maintenance crafts, vendors, and other refinery personnel.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Minimum Qualifications Associate or Bachelor's Degree in Instrumentation Technology, Electronics Technology, Industrial Maintenance, Chemistry, Engineering Technology, or a related technical or scientific discipline. (Education must be obtained/completed prior to start da