Lead Instrumentation Engineer

Messer Americas; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 118,000 - 157,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Short-term disability

Life insurance

Paid time off

401(k) plan

Bonus program

Job summary

Messer Americas is seeking an experienced Lead Instrument Engineer to provide technical leadership for instrumentation and analyzer designs, installation, and compliance on projects across the Americas. You will develop specifications, cost bases, and engage third-party resources to deliver detailed designs for proposal and project execution.

The role emphasizes defining project scope, mentoring junior engineers, and interfacing with multiple disciplines to meet targets, while ensuring safety

Qualifications

• Experience with instrumentation devices and analyzer equipment.
• Ability to interpret and review engineering drawings and specs.
• Strong communication and collaboration across disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Ensure safety and client specifications are followed in design.
• Coordinate basic and detail engineering reviews.
• Define scope on proposal phase and optimize conceptual design for production plants.
• Prepare specifications for suppliers, engineering, and construction contractors.
• Coordinate plant construction, commissioning, and start-up.
• Monitor progress, KPIs, and inform stakeholders of deviations.
• Participate in HAZOPs and P&ID reviews.
• Oversee equipment vendors and perform FAT and supplier audits.
• Develop QA/QC plans for Instrumentation and Analyzer equipment.

Skills

Instrumentation systems

PLC/DCS hardware

Control valves & actuators

Strong communication

Willingness to travel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Chemical, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering

Graduate degree (plus)

Job description

Job Summary

The purpose of the Lead Instrument Engineer is to provide technical expertise for plant Instrumentation and analyzer designs, specifications, installation, repairs, operations and code compliance in Project Engineering and Execution for Messer in the Americas.

This position will primarily provide value to the organization by executing deliverables for project engineers/managers on active projects. This includes providing Instrumentation and Analyzer equipment design/cost bases to proposal and project managers to the necessary level of detail leveraging 3rd party resources where possible.

This position will also actively work on specifications and standards, and interfacing with other engineering disciplines as required to successfully meet project targets, and develop/mentor junior engineers in their discipline.

Why Messer?

Messer is the world's largest privately held industrial gases company and what we do matters because it is woven into every part of life, from the medical gases that patients rely on to the essential elements needed to safely and sustainably produce the goods our communities depend on.

The true strength of Messer is our people-at every level and in every role.

Join us and take pride in the impact you will make by providing solutions essential to our world and lives. Reach your highest potential at our stable, inclusive company with diverse opportunities in a growing industry, supported by people who care.

Messer stands apart because we put what matters first, and you matter.

Principal Responsibilities

• Ensure recognized industry standards, safety standards, and various client specifications are followed and accounted for in design.
• Coordinate and review the basic and detail engineering.
• Define new project scope and objectives on proposal phase, additionally support optimization of conceptual design for production plants of: Air separation, CO2, N2 and H2.
• Prepare specifications for suppliers, as well as engineering and construction contractors to bid the design, construction, and commissioning of Capital Projects. Provide complete technical review of bid packages.
• Prepare turnover packages to operations including drawings, datasheets, training documents, etc.
• Coordinate and participate in plant construction, commissioning, and start-up.
• Monitor project progress and KPIs and advise stakeholders of deviations
• Participate in HAZOPs and P&ID reviews.
• Oversight of equipment vendors and OEM's:
• a. Ability to follow project from the initial specification through design and manufacture, construction and installation, commissioning and resolution of field issues
• b. Provide detailed drawing review and feedback
• c. Critical Supplier Audits
• d. Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT)
• e. Participation in HAZOPs and risk assessments as a technical contributor
• f. Develop, plan and implement QA/QC plans relating to Instrument and Analyzer equipment and installation
• Support and execute projects in multiple geographic locations as business requires.
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of Messer Instrumentation and Analyzer Standards.
• Support development, review and approval of the control system architecture, control logic description, cause & effect diagrams.
• Maintain effective communication of progress and issues internally and externally with all stakeholders.
• Accountable for development Instrumentation and Analyzer installation drawings, data sheets, and specifications, in full compliance with recognized industry standards, safety standards, and various client specifications, including preparation of instrumentation calculations for control valves, flow orifices, relief valves and panels.
• Manage all Instrumentation and Analyzer related efforts for assigned Proposals and Projects including those executed by 3rd parties. Ensure progress is on plan and address all Requests for Information from contractors and customers.
• Responsible for preparing detail specification to Contractor hiring for construction, commissioning and startup of Capital Projects and if required coordination of on site activities.

Required Skills

• Capability of coordination and execution of plant construction, commissioning and start up.
• Expertise of all instrumentation devices including PLC/DCS hardware, control wiring, I/O, transmitters, positioners, control valves, pneumatic systems, metering systems, and analytical equipment, etc)
• Broad knowledge of state and national codes and their applications.
• A good team member and an independent contributor.
• Ability to support, develop, and maintain relationships with outside specialist consultants / engineering firms.
• Highly proficient verbal and written communication skill
• Must be willing to travel (25-40% of time) or as business requires.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Chemical, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering
• Minimum of 7-15 years relevant experience with Instrumentation and Analyzer engineering including design, installation, testing and commissioning in industrial and chemical process plants.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate Degree is a plus
• Experience with Industrial Gases or petrochemical projects a plus

The salary range for this position is $118,000 - $157,000. Messer provides medical, dental, vision, short term disability, life insurance and paid time off as well as other voluntary benefits, such as, long term disability in accordance with the terms and conditions of these Plans. Employees are eligible to enroll in Messer's 401(k) Plan. Employees may be eligible to participate in the company's bonus program.

About Messer

Messer's safety culture, commitment to providing dependable supply and innovative gas technology solutions help customers unlock opportunities to be safer, more sustainable, more productive and more efficient, so their business thrives. We nurture lasting, meaningful relationships with customers, our communities, and with one another.

We offer comprehensive benefits and appreciable pay, with steady schedules and opportunities for ongoing training and career progression. We prioritize and invest in our people at every level of our organization - the dedication, knowledge, customer focus and entrepreneurial spirit of our employees is what make Messer refreshingly different.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.

For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.