Process Engineer: Plant Optimization & Process Safety

Socket.dev; Pryor Creek (OK); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

LSB Industries in Pryor, OK is seeking a Process Engineer to own operating envelopes, safe limits, and process control philosophies. You will partner with Operations, Reliability, Maintenance, Environmental, and Project Engineering to improve safety, reliability, and profitability.

This onsite role requires a Bachelor’s in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering, 2–10 years in refining or chemical manufacturing, and strong data‑driven problem-solving, alarm management, and root cause analysis skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering from a four-year college or university.
• Two to ten years of related experience in a refining, petrochemical, or chemical manufacturing facility.
• Preferred background includes direct engineering experience in an ammonia, urea, and/or ammonium nitrate plant, experience in a PSM-regulated process, and experience with process control engineering.
• Demonstrated knowledge of process troubleshooting, heat and material balance development, process data analysis, root cause analysis, field troubleshooting, basic project scoping support, process control systems, alarm response, and operating procedure development.
• Working knowledge of Process Safety Management requirements, including PHA participation, MOC documentation, pre-startup safety reviews, procedure updates, incident investigations, and closure of assigned action items.
• Ability to develop practical engineering scopes, coordinate input from Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, Environmental, and Project Engineering, and support cost, schedule, safety, reliability, and compliance alignment.
• Strong data-driven problem-solving skills and the ability to recommend practical improvements that can be implemented safely in a PSM-regulated operating environment.
• Desire to work with shift operations teams to improve unit operations and develop process optimization strategies with operators.
• Ability to communicate effectively with all members of the plant organization and work cross-functionally with Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, Environmental, and Project Engineering.

Responsibilities

• Process Stewardship: Maintain operating envelopes, safe operating limits, and process operating guidelines; define and maintain process control philosophies, critical process parameters, and control strategies; establish process performance indicators and monitor process health, stability, and capability; identify process constraints and optimization opportunities through process data analysis; and serve as the technical authority on process behavior.
• Process Monitoring and Deviation Analysis: Monitor plant performance, investigate deviations from expected operating conditions, lead process-related troubleshooting during upsets and abnormal conditions, analyze trends, operating data, laboratory results, and control system data, develop sustainable corrective actions for recurring process problems, and support Operations in restoring stable operation while maintaining compliance with operating limits.
• Alarm Management and Control Systems: Lead alarm rationalization activities, ensure alarms support safe and effective operator response, evaluate nuisance alarms and alarm flooding risks, work with Process Control Engineers and Operations to improve process control performance and reduce variability, and ensure control strategies remain aligned with process safety and operational objectives.
• Process Root Cause Analysis: Lead process-related root cause investigations involving process design, operating limits, process chemistry, material and energy balances, control systems, human-machine interface issues, and process performance degradation. Partner with Operations, Reliability, Maintenance, and Environmental personnel to implement corrective actions and verify effectiveness.
• Process Safety Management: Provide technical evaluation of process changes through the Management of Change process; participate in and provide technical leadership during PHA, LOPA, and PSSR activities; maintain technical documentation including process descriptions, operating envelopes, process flow diagrams, and process safety information; and ensure process hazards and risks are understood and communicated.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve process safety, unit reliability, energy efficiency, raw material efficiency, product quality, and production capability. Develop engineering recommendations supported by technical and economic evaluations, and support implementation and verification of process improvement initiatives.
• Role Accountability: The Process Engineer is accountable for process behavior, operating envelopes and limits, process deviation analysis, alarm rationalization, process-related root cause analysis, process performance monitoring, and process optimization recommendations.

Skills

Process troubleshooting

Heat & mass balance

Process data analysis

Root cause analysis

Alarm response

Process control systems

Operating procedure development

Data-driven problem solving

Cross-functional communication

Shift operations collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering

Job description

LSB Industries in Pryor, OK is seeking a Process Engineer to own operating envelopes, safe limits, and process control philosophies. You will partner with Operations, Reliability, Maintenance, Environmental, and Project Engineering to improve safety, reliability, and profitability.

This onsite role requires a Bachelor’s in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering, 2–10 years in refining or chemical manufacturing, and strong data‑driven problem-solving, alarm management, and root cause analysis skills.