Relief Valve Technical Authority

INEOS USA LLC; League City (TX); On-site; USD 161,100 - 200,365; Full time

Job summary

INEOS USA LLC is seeking a Relief Valve Technical Authority to oversee the integrity of pressure relief systems throughout the organization. This role involves defining design standards, managing data, and ensuring compliance across multiple sites.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in pressure relief engineering, strong communication skills, and a commitment to safety and improvement processes. The position offers a hybrid work arrangement with a salary range between $161,100 and $200,365.

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of experience in pressure relief systems engineering or related fields.
• Strong familiarity with API standards and certifications in pressure relief engineering.
• Experience with data management systems and data quality leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical guidance on all pressure relief devices across the enterprise.
• Maintain and improve the enterprise relief valve database.
• Collaborate with sites to ensure compliance with safety and regulatory standards.

Skills

Pressure relief systems engineering

Mechanical integrity

API 520, 521, 576

Data management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Salus

PCMS

Job description

Overview

Company: INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA
Job title: Relief Valve Technical Authority
Grade: 37
Offer Range: $161,100 - 200,365 (commensurate with experience)
Location: TBD - Hybrid

Role purposes

The Relief Valve Technical Authority is the enterprise steward for relief system integrity and pressure protection performance across INEOS O&P USA. This role defines enterprise expectations for relief device design, sizing, inspection, testing, repair, and data management; maintains the enterprise relief valve database; and leads enterprise assurance of relief system health and program effectiveness across more than 4,000 pressure relief devices. The role supports process safety, regulatory compliance, and the company’s license to operate, and collaborates with site RV engineers, the Equipment Integrity team, maintenance organizations, and repair shops. It participates in relevant industry forums and technical committees to stay aligned with emerging codes, testing technologies, and best practices in pressure relief engineering.

Job Accountabilities

Enterprise Stewardship of Relief Systems & Lifecycle Management

• Serve as the enterprise senior technical resource for all pressure relief devices (PRDs) across INEOS O&P USA, providing guidance on relief system design, device selection, set pressure determination, inspection requirements, and testing protocols.
• Govern technical expectations and assure compliance with API 520 (sizing and design), API 521 (disposal systems), and API 576 (inspection of pressure-relieving devices).
• Own end-to-end relief valve lifecycle management, including device selection, inspection/testing intervals, record-keeping by site mechanical integrity groups, and enterprise-wide interval optimization.
• Define and maintain enterprise standards for relief valve program management to ensure consistency across sites.
• Champion long-term stewardship of pressure protection, balancing near-term operational needs with enterprise risk.

Relief Valve Data Management & System Integrity

• Maintain the enterprise relief valve database (Salus or equivalent) as the authoritative source for inventory, sizing documentation, set pressure records, and test history.
• Ensure data integrity, completeness, and accessibility to site engineers, inspection leads, and process safety personnel.
• Lead system improvement efforts, including potential integration of relief valve data into PCMS or other enterprise mechanical integrity platforms.
• Coach site-based engineers and technicians on data management practices, system utilization, and record-keeping standards.

Cross-Site Collaboration & Technical Assurance

• Partner with site-based RV engineers to coach, align, and support program execution across locations.
• Collaborate with Process Safety teams to align with PHA/LOPA, SIL, and other risk assessments; provide technical review for relief-related changes (MOC, capital projects).
• Participate in failure investigations and root cause analyses involving relief device performance; calibrate site engineers to enterprise standards and decision-making practices.

Maintenance Interface, Shop Quality & Vendor Oversight

• Maintain relationships with RV maintenance/repair shops to monitor program performance, repair quality, and testing accuracy.
• Ensure vendor quality through regular engagement, technical audits, and clear expectations for testing, repair, and refurbishment.
• Work with site mechanical integrity teams to evolve testing, inspection management, and record-keeping practices; stay current on testing technologies and failure analysis methods.
• Drive continuous improvement in shop quality, repair traceability, and vendor performance.

Turnaround & Capital Project Support

• Support turnaround planning to ensure relief valve scope is prioritized and aligned with enterprise standards.
• Provide technical input on capital projects involving relief systems, including sizing verification, device selection, and disposal system design.
• Contribute to post-turnaround findings, updates to relief valve programs, and input on major operational changes.
• Influence relief valve spend across ~20 turnarounds on rotating multi-year cycles.

RV Engineer Discipline Development & Coaching

• Provide functional development and coaching to site-based RV engineers; contribute to competency standards for the relief valve engineering domain.
• Build a network of site-based RV engineers and process safety personnel to share learnings and practices.
• Mentor site engineers in API 520, 521, and 576; support integration with PHA/LOPA, SIL verification, and risk management.

Performance Monitoring & Continuous Improvement

• Develop and maintain enterprise KPIs for relief valve program execution (testing currency, repair quality, set pressure compliance, database integrity).
• Track relief device failures and in-service events; drive corrective actions into programs and shop processes.
• Drive continuous improvement in program maturity across sites, incorporating lessons from incidents, audits, and benchmarking.

External Standards & Regulatory Alignment

• Ensure alignment with applicable RAGAGEP (API 520, 521, 576) and evolve with industry practices.
• Monitor API standard changes, OSHA guidance, ASME standards, and case studies to inform internal expectations.
• Support audit preparation and regulatory engagement related to relief systems and pressure protection; participate in external industry forums and committees.

Skills & Qualifications

Education & Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field; advanced degree preferred. Minimum 15 years of experience in pressure relief systems engineering, mechanical integrity, or related technical disciplines in refining, petrochemical, or large-scale process industries. Strong familiarity with API 520, 521, 576; certifications or training in pressure relief engineering preferred. Experience with Salus or similar relief device management systems; data quality leadership. Familiarity with PCMS or other enterprise mechanical integrity platforms is a plus. Demonstrated credibility and technical judgment in high-consequence mechanical integrity and process safety decisions. Active participation in external industry forums (e.g., API committees) preferred.

Technical skills
Recognized authority on pressure relief systems with deep expertise in relief device design, sizing, and selection; extensive knowledge of API 520, 521, 576, ASME Section VIII and XIII; RAGAGEP familiarity. Strong knowledge of relief device types, failure modes, testing methodologies, and program management. Ability to interpret test data and failure analyses to inform strategy. Knowledge of disposal system design (flares, vents, containment) and its interaction with relief devices. Working knowledge of OSHA 1910.119 (PSM) as it relates to relief system management and mechanical integrity. Active engagement with external industry networks and adoption of new technologies.

Behavioral skills
Strong communication, clear technical recommendations to engineers and leadership; credibility built on technical depth and data rigor. Relationship-building with site engineers, process safety teams, and shop personnel. Detail-oriented data quality and program performance tracking. Ability to coach across functions and align with enterprise standards while respecting local constraints. Strong workload prioritization and cross-functional collaboration across process safety, inspection, maintenance, operations, and projects. Commitment to safety, integrity, and inclusion in the workplace.

Note: This description reflects the role and responsibilities; it may be updated to reflect organizational needs. Safety is a core value; INEOS emphasizes diversity, inclusion, sustainability, and community engagement. For more about the company, visit www.ineos.com.