Senior Area Electrical Engineer

Messer North America, Inc.; La Porte (IN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Messer North America, Inc. is seeking an experienced Electrical Engineer to support electrical equipment and infrastructure across our industrial gas plant fleet in the Indiana region. The role focuses on technical engineering support, CBM, EMOC processes, and PM optimization.

You will work with field operations during major maintenance, upgrades and commissioning, and will supervise contractors to ensure scope quality and safety compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (required).
• Minimum 10 years of electrical engineering experience in Operations Support, Reliability or Engineering for Industrial Process Plants.
• Experience with installation, maintenance and troubleshooting of high/low voltage systems and large motors.
• Willingness to travel 25–40% of the time (60–80 nights/year).
• Knowledge of NFPA 70E and electrical safety practices.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical engineering support for electrical equipment and infrastructure across the plant fleet.
• Develop and assess CBM tools, techniques and practices; review reports and data; implement actions.
• Support EMOC processes, approve changes, and help create engineering documentation.
• Create and review electrical PMs, work instructions, and related procedures; ensure quality of PM execution.
• Support field operations during major maintenance, upgrades, plant start-up, and commissioning.
• Provide scope, estimates and execution support to Project Execution for capital projects.
• Supervise electrical contractors to ensure proper scope and quality.

Skills

Operational safety leadership

Substation / switchgear experience

Power distribution knowledge

Protection & control

NFPA 70E knowledge

Vendor/contractor coordination

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Job description

Messer owns and operates a large portfolio of industrial gas plants, including ASU, CO2, H2, He, as well as on-site plants, serving customers within a wide range of industries. Electrical infrastructure is a key component required for operation of these industrial gas plants. This position will report to the Area Maintenance and Reliability Hub Team, supporting the Area Operations Teams, providing technical engineering support and SME recommendations for all of the electrical equipment and infrastructure utilized within the facilities in the area.

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.

• Provide technical, troubleshooting and maintenance support to all ASU, CO2, H2 and He plants within the fleet for all electrical issues, including 138kV substations, High/Medium/Low voltage switchgear, Motor Control Centers, Variable Frequency Drives, Battery & UPS system, DCS & PLC Controls, large motors up to 35,000HP. Excitation controls, and reduced voltage motor starting equipment.
• Support the Regions with the development of the detailed electrical major maintenance work scope, budget, contractor selection, execution strategy.
• Identify new and assess the effectiveness of existing electrically related condition-based monitoring (CBM) tools, techniques and practices. Review electrically related CBM and reliability reports and data and agree specific actions, as indicated, with the Signature Analysis, Infrared inspection, vibration, ultrasonic, etc.
• Provide electrical technical support, review and approval of changes using the Engineering Management of Change (EMOC) process. Assist local personnel in developing proper engineering documentation for performing any changes.
• Create or review and approving the application of electrical equipment PM’s, work instructions, and related procedures. Review the quality and completeness of electrical PM execution at plant location.
• Support operations in the field for major maintenance, upgrades, new plant checkout and commissioning. Perform full loop checks and functional testing of equipment in test position, prior to plant startup. Provide support during plant restart.
• Provide electrical equipment scope, proposal estimates, technical documents and execution support to the Project Execution team for large capital improvements projects and re-life projects.
• Supervise and assess the technical competency of electrical contractors and service providers to ensure proper scope is assigned and the expected quality is received.
• Responsible for understanding, applying and training NFPA 70E to plant personnel as well as reviewing contractor electrical safety practices.
• Perform general electrical training at site locations.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated exceptional operational safety leadership.
• Proven experience in the installation, maintenance and troubleshooting of low/medium/high voltage substations, switchgear, transformers, motors, distribution systems and associated protection and support equipment.
• Proven experience in electrical short circuit analysis, relay protection settings and coordination, power quality analysis, high voltage motor starting schemes and analysis, hazardous area classification and lightning protection.
• Proven effectiveness at trouble shooting electrical issues, identify problem components and interfaces, and execute effective and efficient solutions to restore critical and needed plant control functions.
• General expertise in large high voltage motors and related control systems preferred.
• Working knowledge of National Electrical Code, NFPA 70; National Electrical Testing Assoc, NETA, Maintenance Testing Specifications; Standard for Electrical Safety, NFPA 70E.
• Management by influence – experience delivering results in a highly matrixed organization and the ability to influence others to deliver results.
• Possess strong communications skills and attention to detail.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering required.
• Minimum 10 years of electrical engineering experience in Operations Support, Reliability or Engineering and Installation of Industrial Process Plants, power distribution required.
• Able to travel 25-40% of the time (60-80 nights/year)

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.