Senior Instrumentation Engineer

Jimmy Jazz; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Baystar is seeking an experienced Instrumentation Engineer to support the HDPE/HDA plant instrumentation, focusing on reliability, safety, and loss-control performance. You will read PFDs/P&IDs, work with operations and maintenance, and drive continuous improvement in instrumentation strategies.

The role requires 7+ years of plant experience, a relevant engineering degree, and the ability to work overtime and on-call shifts. Collaboration with contractors and cross-functional teams is essential.

Qualifications

• Requires a B.S. in electrical/electronic/instrumentation/control engineering or similar, with strong plant experience.
• 7+ years of related plant experience in instrumentation/controls.
• Experience with process analyzers and control schemes (valves, level, pressure, temperature).
• Familiar with Rosemount, Honeywell, Emerson, Vega instruments; DCS/PLC knowledge.
• Excellent verbal and written communication; ability to manage multiple issues/projects.

Responsibilities

• Understand and comply with all safety policies and procedures (LOTO, hot work, fall protection, etc.).
• Provide direction and technical support to Reliability Superintendent and other engineers.
• Review plant system performance and recommend operation, maintenance, or testing changes.
• Lead root cause investigations and implement countermeasures.
• Prepare and review engineering documents (data sheets, loop drawings, isometrics).
• Assist with planned/unplanned outages and coordinate with vendors.

Skills

Instrumentation troubleshooting

PFDs & P&IDs reading

Communication

On-call readiness

Education

B.S. in Electrical/ Electronic/ Instrumentation/ ICET/ Controls/Automation Engineering

Master’s Degree in Electrical/ Electronics/ Controls/Automation Engineering

Tools

Rosemount

Honeywell

Emerson

Vega instruments

DCS/PLC systems

Job description

Description

BASIC FUNCTION

Provide technical support to the instrumentation activities of the HDPE and HDA plant with the objective of continuously improving reliability and health, safety, environmental and loss control performance. Provide instrument and electrical technical information based on sound engineering practices to ensure a safe work environment for all plant personnel.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Position General

• Understand, support, and comply with all plant safety policies and procedures, including Lock-Out / Tag-Out (LOTO), hot work, fall protection, traffic, lifting and rigging, confined space entry, and line break.
• Position is located in a chemical processing facility and requires overtime to meet plant needs, including alternative shifts as needed to meet facility needs
• Position requires periodic on-call duties (about 3 out of 52 weeks per year), and the successful candidate must be able to respond 24/7, 100% of the time to plant emergencies on short notice, including nights, weekends, and holidays while on-call
• Complete all assigned training and field observations by deadline
• Contribute to continuous improvement by offering suggestions for long-term solutions to minimize costs, improve reliability, and improve loss control performance
• Ability to read and interpret PFDs and P&IDs
• Work closely with operations, other maintenance personnel, engineering, purchasing and outside contractors

Technical

• Provide direction and technical support to the Reliability Superintendent, other engineers, I&E specialists, Analyzer Specialist and DCS specialists
• Review performance of plant systems and recommend changes regarding operation, maintenance, or testing
• Optimize PMs, end of life strategy, and overall instrumentation and analyzer maintenance strategy
• Assist Operations in advanced troubleshooting instrumentation problems
• Assist in the professional development and cross training of maintenance technicians with primary focus on instruments
• Lead Root cause investigations and failure mode analysis into instrument reliability problems to implement counter measures to prevent recurrence
• Provide engineering assistance and supervision for the justification, design, and installation of capital projects
• Prepare and review engineering documents (i.e., data sheets, loop drawings, and isometric drawings, calculations, specifications, analysis, drawings, evaluations, etc.)
• Provide independent engineering support to Maintenance that requires field investigation, inspections, and solutions to problems, including instrumentation MOCs for feasibility.
• Assist with planning and execution for planned and unplanned outages
• Direct, coordinate and perform surveillance of repairs involving outside vendors
• Assist in maintaining accurate and current equipment file room documentation

Job Specific

• Field troubleshooting and potential to work outside in all weather conditions
• Ability to make decisions is critical, even if the decision is the recognition that help from others is required. It is the responsibility of every Baystar employee to exercise their Stop Work Authority as needed
• Ability to specify new equipment, repair plans, contact vendors, order materials, and troubleshoot a variety of equipment is key to success. This requires the application of maintenance fundamentals and utilization of equipment files and expertise of others

CORE VALUES

• Caring: We uphold a culture grounded in respect.
• Trustworthy: We take accountability and operate with honesty and integrity.
• Connected: We work cross functionally
• Driven for Excellence: We commit to continuous improvement.

COMPETENCIES

• Job Knowledge - Understands facets of job, aware of duties and responsibilities, keep job knowledge current
• Productivity - Manages workload, works efficiently, meets goals and objectives
• Quality - Strives to eliminate errors, accurate work is a priority, seeks opportunities to improve product/services
• Safety – HSSE - Works in a safe manner, uses PPE, recognizes hazards, makes safety suggestions and observations, current on Training Mine

QUALIFICATIONS / EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• B.S. in Electrical, Electronic, Instrumentation, ICET, or Controls/Automation Engineering (other engineering/technical degrees will be considered depending on experience)
• 7 or more years of related experience in a plant environment
• Experience with control valves, level, pressure, and temperature instruments, and control schemes
• Familiar with but not limited to Rosemount, Honeywell, Emerson, and Vega instruments
• DCS and PLC experience
• Extensive knowledge of instrumentation and analyzer systems and troubleshooting with an emphasis on instrumentation
• Excellent verbal/written communication
• Ability to plan and manage multiple issues/projects simultaneously

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS / EXPERIENCE

• Master’s Degree in Electrical, Electronics or Controls/Automation Engineering
• 10 or more years of manufacturing experience
• Experience with extruders, temperature controls systems, motor drive systems, and material conveyance systems
• Knowledge of both production and maintenance engineering
• Strong problem-solving and leadership skills

PHYSICAL CAPACITY REQUIREMENTS

This position requires the incumbent to:

• Follow site safety requirements for the role and wear mandatory FRC and PPE (foot, head, ear, eye, hand, and fall protection) when inside plant environment or where directed by signage or procedure
• Read and understand technical documents and procedures in English
• Specific vision abilities include near, far, and intermediate distances, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception
• Required to work at ground level, from ladders, and from heights greater than 250’ above grade on fixed platforms, mobile equipment platforms, and scaffolding
• Ascend and descend stairs and stationary vertical ladders with and without a safety cage
• Access confined spaces and pressure vessels through standard 24" manways
• Must be capable of lifting/carrying/pushing/pulling up to 50 pounds
• Frequent bending, reaching, stooping, crawling, walking, and climbing
• Sit or stand for extended periods of time
• Work at computer for significant periods of time throughout the day
• Required to reach overhead and at shoulder level with hands and arms
• Must demonstrate fine and gross motor coordination including pinching, gripping, turning, and keyboarding of both hands
• Move about uneven surfaces, including catwalks, deck grating, and wet and muddy areas
• Work outside in all weather conditions walking up to ½ mile per job