Senior Process Automation & SIS Leader

Westlake Chemical

Lake Charles (LA)

On-site

USD 110,000 - 160,000

Full time

14 days+

Application generator

Don’t send a generic resume — generate a resume and cover letter tailored to this exact role.

Get past ATS filters

Job summary

Westlake Chemical in Lake Charles, LA seeks a Senior Manager, Process Automation to lead the PE&O automation group serving the Lake Charles Petro Facilities. The role ensures maintenance and application of automation technologies to sustain and improve plant processes and communications.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in industrial automation, experience with SIS, and a CFSE or equivalent certification. Strong leadership, project management, and knowledge of IEC/NIST standards are essential

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in engineering preferred.
10+ years in the industrial automation sector.
BPCS experience with ABB, Honeywell, or DeltaV and Triconex Safety Systems preferred.
Strong knowledge of safety instrumented systems.
CFSE certification preferred.
Project management skills and the ability to organize and track work.
Familiarity with NFPA and API standards.

Responsibilities

Supervises and assigns work to process automation personnel.
Oversees training of process automation personnel and evaluates proficiencies.
Provides performance/developmental goals and conducts performance assessment reviews for process automation personnel per Company guidelines.
Oversees development of capital upgrade/improvement plan for process automation and safety instrumented systems' hardware and software.
Provides leadership in collaboration with the Instrument Reliability Superintendent to ensure the site's Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) program complies with IEC 61511/ISA 84 standards and Westlake policies, while supporting ongoing system reliability, performance monitoring, and lifecycle management.
Oversees and coordinates compliance with automation systems' industry standards, including IEC 62443/NIST 82 and with similar Westlake security policy.
Coordinates and prioritizes efforts of available resources to deliver on-time and on-budget completion of tasks and projects.
Coordinates Process Automation Systems coverage and technical support during planned and unplanned operational events, including unit startups, shutdowns, turnarounds, freeze protection activities, severe weather responses, and other critical operating conditions, ensuring automation system reliability, timely issue resolution, and safe plant operations.
Collaborates with the Instrument Reliability Superintendent to develop and execute the site's digitalization strategy, leveraging advanced automation, data analytics, artificial intelligence, connected worker technologies, and emerging Industry 4.0 solutions to enhance operational excellence, asset reliability, and business performance.
Provides information to IE&C Manager in order to prepare annual expense budget.
Develops and maintains procedures and standards in the automation systems' environment to continuously improve existing processes.
Develops and maintains strong relationships with all internal and external stakeholders (e.g. operations, engineering, site and corporate EHS consultants and vendors).
Researches current automation systems' industry initiatives, best practices, and standards in order to appraise applicability, leverage, and benefit the facility.
Attracts and retains strong technical resources and supports the growth and development of technical team members.
Provide monthly SIS KPI report to PSM Department by required date.