Senior Process Engineer

ZipRecruiter; Beaumont (KS); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the petrochemical industry is seeking a Senior Process Engineer to lead project development and implementation. The role involves mentoring engineers, optimizing production processes, and ensuring safety and efficiency in operations. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in chemical engineering, particularly in refinery settings, and proficiency in relevant software tools. This position is essential for driving improvements and leading capital projects.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in petrochemical or chemical plant operations.
• Experience in capital project execution including startup and commissioning.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor Unit Engineers while troubleshooting operating issues.
• Collect and monitor production data to optimize processes.
• Conduct tests on equipment and evaluate results for improvements.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Interpersonal Skills

Statistical Analysis

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Chemcad

PI / Trendminer

Job description

Job Description

The Senior Process Engineer lead fulfills all Processing Engineering responsibilities and serves as a leader in larger capital project development and implementation, mentoring less-experienced engineers, leading incident investigations, and developing best practices within production and engineering processes.

DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Direct and develop Unit Engineers.
2. Work with Operations / Logistics and other Unit Process Engineers to troubleshoot operating issues.
3. Understand and assist Operations and other Unit Process Engineers to control unit specifications on monitored processes.
4. Collect and monitor production data, applying scientific and statistical methods to analyze, document, and optimize production processes by increasing throughput, improving yield, and reducing costs.
5. Use data collection and analysis programs such as PI / Trendminer effectively.
6. Utilize Chemcad for distillation simulation, hydraulics, and heat duty calculations.
7. Maintain Chemcad – Penhex models and assist other engineers in their use.
8. Use the LP model for the Penhex Process.
9. Apply other engineering tools: heat transfer, hydraulics, control valve sizing, etc.
10. Recommend changes or upgrades to equipment and processes to improve efficiency and resource utilization.
11. Identify process bottlenecks and develop solutions.
12. Enhance process reliability, production, and quality while maintaining safety standards.
13. Generate opportunity lists for monitored units.
14. Work with other Process Engineers to prioritize project opportunities for capital projects.
15. Conduct tests on equipment/processes and evaluate results to determine improvements.
16. Develop and implement plant operating procedures to standardize processes, reduce risks, and increase efficiency.
17. Lead or participate in incident investigations and advise on corrective actions.
18. Coordinate process-driven problem investigations and develop corrective plans.
19. Participate in Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) studies and Layers of Protection Analysis (LOPA).
20. Support and lead capital projects over $25,000, ensuring safety, efficiency, schedule, and budget adherence, including collaboration with external engineering and construction firms.
21. Perform other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS / QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering required.
• 10+ years of experience in petrochemical, oil refinery, or chemical plant operations.
• Experience in capital project execution, including front-end engineering, construction, startup, and commissioning.
• Strong distillation and hydrogenation skills, with a preference for refinery experience.
• Proficiency in Chemcad or similar software for distillation simulation, hydraulics, and heat duty calculations.
• Proven leadership skills and the ability to influence across organizational levels.
• Knowledge of industry standards and practices.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships.