Sr. Engineer - Process Automation HNO

TPC Group; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

TPC Group in Houston, TX is seeking a skilled Senior Process Automation Engineer to join the Process Automation Department. This role involves designing, developing, and maintaining automation systems to enhance production efficiency. Qualified candidates should have a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical or Electrical Engineering and a minimum of 5 years of experience in the petrochemical or similar industries. Familiarity with DCS, PLC, and industry standards is essential. The position involves collaboration across teams to optimize plant production processes and ensure safety compliance.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of industry experience.
• Proven experience in petrochemical, oil and gas, or similar manufacturing.
• Familiarity with industry standards and protocols like OPC, Modbus, Profibus.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement process control strategies.
• Collaborate with teams to identify automation needs.
• Troubleshoot and diagnose automation system issues.

Skills

Process control systems

Instrumentation

Industrial automation technologies

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or Electrical Engineering

Tools

DCS

PLC

SCADA systems

Job description

Location: Houston Plant, 8600 Park Place Rd., Houston, TX 77017, USA

We are seeking a skilled Senior Process Automation Engineer to join our team. This individual will be an integral member of the Process Automation Department within the Technology and Sustainability Group, responsible for implementing process control strategies, automated programming, and processes that will facilitate the successful execution of TPC Group’s strategic growth initiatives. Reporting to the Manager of Process Automation, the engineer will be tasked with designing, developing, implementing, and maintaining automation systems to optimize production processes and ensure operational efficiency. The Process Automation Engineer will collaborate closely with cross‑functional teams to identify automation opportunities, resolve issues, and foster continuous improvements in our plant operations.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Design and implement process control strategies, including regulatory control, control sequence, logic, and advanced control.
• Collaborate with production engineers, operations, and maintenance teams to identify automation needs and requirements.
• Configure and program Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), Human‑Machine Interfaces (HMI), and other control systems.
• Conduct system integration, testing, and commissioning of automation solutions.
• Perform troubleshooting, diagnosis, and resolution of automation system issues to ensure uninterrupted plant operations.
• Regularly review and improve alarm management systems (alarm rationalization).
• Participate in and represent process automation in HAZOP and other safety and reliability processes and studies.
• Participate in PHAs, PSSRs, incident investigations, and unit troubleshooting.
• Provide automation engineering in the specification, design, development, installation, commissioning, and validation of process control systems for capital projects.
• Provide training and support to plant personnel on the operation and maintenance of automation systems.
• Adhere to safety, environmental, and regulatory standards in all automation activities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of industry experience.
• Proven experience working as a Process Automation Engineer in the petrochemical, oil and gas industry, or a similar manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of process control systems, instrumentation, and industrial automation technologies.
• Hands‑on experience with DCS, PLC, SCADA systems, and other automation software and hardware.
• Familiarity with industry standards and protocols like OPC, Modbus, Profibus, etc.
• Excellent problem‑solving skills and the ability to work independently or in a team environment.
• Effective communication skills and the ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders.
• Prior experience with HAZOP studies, SIL assessments, and process safety management is a plus.
• Certification in relevant automation technologies or systems is desirable.

Preferred Qualifications

• Emerson DeltaV DCS/SIS experience is preferred.
• Experience with networking and understanding of cyber security is a plus.
• Able to design and implement basic and advanced control schemes as well as complex sequence logic.
• Experience with Advanced Process Control Strategies; Aspen DMC3 is a plus.

All applicants must be eligible to work for any employer in the United States without needing any company sponsorship.

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.