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Process Asset Engineer

Organizational Context

INEOS is a global manufacturer of petrochemicals, specialty chemicals and oil products.  Our products touch every aspect of modern-day life.  INEOS comprises 36 businesses each with a major chemical company heritage. Our production network spans 196 sites in 29 countries throughout the world. INEOS Joliet is part of the INEOS Enterprises portfolio.  INEOS Enterprises is a global market leader in the production of intermediary chemicals that are used as an essential input into chemical value chains across a broad variety of end markets and sectors.

The INEOS Joliet facility was originally constructed by Amoco starting in 1957. It currently manufactures two separate chemical intermediate product lines which share an integrated utility and wastewater treatment units with a capacity equal to a city of 200,000 people.  At our ~775-acre site in Channahon, Illinois (about 40 miles southwest of Chicago) we produce two products - Purified Isophthalic Acid (PIA) and Maleic Anhydride (MAN). Several of the technologies used on site were originally developed by Amoco at the site.

Main Purpose

The Process Asset Engineer role is 50% strategic and 50% tactical. The primary focus is daily technical evaluation of unit performance and constraints. This includes providing reports/memos to production team and PAT to communicate evaluated risks and learnings from unplanned events and implement changes to prevent future events. Work with production team to obtain recommendations for areas where additional support can be provided. This involves continually improving operating envelope to prevent/remove nuisance alarms, developing new or existing alarms to place unit in a position to run safe and compliant and verifying that process safety information is up-to-date and complete. This role will work with other PAT members to provide technical support during upset conditions, including leading and providing technical support for RCFAs, troubleshooting complex operating issues, MOC’s, providing technical support for operations and daily maintenance and providing technical recommendations to address challenges affecting the asset. It’s also crucial to have a good working relationship with operations and maintenance to ensure the best possible coverage for all equipment.

Responsibilities & Accountabilities

Key Responsibilities

  • Occasionally Backup and fill-in for the Asset Manager role
  • Complete required Audits on a monthly basis
  • Complete any compliance action items as assigned
  • Take on responsible engineer role for MOC’s (as applicable) and act as MOC Manager as needed
  • Develop and maintain Process focused KPIs
  • Reducing/Investigating plant LOC’s
  • Support maintaining the asset protective systems integrity and equipment mechanical integrity program.
  • Own and Develop Scope for process related work during Asset Outages
  • Assist Asset Coordinators with scope development for routine work
  • Act as project engineer for small projects, including execution and creation of expense projects
  • Work with Project Engineering to ensure the reliability and maintainability of new and modified installations including design solutions and commissioning plans
  • PAT organization leader, conduct weekly PAT meetings to align PAT focus and hold team/support groups accountable to help drive efforts to completion
  • Daily risk evaluation of safety, environmental, and production
  • Supporting the production team to meet production capabilities
  • Use knowledge and technology to solve constraints and run unit efficiently
  • Define, maintain and tracks observance of operating envelope for the assigned process unit
  • Own process safety information for the assigned process unit
  • Assist with environmental calculations and environmental incident reporting as needed
  • Provide process support to site wide disciplines
  • Manage catalyst lifecycles. Monitor ongoing performance with the catalyst vendors and determine the timing of changeouts

Principal Accountabilities

  • Must take a personal and active approach to health, safety and environment and understand and follow all provincial and company health, safety and environmental requirements applicable to the work area and tasks assigned
  • Must develop, recommend and implement strategies for improving and optimizing process and cost reliability, including maintaining own day spreadsheet accurately, with agreed upon causes
  • Responsible for identifying, planning, and removing production constraints
  • Identify and address top risks/top opportunities for both the short term and long term
  • Provide appropriate risk ranking for unit health and relation to production to help PAT appropriately prioritize day-to-day activities to achieve production plan.
  • Must have the ability to effectively report process performance and verify planned production improvements
  • Own and manage the DCS Alarm System for the asset, including trending and analyzing alarm data and driving reductions in alarm counts
  • Develop into Process SME for assigned Asset

Skills & Knowledge Required

Education/Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering discipline
  • Experience in a Petro-chemical manufacturing environment
  • A demonstrated ability to apply fundamental concepts of science and engineering to solve problems in a manufacturing plant
  • Knowledgeable of petrochemical industry best practices (design, control, safety, etc.)

Skills/Competencies

  • Demonstrated successful verbal, written, and interpersonal skills and the ability to build positive relationships with internal stakeholders and vendors.
  • Excellent negotiation and rational persuasion skills.
  • Ability to appropriately deal with and prioritize multiple & changing site priorities based on business needs.
  • Self-control capacity to deal with challenging situations and or individuals.
  • Ability to present complex information to senior management.
  • Must have a strong, demonstrated commitment to safety.
  • Advanced computer skills in spreadsheets, word processing, and database software
  • Self-motivated, and enjoy working in a team environment.
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced 24/7 environment
  • Strong organizational, interpersonal skills and advanced communication skills; both written and verbal
  • Advanced computer skills in spreadsheets and word processing.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job the individual will perform primarily office tasks requiring repetitive use of hands; however, may occasionally be required to enter production areas to understand and scope project needs. Minimum requirements include:

  • Maintaining constant awareness of personal safety and the safety of all other personnel. This includes knowledge of INEOS 20 Safety Principles and other safety procedures and rules.
  • Being able to pick up a 25lb object such as a fire extinguisher or a large book/binder.
  • Being able to work at a desk and operate routine items such as a computer and calculator; close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, viewing a computer terminal and extensive reading.
  • Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make discriminations in sound.
  • Able and willing to meet with stakeholders or vendors within the facility including providing tours.
  • Being able to wear the appropriate PPE when inside the facility.