We're looking for a Process Automation Systems Specialist to join the INEOS Acetyls team.

We need highly motivated individuals who want to be part of our growing business.

INEOS Acetyls is a global chemicals business producing acetic acid and a range of derivatives across Europe, Asia and America. We’re part of INEOS - one of the largest petrochemical companies in the world, employing around 26,000 people across 194 sites in 29 countries.

You will be based at the Hull site, which is the largest producer of acetic acid, acetic anhydride and ethyl acetate in Europe. The products we produce are essential building blocks used in almost every industry, including renewable power, automotive, pharmaceuticals, coatings and textiles.

Hull is also home to the business's global technology development and support team and is based on the 370-acre Saltend Chemicals Park - a cluster of world-class chemicals and renewable energy businesses at the heart of the UK's energy estuary.

Be part of our journey to net zero
Sustainability is at the heart of our business, and we have created a road map to achieving net zero. We’re investing in this sustainable future right now you could be part of our journey.

The Opportunity

The Process Automation System's Engineer is responsible for providing technical expertise in managing and maintaining the site process automation systems, ensuring their functionality and 100% availability of the process control network infrastructure, together with the key computer resources for supporting site process automation activities.

The post holder maintains and develops the computer systems and networks that support the site manufacturing plants’ Process Automation systems and Operator Training Simulation systems. This includes application of knowledge of Microsoft operating systems, automated patching software and anti-virus updates together with expertise in ethernet networks and Cisco hardware to ensure the 100% system availability of site Process Automation computer systems.

Key accountabilities:

Accountability 1

Uphold the “INEOS 20 BEHAVIOURAL & PROCESS SAFETY PRINCIPLES” & “Life Saving Rules” in all activities undertaken, including managing integrity and operations within the safe operating limits.

Accountability 2

As the Site System Engineer the post holder will deliver discipline technical assurance and technical support to the INEOS Acetyls UK assets and projects in Hull including:

Ensure compliance with the INEOS IGGNs.
Technical design, management and maintenance of site Process Control Network (PCN) Digital Security solutions for Hull site (manufacturing and technology), e.g. architecture design and security levels, firewalls, network monitoring, USB, remote access, AV, patching and backups.
Implementation, management, and maintenance of cyber security applications for example, network monitoring, patching, Anti-Virus, firewall, USB hardening, sFTP, Remote access.
Management and maintenance of the site PCN infrastructure, including management of external support contracts.
Cyber monitoring utilising the site cyber security applications.
Technical response to cyber security incident management.
Develop and embed standardised best practice approaches to Operational Technology (OT) network strategies across assets and site projects.
Design, implementation, and PAT project management of PCN projects, including MIS support for TAR and project scope, commissioning, and start-up
Review new capital projects for compliance with relevant standards and design guidelines.
Provide support and technical review for projects.
Support, review, and approval of MIS detailed design activities. Support to Technical Safety and Integrity Reviews e.g., HAZOP, PHA, RBI etc.
Establish and manage a practice for regular peer reviews of the control system maintenance and engineering practices with an emphasis to simplification and reliance on established industry practices.
Support Process Control engineers to enable functionality of their role
Proactively seek permanent solutions to recurring problems experienced by users.

Accountability 3

Provide oversight of the auditing and monitoring of the PCN integrity at the site. Work with the site process control community to develop action plans to address issues as needed. These activities include:

Develop and maintain audit systems for the process automation discipline to provide assurance that the sites’ engineering processes and systems operate in a safe and reliable manner.
Ensure appropriate process automation KPIs are developed and reported at site level.
Conduct peer reviews to ensure robust implementation of PCN and MIS applications and strategies.
Monitoring functionality of site Condition Monitoring programs.
Maintain and develop MIS strategies, procedures, standards, and documentation to ensure consistent implementation of the automation system.
Anticipate future security threats to the system and develop plans to mitigate or prevent the impacts of these threats.

Accountability 4

Provide assurance to the sites’ management that the assets process automation systems operate in a safe and reliable manner, including:

Develop solutions for growing PCN requirements within the Process Automation Team (PAT).
Develop and maintain PAT applications residing on levels 2, 3 and 3.5 networks (hardware, OS, applications) including backup applications.
Administration, develop and maintain application servers which reside the PCN (hardware and OS) including PI, PHD, DMC, D4K, Bentley Nevada, Honeywell Forge and Operations Management, Citrix, sFTP.

Accountability 5

Develop and maintain clear accountabilities for maintenance and upkeep of the PCN, ensuring integrity and reliability through periodic inspection.

Work closely with all members of the PAT to define boundaries for responsibility between maintenance/reliability and process control on support and upkeep of the process automation systems.
Work closely with the capital projects group/construction contractor to define boundaries for responsibility and control of work when installing new nodes or applications on the PCN.
Maintain procedures relating to the above boundaries of responsibility and control of work.
Communicate and train accountabilities and expectations to the individuals within the organization.

Accountability 6

Anticipate future changes in control system functionality requirements and standards. Develop strategies to continuously improve the PCN OT systems to be in line with recognized and generally accepted engineering practices.

Maintain awareness of the direction of industry standards and best practices.
Develop regulatory/compliance gap analysis for the PCN.
Responsible for the development and tracking of any resolutions associated with this gap analysis.
Work with the site process control community, maintenance, reliability, operations, and other groups as needed to develop implementation plans to close the gap on new engineering standards.

Accountability 7

Network with other INEOS sites to ensure best practice is transferred across the Hull Site, including:

Keep abreast of all legislative and company requirements relevant to process control and automation.

Contacts outside of INEOS with various equipment manufacturer engineers, managers, and technicians with regards to technical, procurement and service issues.

Level of Education & Experience:

A qualification in computer science or relevant Microsoft and Cisco qualifications.
Minimum of 10 years’ experience in chemical, refining or industrial manufacturing and/or capital projects with prior responsibility for and familiarity with critical process control functions/practices/application.
Experience and understanding of cyber security techniques applied to automation systems.
Detailed knowledge of Microsoft Windows operating systems and their desktop applications such as Excel, Word, and Access.
Significant experience of working in a process automation environment, including experience in the MIS discipline, including Honeywell control systems.
Exceptionally strong communications skills drive, sense of urgency and problem-solving abilities will be critical for the success of this individual.
The ability to work across all disciplines and throughout all levels of the organization in a persuasive and credible manner is necessary.
The post holder should have demonstrated success in implementing engineering processes/procedures.

Technical Skills:

Experience and knowledge of chemical/maintenance operations and regulation.
Experience and knowledge of process control methods and techniques.
Experience and knowledge of DCS hardware and best practices. Honeywell training and experience is preferred.
Knowledge of Cisco hardware and Ethernet networks in general up to Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) standard.
Knowledge of networking protocols, network monitoring systems.
General knowledge of current PC Workstation and Server hardware.
Overview knowledge of Process Operations and DCS systems.
Experience and knowledge of relevant industry standards.
Creating a culture that drives incident-free operations.
Knowledge of safety and quality management systems.
Ability to grasp technical aspects of Engineering Codes and Standards.
Exposure to Root Cause Failure Analysis.
Experience of COMAH top tier chemical plant management.
Thorough knowledge of working practices, procedures at theoretical and practical level as well as legal and HSE requirements.

Behavioural Skills:

Strong communication skills – comfortable and effective communicating with all levels in the organization.
Ability to prioritize work – assure the important items are done
A proven record of being able to work successfully in a multi-discipline team environment.
Results orientation and performance bias.
Attention to detail.
A desire for knowledge management and capturing lessons learned for future improvements.
Ability to work with little direct supervision, exercise initiative and take responsibility for achieving technical targets and delivering results.
Ability to balance conflicting demands in a continuously developing environment.
Strong interpersonal skills, ability to operate across all levels in the organisation and to influence senior stakeholders without formal authority
Proven ability to communicate complex technical information to audiences at all levels of the business, including those without a technical background
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including technical presentation ability
Effective networking and stakeholder management skills
Asset safety, reliability, and overall production targets met
No overdue actions from audits and assessments
Site compliance with IGGNs
Cyber related Automation Assurance Practices reviewed and in date
Process automation KPIs developed and reported at site level