Company:
INEOS Olefins & Polymers USAInterested in joining a winning team? A team whose employees are empowered to make a difference?
INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA
Interested in joining a winning team? A team whose employees are empowered to make a difference?
Job title: Reliability Technical Authority
Location: Houston Area Operating Sites
job Grade: H37
The Olefins & Polymers USA division of INEOS USA LLC (O&P) ranks among North America's largest producers of olefins and polyolefins. From its manufacturing locations at Chocolate Bayou and the Battleground Manufacturing Complex, it is a merchant marketer of butadiene, ethylene, polypropylene and high-density polyethylene with annual revenue of over $4b. Within this division, the Pipeline Supply Organization (PSO) manages the Stratton Ridge (SR) salt dome storage facility, the Hobbs Fractionation Complex (HFC), and over 500 miles of pipelines in the South Texas area.
Purpose of the Role
The Reliability & Machinery Technical Authority is INEOS O&P USA’s most senior expert and decision-maker for rotating equipment and reliability engineering. The role defines and governs enterprise standards, reliability strategies, and lifecycle care practices that protect the availability, performance, and economic value of critical machinery across more than $15B in assets.
This is a transformation-focused role. INEOS O&P USA is standing up its first enterprise-wide reliability program, and this position is responsible for architecting, implementing, and leading that program across all sites. Decisions made in this role directly influence operational continuity, regulatory compliance, risk reduction, and the prevention of major machinery failures.
The role shapes long-term reliability strategy, influences ~$175MM in annual maintenance and reliability spend and $25MM+ in lifecycle-driven capital priorities, and plays a vital role in safeguarding a significant portion of O&P USA’s annual EBITDA.
Business Context
INEOS O&P USA operates large, complex, and aging assets with historical inconsistencies in reliability practices, engineering governance, and work processes. The business is undergoing a major shift toward a unified Operations Management System (OMS) and enterprise-level engineering standards that move the organization from site-based autonomy to a consistent, high-performance operating model.
The Reliability & Machinery Technical Authority is central to this change. The role sets the enterprise vision for reliability, aligns all sites on standards and expectations, and drives adoption of modern reliability tools and processes. This requires deep technical mastery, credibility with senior leaders, and the ability to lead through influence rather than positional authority.
This position serves as the single point of accountability for machinery reliability across O&P USA.
Key Accountabilities
1. Enterprise Reliability Strategy & Governance
Own and maintain reliability standards, lifecycle care strategies, and machinery management processes.
Exercise final decision authority on deviations from enterprise reliability expectations.
Integrate reliability governance into engineering design, operations, TAR planning, maintenance strategies, and end-of-life decisions.
Serve as the senior technical authority for all machinery reliability decisions.
2. Multi-Year Transformation Leadership
Define and lead the long-term enterprise reliability strategy and roadmap.
Assess current reliability maturity, identify systemic gaps, and drive standardization across sites.
Lead enterprise deployment of Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM), predictive analytics, and advanced monitoring programs.
Establish common expectations for condition-based monitoring (vibration, oil analysis, thermography) and ensure consistent application.
3. Asset Lifecycle Risk Management
Govern RCM, CBM, and lifecycle analysis programs, ensuring recommendations are implemented and refreshed based on operational or TAR learnings.
Ensure asset criticality, failure modes, and preventive task strategies align with lifecycle risk and business impact.
Oversee integration of reliability considerations into TAR scope, capital planning, and maintenance strategies.
Approve or challenge scope deferrals, including decisions that materially affect reliability or residual risk.
4. Performance Monitoring & Assurance
Track site reliability performance, including unplanned downtime, MTBF, chronic failures, and CBM/PM compliance.
Review TAR rotating equipment scope and assess residual risks associated with deferrals or omissions.
Lead targeted performance improvement initiatives addressing systemic reliability issues.
Ensure all major rotating assets and extruders have current, risk-informed lifecycle care strategies.
5. TAR & Capital Project Influence
Ensure TAR scopes reflect lifecycle care strategies and risk-based priority-setting.
Influence capital allocation for reliability-driven investments ($25MM+ annually).
Ensure equipment health metrics drive long-term investment decisions.
Provide authoritative input on machinery upgrades, rebuild/replacement decisions, and high-risk operational constraints.
6. Competency Development & Functional Leadership
Define and maintain competency requirements for reliability and mechanical engineers across O&P USA.
Lead a functional network of reliability specialists to ensure consistent execution and knowledge sharing.
Coach site engineering and maintenance leaders on reliability decision-making.
Validate competency of site engineering personnel prior to delegating machinery-related decision rights.
7. External Engagement & Leadership
Represent INEOS in industry forums, OEM advisory groups, and technical committees.
Scan the external environment to identify new technologies, practices, and standards.
Bring external learnings into INEOS and drive adoption where they deliver value.
Build and maintain strong technical relationships with OEMs, repair shops, and specialist engineering firms.
8. Contract Strategy & Technical Stewardship
Shape the enterprise strategy for engaging OEMs, repair shops, and third-party engineering resources.
Evaluate vendor capabilities and technical quality; support Procurement in vendor alignment efforts.
Endorse new technologies, diagnostic tools, and engineering services before enterprise adoption.
Provide technical direction that ensures consistency in service quality, repair standards, and rebuild practices.
Required Qualifications
Education & Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (advanced degree preferred).
20+ years in reliability engineering, rotating equipment, maintenance, or asset management in refining, petrochemical, or large-scale process industries.
Demonstrated experience leading reliability program development or enterprise-scale reliability improvement.
Deep expertise in RCM, lifecycle management, failure mode analysis, CBM technologies, and degradation mechanisms.
Strong leadership presence and ability to influence across organizational boundaries.
Recognized internally and ideally externally as a subject matter expert.
Technical Skills
Deep understanding of compressors, pumps, turbines, extruders, and auxiliary systems.
Strong experience deploying and interpreting predictive technologies (vibration, thermography, lubrication analysis).
Expertise in asset criticality, preventive/predictive maintenance strategy, and risk-based scope selection.
Skilled in integrating reliability expectations into TAR planning and capital project development.
Advanced troubleshooting and failure analysis capabilities, including OEM engagement.
Knowledge of relevant codes and standards (API, ASME, SMRP) and OEM technical guidance.
Proficiency with maintenance execution systems (e.g., SAP), BOM development, and spares strategies.
Behavioral Skills
Persistent, accountable, and committed to resolving chronic reliability issues.
Strong communicator who can simplify complex technical issues for non-technical audiences.
Influences effectively without formal authority and builds trust across functions.
Challenges legacy practices when they conflict with long-term reliability performance.
Demonstrates strong judgment, humility, credibility, and long-term stewardship.
Brings curiosity, external awareness, and continuous improvement mindset to the role.
Builds capability in others through coaching, clarity, and structured follow-up.
Location & Reporting
This role is based in the Houston metropolitan area, supporting multiple INEOS O&P USA locations including the Battleground Manufacturing Complex in La Porte, the Chocolate Bayou plant, and the Pipeline organization across Southeast Texas.
Most locations are within driving distance, and the expectation is that this role spends the majority of time embedded at operating sites, providing hands-on technical leadership where equipment risk and reliability decision-making occur. A secondary presence is expected at the corporate office at Marina View in League City for collaboration with central teams and leadership.
The position reports to the Engineering & Technology Manager and works in close partnership with site engineering, maintenance, operations, turnaround, and capital project leadership teams.
The role leads a small central reliability function and influences all reliability, mechanical, and maintenance professionals across the enterprise.
Hybrid work is supported consistent with the INEOS O&P USA hybrid work policy, with the expectation that remote work is used to enhance productivity, while on-site presence remains essential to effectively support machinery reliability, coach site personnel, and maintain strong engagement with operating teams.
Our culture is one of honesty and integrity with an emphasis on safety, health and environmental performance.On our team, people are acknowledged for embracing new practices that help create real value for customers.
Our culture is one of honesty and integrity with an emphasis on safety, health and environmental performance.On our team, people are acknowledged for embracing new practices that help create real value for customers.