SR. ENGR. TECHNOLOGIST - Pilot Plant Operations at Southwest Research Institute

Who We Are:

Fuels and Energy Development Section works in pilot plant services and process development of new first of their kind processes.

Objectives of this Role:

• This position will fill a role in supervising operations training, procedure development, and commissioning for new pilot plants by expanding our technical portfolio of offerings to our clients.
• Increased utilization by improving operating efficiency.
• Be a leader in operations training, procurement, and inventory control for process development and pilot plants, with expertise in technical areas of the research.
• Train operators and engineers to maintain pilot plant area and operations with a high degree of "technical" success. Emphasis on department safety culture, waste disposal, procedures, ISO.
• Supervise and standardize operations per project.

Daily and Monthly Responsibilities:

• Develop procedures for processes or unit operations for chemical or refinery systems. Plan and conduct research and process development work in chemical, gas, and petroleum areas.
• Support ongoing projects through process troubleshooting, operator training, procedure development, laboratory upkeep, maintenance, and safety review/document preparation. Department safety emphasis.
• Create process flow diagrams and process instrumentation diagrams. Prepare operating procedures. Supervise staff. Lead HAZOPs
• Conduct strategic business development activities. Provide technical expertise to other engineers, technicians, and analysts. Emphasis on proposal writing and publications.
• Communicate with vendors, clients, and operators to set up equipment and construct systems for new processes. Promote and secure new work as trained through mentorship and internal business development training.

Requirements:

• Requires a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Shift work required.
• 25 years: executing pilot plant test operations and programs for refinery and chemical industry; understands routine equipment maintenance or troubleshooting.
• High attention to detail in design and operations. Must be able to develop process flow diagrams, process and instrumentation diagrams, I/O diagrams, and process control strategies.
• 8+ years: Must be able to communicate clearly and interface with clients or potential clients as needed in the course of the project or proposal process. Must be able to conduct tasks in parallel. Experience with actual hands-on buildup of processes and test systems is preferred.
• 5+ years: Experience in any of the following areas: biomass conversion, biofuels, hydrotreating, carbon capture, carbon utilization, plastics recycling, pyrolysis, coking, distillation, electrolysis, clean hydrogen.
• A valid/clear driver's license is required.