26-675.B - Plant Operations Engineer

Job Objective

Provide engineering support to Plant Operations and Asset Teams for Hilcorp’s gas processing plants in the Lower 48. Perform engineering analysis of operational problems, identify and propose value‑enhancing projects, coordinate with the Integrity Management team on inspections, assessments, and risk mitigation programs, and deliver full‑range engineering and technical support for new project development and execution.

Essential Responsibilities

• Interact regularly with plant operations leadership and personnel to analyze operational problems, develop alternatives, and recommend optimal solutions.
• Identify opportunities to optimize systems, reduce costs, improve operations, and maximize performance and value.
• Provide design engineering, scope development, timelines, and cost estimates for expense and capital projects that enhance operability, profitability, efficiency, and growth.
• Coordinate construction personnel to ensure execution of the desired scope of work.
• Manage plant upgrade and modification projects to completion, including oversight of outside resources (engineering, project management, vendors, etc.).
• Analyze and optimize natural‑gas processing plant recoveries.
• Participate in or lead Process Hazard Analyses (PHAs) for processing facilities and identify projects to address PHA recommendations and findings.
• Provide plant engineering support for all Lower 48 plants and processing facilities, serving as subject‑matter expert/liaison for owned and operated facilities.
• Create heat and material balances for existing and new process designs.
• Perform hydraulic simulations of pressures and flow rates through pipelines transporting oil, NGLs, or natural gas.
• Size and specify relief devices for gas and liquids, applying theory and calculations for relief‑valve sizing and over‑pressure scenarios.
• Conduct overall relief and flare system evaluations.
• Troubleshoot operational issues at gas processing plants, sulfur recovery units, and compressor stations, and develop recommendations.
• Work with the commercial team on new growth project development, providing iterations and options for feasibility designs and cost estimates.
• Assist with due‑diligence work on assets proposed for acquisition, including data‑room participation, field reviews, and observations.
• Ensure execution of assigned projects with quality workmanship, on‑time, on‑budget, and in accordance with the proposed scope.

Other Responsibilities

• Meet with various local, state, and federal agencies regarding assigned projects as needed.
• Present information at field monthly update meetings on overall company performance and trends.
• Assist in incident response efforts and investigations as required.

Qualifications

• Minimum four (4) years of oil and gas/process engineering experience.
• Minimum two (2) years of direct plant operations engineering experience.
• Working knowledge of Process Safety Management and Process Hazard Analysis; ability to perform engineering functions for PHAs.
• Solid understanding of plant equipment such as compressors, pumps, piping, vessels, gas‑treating and processing equipment, fractionation, flares, etc.
• Proficiency with process modeling programs (e.g., HYSYS, ProMax).
• Knowledge of industry codes and standards (ASME, API, NFPA, etc.).
• Adherence to Hilcorp’s Core Values: Integrity, Urgency, Ownership, Alignment, and Innovation.
• Ability to approach assignments with urgency, applying sound engineering judgment and diligence.
• Strong collaboration skills; able to develop effective working relationships across the organization.
• Positive, professional, and solutions‑oriented demeanor with employees, supervisors, other departments, officials, and the public.
• Effective communication and idea‑sharing abilities.
• Capability to manage multiple, diverse tasks of differing priorities.
• Willingness to travel 25% of the time, with additional travel as required for project or turnaround support.

Education Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Engineering from an accredited university (preferably Mechanical or Chemical Engineering).

Certifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) license – desirable.