Air Separation Unit Specialist
INEOS · Ashtabula, OH · 1 wk ago
On-siteOTHRFull-time
About the role
The Air Separation Unit (ASU) Specialist at INEOS Pigments provides day-to-day technical leadership for a cryogenic ASU. This role integrates operations support including guaranteeing product purity (O₂, N₂, Ar production), process troubleshooting, procedure development, training, and maintenance strategy oversight to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable plant performance.Responsibilities
- Adhere to INEOS Pigments' 20 principles of process and Behavioral Safety and Life Saving Rules
- Provide day-to-day technical support for ASU operations (O₂, N₂, Ar production)
- Troubleshoot complex, non-routine system process fluctuations and manage swift, safe recovery actions during unplanned shutdowns
- Maximize plant reliability and efficiency by continuously fine-tuning process variables such as flow rates, temperatures, and pressures
- Support and lead derime and cool-down, startups, shutdowns, and load changes
- Optimize plant performance, energy efficiency, and product recovery
- Develop and maintain operating procedures and best practices
- Lead operator training, qualification, and knowledge transfer
- Standardize startup/shutdown and upset recovery procedures
- Define maintenance strategies for critical ASU equipment (pumps, centrifugal compressors, expanders, product purification units, cryogenic distillation columns, valves)
- Identify and implement reliability and efficiency improvements
- Analyze plant data and trends to prevent failures and optimize performance
- Support debottlenecking and capacity improvements
- Support planning and execution of outages and turnarounds
- Lead or participate in RCFA, FMEA, and reliability improvement initiatives
- Partner with maintenance teams to prioritize work and improve equipment performance
- Ensure adherence to all safety, environmental, and PSM requirements
- Participate in HAZOPs, audits, and risk assessments
- Reinforce a strong safety culture across operations and maintenance
- Other duties as assigned
Requirements
- Must have direct ASU experience
- Either:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, or related) with 5–8 years of ASU experience, OR
- Non-degreed (High school diploma / technical training) ASU expert with 15–20 years hands-on experience
- Strong knowledge and deep expertise in the mechanics of cryogenic distillation systems, molecular sieve purification beds, and turbo-expanders
- Experience with rotating equipment (pumps, compressors)
- Familiarity with Distributed Control Systems (DCS)
- Demonstrated troubleshooting and problem-solving ability
- Fluent capability to interpret complex Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), electrical schematics and thermodynamic flow charts
- Experience with reliability tools (RCFA, FMEA) is desired
- Working knowledge of chemical/industrial equipment function, design, and regulatory requirements and Process Safety Management and ISO systems and procedures
- Functionality with various computer programs, specifically Microsoft Office Suite and SAP
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with all levels of employees
Qualifications
- Must have direct ASU experience
- Either:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, or related) with 5–8 years of ASU experience, OR
- Non-degreed (High school diploma / technical training) ASU expert with 15–20 years hands-on experience
- Strong knowledge and deep expertise in the mechanics of cryogenic distillation systems, molecular sieve purification beds, and turbo-expanders
- Experience with rotating equipment (pumps, compressors)
- Familiarity with Distributed Control Systems (DCS)
- Demonstrated troubleshooting and problem-solving ability
- Fluent capability to interpret complex Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), electrical schematics and thermodynamic flow charts
- Experience with reliability tools (RCFA, FMEA) is desired
- Working knowledge of chemical/industrial equipment function, design, and regulatory requirements and Process Safety Management and ISO systems and procedures
- Functionality with various computer programs, specifically Microsoft Office Suite and SAP
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with all levels of employees
Skills
- Knowledge of cryogenic distillation systems, molecular sieve purification beds, and turbo-expanders
- Experience with rotating equipment (pumps, compressors)
- Familiarity with Distributed Control Systems (DCS)
- Demonstrated troubleshooting and problem-solving ability
- Ability to interpret complex Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), electrical schematics and thermodynamic flow charts
- Experience with reliability tools (RCFA, FMEA)
- Working knowledge of chemical/industrial equipment function, design, and regulatory requirements and Process Safety Management and ISO systems and procedures
- Functionality with various computer programs, specifically Microsoft Office Suite and SAP
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Benefits
- Competitive salary with an annual bonus
- Comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off, medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability with the buy-up option, basic life & AD&D insurance with a buy-up option for self and dependents, 401(k) with company match