Engineer, Operations (Carlsbad, NM)

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain daily operation of the process unit, reviewing KPIs, logs, trends, and quality data.
• Prepare KPI reports/presentations to communicate unit health and reliability.
• Communicate unit limitations, environmental impacts, and operational constraints to stakeholders.
• Identify and resolve operating issues; provide troubleshooting, data analysis, and technical guidance.
• Investigate root cause of failures and provide recommendations to prevent recurring issues.
• Organize, lead, and participate in improvement initiatives, projects, and process optimization teams.
• Track variable costs and identify optimization opportunities to reduce operating expenses.
• Support unit start-up/shutdown, develop operational guidelines, and estimate schedules.
• Develop and assist with operator training, including creating training material and job aids.
• Execute vessel inspections, catalyst/adsorbent loading/unloading, and equipment readiness activities.
• Support HAZOPs, PSM activities, and closure of engineering assigned action items.
• Affirm Pre-Startup Safety Reviews (PSSR) to ensure readiness and compliance.
• Assist with environmental emissions event calculations.
• Promote a strong safety culture and support process safety best practices.

Qualifications

• Minimum Bachelor's degree in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in a chemical plant environment or related industry.
• Minimum 3 years of experience with production, process, or mechanical troubleshooting and optimization.
• Proficiency in basic Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.).
• Experience with Process Modeling software, such as Hysys or Unisim preferred.
• Strong initiative, self-motivation, and ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and in writing, and detail-oriented.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Proven track record of teamwork, technical problem-solving, and data-driven decision-making.
• Knowledge of DCS and advanced process control systems preferred.