POSITION DESCRIPTION FORM EXEMPT

JOB TITLE:

Process Engineer

REPORTS TO: (Title)

INCUMBENT NAME:

Varies with Specific Assignment

GROUP/DIV/DEPT:

Multi
Refinery Process
Technical Support
Group

JOB SUMMARY: Provide a brief description of the basic function of this job.
Monitor daily unit operations, analyze long and short term trends and make recommendations to maximize the
economic performance of the petrochemical units. 2. Monitor catalyst/reactor performance and make
recommendations for optimization. Identify operating problems and provide technical expertise and problem solving
capability in a timely manner. Provide unit support during turnarounds. Provide technical input to other departments
as needed. Generate and maintain quality records, including statistical charts and outlier records for the ISO 9000
management system.

JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: List, in order of importance, the responsibilities and duties performed in the
usual course of this job. Indicate the approximate percent of time spent on these duties and responsibilities.
(Needs to equal 100%)
Job Duties
1.

2.

3.

4.

Monitoring of the operations of various refinery units which includes monthly mass balances, daily
comparisons of the expected stream productions and qualities in order to analyze the performance of the
operations and therefore determine the necessary technical recommendations that can aid in maximizing the
economic profitability of the units. Monitoring and optimization are done with Excel spreadsheets whereby unit
parameter data are collected, trended and correlated.
Troubleshooting of refinery operations where, when a problem should arise, the process engineer gathers data
and performs engineering calculations such as pressure drop calculations for both liquids and gas, energy
balances across heat exchangers, condensers and reactors, velocity calculations and residence time calculations.
These exercises are done to identify the source of the problem so that the corrective actions can be taken as
soon as possible, therefore minimizing any losses within operations. Thermodynamic and transport simulation
programs are also utilized to troubleshoot and optimize unit equipment, including distillation towers, heat
exchangers and compressors. Further duties include monitoring the catalyst performance by tracking the
temperature and ensuring that they fall within the licensors guidelines.
Recommendations for the optimization of catalyst within the units where it is used. Additional duties include
collecting field data with unit operators, such as pressure survey data to help troubleshoot and optimize unit
performance. As the units go through their maintenance cycle, various turnarounds must be performed in which
within the process engineer must provide all the necessary technical support for on hands supervision and
inspection of the units. This includes entering refinery equipment such as distillations towers, reactors and
exchangers during the turnaround with all necessary refinery safety equipment and determining what internals
including trays, distributors and nozzles that may need cleaning or repair due to wear and corrosion.
In the development of capital projects the process engineer must give process engineering support, including
EWR initiation, with any technical design information to the Project Engineering team.

Percent
of time

30-35%

30%

20%

10%

5. As part of the job responsibilities the current job requires to comply with ISO 9000 Policy to provide support to
the Petrochemical Management Organization, the quality job duties includes review of daily operation of
assigned ISO units, identification of operating problems to provide technical expertise and problem solving,
coordinate with other departments on special projects, new construction, test runs, and provide economic
justification of expense and/or capital that may have an impact on ISO units, monitors catalyst, clay and
molecular sieve performance, generate and maintain quality records, including statistical charts and outlier
records.

5-10%

Total =
100%
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE: Check the appropriate type of degree and state the minimum number of years of
job related experience required to perform this job:
List any specialized training or unique skills required:

ISO 9000 certification

DEGREE

Cumene and Cyclohexane processes knowledge

High School Diploma

Experience in aromatic extraction and fractionation (Udex )

Associates Degree

Platforming/Reforming technology experience is a plus

College Degree (Bachelors Level)
Masters Degree
Other
The minimum number of years of job related experience required by this job is 5 yrs (Minimum of 3 years Petrochemical experience)
1

FINANCIAL IMPACT

DIRECT IMPACT:
Provide specific dollar amounts, where possible, for the direct impact this job has on utilizing, maintaining, and /or
maximizing of:

Maximize the unit profitability by evaluating the unit mode of operation and their impact on unit upstream and downstream, while
making sure the product are within specification and meet customer expectations in order to ensure continuous refinery business.
This job requires developing PIPs (process improvement projects) throughout the year focused on cost savings to improve the
operation of the units and/or maximize the margin contribution of each unit with a target of $500M/yr.

ASSETS: $

REVENUES: $

INDIRECT IMPACT:

Help maintaining the ISO 9000 certification by being the process engineer ISO coordinator taking care of the SQC record for the
ISO units and make sure the process engineers complete the training requirement.
Help determine the economic impact of any given problem that affect the unit capacity by doing a monthly slowdown report
which is reported to the Planning & Economics department to support the cost to solve the problem and/or take in consideration for any
future unit economics
Develop a mass balance of all Petrochemical units of the refinery, which is reported to directly to Houstons Corporate office in
order to report how well the units are performing and thus support them in visualizing the possible contracts that can be committed with
clients regarding out petrochemical productions.
Periodically update the LP vectors for the Petrochemical units to ensure reliable and accurate production forecasts.

SUPERVISION

Also, indicate this jobs:

BUDGET RESPONSIBILITY: $

LIMITS OF AUTHORITY: $

DIRECT:
What is the total number of employees supervised by this position, both directly and through others?
EXEMPT

NONEXEMPT

FUNCTIONAL:
Describe the influence exerted by this job on actions and decisions of others not reporting to this job.
This position will be responsible to coordinate with other departments on special projects, new construction, test runs, and economic
justification of expense and/or capital and to generate and maintain quality records, including statistical charts and Outlier Records

DECISION MAKING: Give two examples of decisions or recommendations for decisions made as a result of this jobs
continuing responsibility. What impact did these decisions/recommendations have on the department, division or
company?

Determine when a unit requires a unscheduled maintenance due to problems that are affecting the unit process performance and/or
impacting product specification

Key role in the catalyst evaluation of the petrochemical units that determines when the catalyst is needs to be changed and/or regenerated
in order to maximize unit profitability and ensure that the unit is prepared to take advantage of future economic opportunities.

ANALYSIS AND PROBLEM SOLVING:

Identify operating problems and provide technical expertise and problem solving capability to eliminate and/or minimize the effect of
constraints in the unit.
Determine when to change operational conditions to improve the quality and/or increase the quantity of the products to maximize profit.
Provide these recommendations to the Operations and Planning and Economic groups.

DATE:
MANAGER/SUPERVISOR APPROVAL
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