Operations Process Engineer

Asahi Refining USA, Inc offers an onsite role in Salt Lake City, UT where you can apply process engineering expertise to improve safety, productivity, reliability, and environmental control. You will support operations and maintenance with technical troubleshooting, lead process development efforts from bench scale through production, and collaborate across disciplines to deliver commissioning-ready outcomes.

What you will do

• Develop, execute, and document bench-to-production-scale process development and testing plans, delivering complete results that support timely operational and business decisions.
• Evaluate new process techniques or modifications to existing processes to improve productivity, safety, environmental control, and equipment reliability.
• Visit designated areas of responsibility to understand process issues from an operations and maintenance perspective.
• Collaborate cross-departmentally to achieve the best outcomes while staying flexible as new ideas and information emerge.
• Use PLC control logic knowledge for troubleshooting, process changes, and new process development.
• Maintain and produce accurate process documentation, including P&IDs, PFDs, Alarm and Trip Summaries, Cause-and-Effect Diagrams, and Process Descriptions.
• Perform and manage MOC (Management of Change) activities, while following rules, regulations, and internal procedures for PSM-covered processes.
• Create HAZOP documentation and lead HAZOP meetings for new or changing processes, and participate in risk and hazard assessments for assigned areas.
• Provide weekly written updates to management on project challenges and progress.
• Manage project phases across mechanical, electrical, PLC, and process areas from design through commissioning.
• Supervise and manage contractors on site to ensure compliance with health, safety, environmental regulations, and Asahi Refining policies.
• Lead commissioning and startup for new or modified equipment, including creating or updating standard operating procedures, project documentation, training packages, hands-on training, and handoff actions for Operations and Maintenance groups.
• Identify and propose mitigations for safety issues that are or could impact production or projects.

Qualifications

• University Degree in Chemical, Industrial, or Metallurgical Engineering.
• 3-5 years of experience in a related role, ideally within a chemical processing or chemical manufacturing plant (minimum 3 years required).
• Project Management experience.
• Moderate familiarity with mechanical, electrical, and PLC so project budgeting, planning, and progress monitoring are comprehensive and effective.
• Strong experience with PHA’s, HAZOPs, MOC’s, and PSM processes.
• Strong experience creating and testing Control Flow Tables, Cause and Effect tables, and other PLC control documentation.
• Experience creating and maintaining P&IDs and PFDs.
• Troubleshooting plus Operations and Design experience for pollution control and wastewater treatment equipment.
• Preferred: expert-level knowledge of acid/base chemistry and electrolytic chemistry.
• Preferred: knowledge of relevant OSHA regulations and Environmental Health & Safety laws, standards, and regulations.
• Experience providing R&D support for Lean Manufacturing initiatives is an asset.
• Proficient computer skills in Microsoft Office and other relevant engineering software.

Technologies

• PLC, Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, Canary Historian

Benefits

• 401(k) with company matching up to 5% after 1 year of employment
• 401(k) company Profit Sharing contribution of 5% after 30 days of employment
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Company paid life insurance
• Company paid short term disability benefit
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Parental leave
• Health insurance, life insurance, paid time off, dental insurance, vision insurance

Additional preferred skills

• Extractive and Smelting Mining Industrial Plant experience
• Heavy Industrial Plant process experience
• Industrial Mechanical Construction experience
• Scissor lift operation experience
• Familiarity with hand tools
• Laboratory experience
• AutoCAD experience
• Canary Historian experience
• 10-15 years’ experience
• Liquified Gas process experience
• Advanced MS Office skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Personal skills and competencies

• Measure work processes and design improvements that meet business needs while demonstrating commitment to continuous improvement.
• Scrap poor performing processes and rebuild when necessary.
• Invites challenge to ideas to improve business and operational results.
• Possesses or is willing to develop strong functional and technical knowledge to perform tasks at a high level of proficiency and accuracy.
• Develop or possess strong process management skills to separate and combine tasks into efficient workflow.
• Demonstrates problem solving with all internal personnel to resolve production and maintenance issues.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills across internal departments, other Asahi resources in Japan and Canada, and external vendors.
• Self-starter who works independently and with others to source information and conduct research.