About the job: Kent is seeking a Lead Process Engineer to be seconded full-time to a major refinery operator located in Baytown, TX. The process engineer will be responsible for onsite technical leadership for early-stage project scoping and development. The engineer will “think like an owner,” working closely with the client’s technical, project, and operations teams to evaluate opportunities, develop sound project design bases, progress concepts through stage-gate development, and support transition into FEED, detailed design, and construction. This role requires extensive refinery and petrochemical experience, hands-on field engagement, strong FEED development capability, and the ability to collaborate across disciplines to ensure safe, reliable, and technically optimized project solutions. Skills and Responsibilities: Responsibilities: Identify, evaluate, and scope potential capital projects across refinery and petrochemical production units in alignment with client and site business objectives. Lead early-phase project development from opportunity identification through concept development, optimization, preliminary engineering, and stage-gate deliverables. Develop robust project design bases and contribute to capital budgeting, economic justification, and forecasting activities. Ensure all design and engineering work meets quality, cost, schedule, and safety requirements. Ensure all work is designed and executed with a strong safety focus, reflecting a “think like an owner” mindset. Perform and/or review process simulations, hydraulics, equipment and instrument sizing, relief/flare evaluations, PSV sizing calculations, and process optimization studies. Develop and review key engineering deliverables including BFDs, PFDs, P&IDs, heat and material balances, utility summaries, equipment lists, and datasheets. Prepare and compile FEED-level documentation packages, including scoping documents, design bases, and stage-gate submissions. Maintain strong field presence, including site walkdowns, operability assessments, and validation of design assumptions. Review existing drawings, specifications, and FEED materials to verify compliance with site standards, regulatory requirements, and accepted engineering practices. Coordinate with operations, maintenance, mechanical, piping, I&C, electrical, and project engineering disciplines to ensure alignment and technical completeness of project concepts. Participate in PHA, HAZOP, LOPA, and other process safety reviews; prepare or review supporting documentation and ensure timely closeout of findings. Review vendor and subcontractor documents, drawings, and calculations to validate technical accuracy and compliance. Provide project status reporting, communicate deliverable requirements, ensure timely response to client requests. Support construction and commissioning teams by clarifying design intent, addressing field queries, and supporting MOC documentation. Maintain awareness of relevant engineering standards, industry best practices, and site guidelines; ensure compliance in all deliverables. Identify scope changes or deviations and support documentation and communication of impacts. Participate in multi-discipline design reviews, technical discussions, and project meetings with site leadership. Provide technical guidance and informal mentorship to junior engineers or site technical personnel as needed. Act professionally and with due diligence at all times to safeguard the interests of the company and the client. Perform any other duties as required by project or management. In addition to the responsibilities listed herein, the employee may be required to perform other ad-hoc tasks as needed or directed by the supervisor or management. These tasks will be within the reasonable scope of the employee's skills, capabilities, and role within the organization. The intent of this provision is to allow for flexibility and adaptability in meeting the dynamic needs of the organization, ensuring that operational requirements can be met efficiently. All such tasks will be assigned considering the employee's current workload and with respect to their professional development.