Instrument Design Specialist, Senior

Audubon Companies•Houston, TX

About The Position

Audubon is seeking a Senior Instrument Design Specialist to join its team at the Houston Automation Tech Center. The role performs, supervises, and manages assignments and personnel involved in designing instrument equipment, components, structures, and systems. It includes leading design teams, planning and estimating work, preparing and checking design deliverables, and coordinating with clients, subcontractors, vendors, consultants, engineering, scheduling, and project management personnel. The specialist develops instrument-system layouts and fabrication and assembly drawings using 2D or 3D CAD software; prepares design packages, specifications, calculations, parts and procurement lists, bills of material, and Engineering Change Order documentation; and supports field surveys, data gathering, as-built drawings, proposal materials, and O&M manuals. The role also tracks project schedule and budget, maintains project files and drawing quality, and ensures designs meet applicable company, client, and industry standards. The position requires compliance with company and client health, safety, security, and environmental standards and applicable regulations. Employees are expected to participate in HSE training and activities, identify and report hazards and unsafe conditions, and follow safe work practices.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
At least 15 years of experience preferred.
AutoCAD experience and specialized training required.
Field experience required.
Experience in offshore oil and gas, onshore gas processing, hydrocarbon storage and transportation, chemical manufacturing, or refining required.
Small- or medium-project lead experience required.
Advanced knowledge of technical software used in discipline-specific functions.
Ability to solve or proactively address work-related problems.
Ability to comprehend instructions and request clarification as needed.
Ability to work in a team-oriented environment.
Ability to develop new concepts or ideas.
Ability to make decisions or take actions to solve problems or achieve goals.
Ability to accept responsibility and account for actions.
Ability to read and understand drawing markups and determine drafting requirements.
Ability to use conventional drafting tools and CAD software to execute drafting requirements.
Ability to read and understand engineering drawings.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s degree from a technical institution preferred.
PDMS software experience and training preferred.
Microsoft Office software experience preferred.
SPI (Intools) software experience and training preferred.
Large-project lead experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Supervise medium to large teams producing instrument designs and deliverables; manage team productivity, work assignments, and performance, and contribute to hiring, dismissal, and evaluation decisions.
Interview and train personnel, and create, deploy, and manage team work techniques.
Plan work for self and team members and estimate project budgets and discipline-specific man-hours.
Prepare design packages, including preliminary, conceptual, and construction deliverables and engineering calculations.
Prepare detailed drawings of parts and assemblies from layouts, designs, and working drawings, including projections, sectional views, and standard specifications.
Interpret verbal and written directions to initiate preliminary designs.
Perform sizing and electrical load calculations, including cable sizing, conduit sizing, voltage drop, and cable tray calculations, as needed.
Develop or assist in developing control circuits for instrument components, logic controllers, and relays.
Review and optimize instrument application and function; check sketches and drawings for project applicability and construction suitability.
Check and verify the accuracy of drawings prepared by others and ensure completed drawings meet company and industry standards before release.
Prepare and revise parts lists, procurement lists, bills of material, and specifications, including updates resulting from engineering changes.
Implement revisions and change control in accordance with company standards under the direction of senior designers and engineers.
Assemble information and reference drawings from multiple sources; seek product improvements and cost reductions.
Confirm specification and code compliance, equipment compatibility, and cost savings.
Assist with field surveys, document existing conditions, recommend design solutions, and gather field data as required by project scope and schedule.
Check field red-line drawings and generate accurate as-built drawings as needed.
Review and assist in preparing Operation & Maintenance manuals.
Assist in compiling proposals using CAD equipment or graphic tools to prepare high-level layouts and sketches.
Use 2D or 3D CAD software to create instrument-system, device, and component layouts, as well as fabrication and assembly drawings.
Create technical specifications and documentation for procurement, fabrication, installation, and Engineering Change Orders.
Use engineering sketches, specifications, and supporting documents to design, detail, document, and verify instrument parts, subassemblies, assemblies, and system configurations.
Identify dimensions, angles, curvatures, tolerances, and materials needed for construction; analyze proposed changes for fit or interference and recommend solutions or alternatives.
Produce drawings and deliverables to company standards within approved project schedules and budgets.
Maintain proper file management and confirm discipline-specific drawing quality is correct, consistent, and legible.
Communicate effectively with clients, subcontractors, vendors, and other consultants.
Track assigned project schedules and budgets and develop detailed design schedules in coordination with scheduling, engineering, and project management personnel.
Comply with company and client HSSE standards and federal and local HSSE regulations; participate in hazard identification and observation programs and promptly report unsafe acts, conditions, or incidents.
Support Audubon Companies’ HSE policies and procedures by working safely, participating in required HSE training, meetings, and reporting, identifying and reporting hazards and near misses, and following safe work practices and applicable regulations.