Senior Process Automation Engineer

Dow•Seadrift, TX

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Process Automation Engineer serves as a technical resource and process automation lead for small to large capital and improvement projects at Dow Seadrift Operations in Texas. The engineer directs and coordinates Dow and contract process automation resources to execute project, maintenance, and plant-support activities safely and effectively, and participates in front-end loading, detailed design and construction, and commissioning and startup. The role develops and coordinates process automation work plans, priorities, resource requirements, and schedules in alignment with plant and project needs. It maintains engagement with Process Automation engineering leadership to anticipate and address resource gaps, define support requirements, coordinate resource allocation, and align project planning with site priorities. The engineer also provides day-to-day plant process automation support, develops and modifies control strategies, and collaborates with Process Control Technician resources to meet plant automation demands. The position requires expanded conceptual and practical knowledge of the discipline and the ability to apply and broaden technical capabilities. The position is based at Dow Seadrift Operations, Texas. It requires the ability to work legally in the United States; visa sponsorship or support is unavailable. Relocation assistance is not offered.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
At least 5 years of combined work experience with Honeywell TPS (HPM) and Honeywell Experion (C300) platforms.
At least 2 years of work experience with Triconex 1131 or a similar system.
At least 3 years of plant process automation work experience.
Ability to work legally in the United States; visa sponsorship or support is not available.
Ability to meet the listed physical demands, with or without reasonable accommodations.
Troubleshooting skills, including a systematic, data-driven approach to identifying root causes and resolving equipment and quality issues.
Cross-functional collaboration skills to work with peers and functional support groups toward facility goals and resolve day-to-day process challenges.
Project leadership skills to coordinate cross-functional work, identify milestones and actions, and lead implementation efforts.
Technical skills, including ability to learn basic chemistry and apply it to quality troubleshooting, and understanding of process technology such as pumps, instrumentation, and distillation.
Prioritization skills to assess competing needs, meet deadlines, address urgent matters, and proactively handle important activities.
Growth mindset, confidence to learn and develop, and willingness to treat mistakes and challenges as opportunities to grow.

Nice To Haves

Chemical Engineering degree.
Work experience with AspenTech DMC.

Responsibilities

Lead process automation work when equipment or instrumentation is added, removed, or modified, including SIL determination, SIS design, and BPCS design or modification; develop control strategies, control system designs, and implementation plans.
Establish project goals, execution plans, deliverables, and process automation priorities.
Collaborate with engineers and stakeholders to define project scope, process control requirements, and operating needs.
Develop project process control overviews, user requirements, system specifications, FRS, and DRS.
Estimate process control costs and schedules and manage execution against approved project baselines.
Track the process automation team’s progress, schedule, deliverables, and costs throughout project phases.
Engage Process Automation engineering leadership to identify resource gaps, communicate support needs, coordinate resource allocation, and align planning with plant priorities and schedules.
Develop control software, operator graphics, and simulation software according to approved requirements and design standards.
Review the control team’s technical work and provide coaching and corrective feedback to ensure quality and compliance.
Define test scenarios, oversee control system simulations, and verify control strategies and improvements through factory acceptance testing.
Support commissioning and startup of new or modified assets and train operations personnel.
Provide day-to-day plant process automation support and collaborate with Process Control Technician resources to prioritize and meet ongoing demands.
Lead troubleshooting and root cause analysis for process control system failures, recurring control issues, and production interruptions.
Monitor and improve control loop, alarm, and overall control system performance to support safe, reliable, and efficient plant operation.
Provide process automation input to Management of Change reviews, process hazard analyses, pre-startup safety reviews, and incident investigations.
Collaborate with OT cybersecurity and infrastructure resources on system access, patching, backups, recovery testing, and network security.
Maintain process control documentation, standards, application libraries, configuration records, and system lifecycle roadmaps.
Partner with the Support & Sustain team to develop hardware lifecycle maintenance strategies and plan system upgrades for long-term reliability and availability.
Meet the physical demands of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, including lifting, pushing, and pulling up to 55 pounds; working at heights; climbing stairs and ladders; wearing required personal protective equipment; working around intense or continuous noise and hazardous materials; frequent bending, reaching, and lifting; and standing or walking for extended periods. The role involves elevated work at or above four feet.

Benefits

Equitable, market-competitive base pay and bonus opportunity, with locally relevant incentives.
Benefits and programs supporting physical, mental, financial, and social well-being.
Competitive retirement program that may include company-provided benefits, savings opportunities, financial planning, and educational resources.
Employee stock purchase programs, where available.
U.S. Student Debt Retirement Savings Match Program, applying the value of monthly student debt payments as if they were contributions to the Employees’ Savings Plan (401(k)).
Medical and life insurance packages with coverage options; travel insurance is available in certain countries or locations.
Training, mentoring, work experiences, community involvement, and team-building opportunities.
Role-based workplace flexibility to support productivity and personal needs.
Competitive yearly vacation allowance.
Paid time off for new parents, including adoptive and foster parents.
Paid time off to care for sick or injured family members.
Paid time off for volunteering and Employee Resource Group participation.
Wellbeing Portal for employees.
On-site fitness facilities, where available.
Employee discounts, including online shopping, cinema tickets, and gym memberships.
Some locations may offer transportation allowances, meal subsidies or vouchers, and carbon-neutral transportation incentives.