Senior Process Engineer

Kent•Houston, TX

3h•Onsite

About The Position

Kent is looking for a Senior Process Engineer to be seconded full-time to a major chemicals and petrochemical operator. This role will be based primarily at client operating site(s) and will serve as a client-facing process engineering focal point for early-stage project development, scoping, and technical definition. Potential client operating site locations may include Baytown, Sweeny, Pasadena, Orange, Port Arthur, Borger, and Conroe, Texas. The Senior Process Engineer will work closely with the client’s operations, technical, project, and maintenance teams to identify, evaluate, and progress capital project opportunities across operating facilities. The role requires an experienced engineer who can “think like an owner,” understand site business and operational drivers, and translate early project ideas into clear, practical, and executable scopes. This position will support project development from opportunity identification through concept development, preliminary engineering, and transition into FEED, detailed design, and construction support. The engineer will be expected to maintain a strong site and field presence, validate design assumptions through field engagement, and coordinate effectively with both the client team and Kent’s engineering organization. This position is posted for anticipated upcoming projects. We are proactively identifying talent for upcoming work and qualified candidates may be contacted as project timelines are confirmed.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering required.
Minimum 10 years of relevant process engineering experience in chemical, petrochemical, or related process industries.
Strong background in chemical or petrochemical unit operations, process design, and operating plant support.
Demonstrated experience supporting early-phase project development, FEL / stage-gate processes, project scoping, and design basis development.
Strong understanding of PFDs, P&IDs, heat and material balances, equipment design, hydraulic analysis, PSV sizing, and process safety fundamentals.
Proficiency with process engineering tools and process simulation software.
Working knowledge of applicable process engineering codes, standards, regulatory requirements, and accepted industry practices.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively in or closely with operating plant environments, including coordination with operations, maintenance, technical, project, and engineering personnel.
Strong client-facing skills, with the ability to build trust, communicate clearly, listen effectively, and maintain productive working relationships with client stakeholders.
Ability to work independently in a seconded role while staying aligned with both client expectations and Kent’s engineering standards, resources, and support structure.
Strong facilitation and coordination skills, with the ability to bring multiple stakeholders together, clarify expectations, and drive practical decisions.
Strong analytical capability and practical engineering judgment, with the ability to resolve complex technical issues in an operating plant environment.
Ability to communicate technical issues, risks, recommendations, and trade-offs clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Demonstrated professionalism, adaptability, and emotional intelligence when working in dynamic site environments with competing priorities.
Commitment to professional conduct, safety, environmental stewardship, quality, and ethical responsibility.
Communicates clearly and effectively in English, both verbally and in writing, with client stakeholders, owner/operator representatives, project management, site personnel, and multi-discipline engineering teams.
Facilitates productive technical discussions, meetings, and reviews to support decision-making and maintain alignment across client and Kent stakeholders.
Works independently and takes ownership of assigned responsibilities, while engaging the right stakeholders to maintain alignment where required.
Applies sound engineering judgment and practical operating plant experience to resolve complex or ambiguous technical challenges.
Demonstrates an owner/operator mindset by considering safety, operability, maintainability, constructability, cost, and schedule impacts in day-to-day decisions.
Builds and maintains effective working relationships across client, site, project, and Kent teams.
Adapts to changing site conditions, project priorities, and client needs without losing focus on safe and reliable delivery.
Provides technical guidance and informal mentoring to less-experienced engineers or supporting resources as needed.
Maintains technical competency and awareness of industry practices aligned with project and business needs.
Complies with all Health, Safety, Sustainability, Environment, and Quality (HSSEQ) requirements of the Company, its clients, and applicable regulatory authorities.
Integrates HSSEQ considerations into engineering decisions and day-to-day work, ensuring designs are safe, operable, and aligned with applicable standards and practices.
Identifies and communicates HSSEQ risks or concerns in a timely manner and supports development and implementation of appropriate mitigation measures.

Nice To Haves

Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as a client-facing Senior Process Engineer seconded to client operating site(s), providing process engineering support for early-stage project development, scoping, and technical definition.
Work closely with client operations, technical, project, and maintenance teams to identify, evaluate, and progress capital project opportunities across chemicals and petrochemical operating facilities.
Develop and support project scopes from opportunity identification through concept development, preliminary engineering, FEED transition, detailed design support, and construction support.
Prepare and contribute to project design bases, scoping documents, preliminary engineering packages, stage-gate deliverables, and other documentation required to support project approval and execution.
Perform and/or review process engineering calculations and studies, including process simulations, hydraulic evaluations, equipment sizing, instrument sizing, relief/flare evaluations, PSV sizing calculations, and process optimization studies.
Develop, review, and provide technical input to key process engineering deliverables, including BFDs, PFDs, P&IDs, heat and material balances, utility summaries, equipment lists, equipment datasheets, and instrument datasheets.
Maintain a strong site and field presence, including field walkdowns, operability assessments, review of existing facilities, and validation of design assumptions.
Coordinate with client and Kent engineering teams to ensure project scopes are clearly defined, technically sound, and aligned with safety, operability, maintainability, cost, and schedule requirements.
Interface with multi-discipline teams, including mechanical, piping, I&C, electrical, civil/structural, project engineering, operations, and maintenance, to support complete and practical project definition.
Review existing drawings, specifications, site standards, and engineering documentation to verify project requirements and identify gaps, risks, or constraints.
Participate in design reviews, technical discussions, project meetings, PHA/HAZOP/LOPA reviews, and other process safety or project development activities as required.
Support the client in evaluating project alternatives, identifying risks, clarifying scope, and developing practical engineering solutions that reflect an owner/operator perspective.
Support construction, commissioning, and start-up activities by clarifying design intent, responding to technical questions, supporting field changes, and assisting with MOC documentation as required.
Review vendor and subcontractor documents, drawings, and calculations to confirm technical accuracy and alignment with project requirements.
Provide clear communication of technical issues, recommendations, project status, deliverable requirements, and action items to both client and Kent stakeholders.
Identify scope changes, deviations, technical risks, and potential impacts to cost or schedule; support documentation, communication, and resolution of these items.
Provide informal technical guidance and mentoring to junior engineers, site personnel, or supporting Kent resources as needed.
Perform other ad hoc tasks as needed or directed by the supervisor or management, within the reasonable scope of the employee’s skills, capabilities, and role.