Senior Process Engineer

Kent•Houston, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Kent is seeking a Senior Process Engineer based in its Houston, Texas office, supporting regional project sites. The role executes process engineering work for onshore oil and gas production, NGL processing, midstream facilities, gas compression, refining, petrochemical, and chemical projects. Work spans greenfield and brownfield projects and project development, pre-FEED, FEED, detailed design, and EPC execution. The engineer serves as a client-facing process engineering focal point and may act as Lead Process Engineer for assigned projects or scopes. The role coordinates technical work and multidisciplinary interfaces, reviews and approves deliverables, provides technical direction and mentoring, and helps manage scope, budget, schedule, quality, and staffing inputs. It also supports troubleshooting and optimization of operating facilities, proposals, vendor and package activities, field work, brownfield modifications, and continuous improvement of engineering practices. The position requires a strong focus on safety, quality, process safety, and compliance with company, client, and regulatory requirements. The engineer is expected to integrate HSSEQ considerations into engineering decisions and communicate risks, scope changes, and recommendations effectively to clients and project teams.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering.
At least 10 years of process engineering experience in onshore oil and gas production, NGL processing, midstream facilities, gas compression, refining, petrochemicals, and/or chemicals.
Experience across project development, pre-FEED, FEED, and detailed design, including execution in an EPC environment.
Strong working knowledge of relevant process facilities, equipment, utilities, and offsites, including design considerations for operating-facility modifications.
Demonstrated experience troubleshooting process and equipment performance issues and developing practical optimization recommendations for operating facilities.
Strong knowledge of process engineering fundamentals, including thermodynamics, heat and material balances, fluid flow, heat transfer, separation processes, equipment performance, and process control.
Proficiency in process simulation using Aspen HYSYS, Aspen Plus, and/or PRO/II, including selecting appropriate thermodynamic property packages and validating simulation results.
Experience developing and reviewing PFDs, P&IDs, hydraulic calculations, equipment and instrument process datasheets, relief calculations, and process control narratives.
Working knowledge of pressure relief and depressuring principles, relief contingency analysis, and applicable industry codes and standards.
Working knowledge of process safety and risk management, including HAZOPs, MOC, and safe design.
Experience supporting brownfield modifications, including evaluation of existing equipment, tie-ins, utilities, and operating constraints.
Ability to work effectively with operations, maintenance, and project personnel in office and site environments.
Ability to lead assigned process engineering scopes, coordinate multidisciplinary interfaces, review technical work, and guide less-experienced engineers.
Ability to develop workhour estimates, plan engineering activities, and manage assigned work against scope, budget, and schedule.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including applying sound engineering judgment when information is incomplete.
Demonstrated client-facing experience and ability to communicate technical findings and recommendations to technical and non-technical audiences.
Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills; ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English.
Professional commitment to engineering ethics, safety, and compliance with applicable company, client, and regulatory requirements.
Ability to work independently, take responsibility for technical decisions, provide guidance and mentoring, build effective working relationships, and adapt to changing priorities while communicating impacts.

Nice To Haves

Professional Engineer (PE) licensure is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Execute process engineering work for onshore oil and gas, NGL processing, midstream, gas compression, refining, petrochemical, and chemical projects across development, pre-FEED, FEED, detailed design, and EPC execution, including greenfield and brownfield work.
Serve as the client-facing process engineering focal point for assigned projects or scopes; participate in technical discussions, communicate recommendations, resolve issues, and align work with project and client objectives.
Develop, review, and approve process engineering deliverables, including design bases, PFDs, heat and material balances, P&IDs, hydraulic and line sizing calculations, process datasheets, relief analyses and calculations, relief system load summaries, and process control narratives.
Perform process simulations and design calculations using industry-standard tools, select suitable thermodynamic property packages, validate results, and apply findings to design and operating decisions.
Troubleshoot process and equipment performance using operating data and engineering analyses, working with operations and maintenance personnel to identify causes and recommend corrective actions.
Evaluate facility capacity, operating performance, process configurations, operating scenarios, and modification options; provide technical recommendations and support project development and scope definition.
Act as Lead Process Engineer for assigned projects or scopes by coordinating deliverables, providing technical direction, reviewing engineers’ work, and mentoring less-experienced team members.
Plan and manage assigned process engineering work, including workhour estimates, staffing and schedule inputs, and progress against quality, budget, and schedule requirements.
Support proposals through scope definition, technical input, and basis of estimate development; identify and communicate potential follow-on work.
Work with client operations, technical, and project teams to define scope, confirm design requirements, and develop practical facility solutions.
Lead or participate in P&ID reviews and design workshops; participate in HAZOPs, MOC reviews, and technical reviews, and ensure assigned actions are resolved and incorporated into designs.
Coordinate with piping, mechanical, I&C, electrical, and CSA disciplines so process intent is translated into multidisciplinary deliverables.
Coordinate assigned work across offices and engineering centers while maintaining consistent technical quality and delivery expectations.
Review designs from an owner/operator perspective, identifying process safety, operability, maintainability, constructability, and reliability risks.
Support vendor and package work, including technical bid evaluations, vendor document reviews, and technical query resolution.
Provide field support as required, including site visits, walkdowns, operating data collection, construction support, commissioning, and startup assistance.
Support brownfield execution, including tie-in definition, battery limits, evaluation of existing equipment and utility capacity, and coordination with operating facilities.
Identify and communicate scope changes, technical risks, and potential cost and schedule impacts; support mitigation planning with project leadership.
Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of engineering procedures, guidelines, and work practices.
Apply sound engineering judgment to deliver safe, operable, constructible solutions and comply with company, client, and regulatory requirements.
Perform other reasonable tasks as needed or directed by a supervisor or management, considering workload, capabilities, and professional development.
Comply with company, client, and regulatory HSSEQ requirements; integrate HSSEQ into engineering decisions, report risks or concerns, and support mitigation measures.
Communicate clearly in English with clients, owner/operator representatives, project management, and multidisciplinary teams; lead or participate in meetings, explain design decisions, present recommendations, and promptly communicate scope changes and risks.