Sr Engineer I, Advanced Process Control and Automation
About The Position
The Advanced Process Control and Automation Sr Engineer I identifies, prioritizes, executes, and supports advanced process control (APC) applications for multiple gas processing facilities. The role strengthens the Phillips 66 Midstream Advanced Process Controls Network through best-practice development and by training site operators to use advanced control and optimization applications. The position is located in Houston, Texas, within the Midstream Center of Excellence organization and reports to the Manager – Operations Technology, Automation and Systems. The engineer partners with process engineering and site operations teams to develop and implement APC solutions, maintain applications and their benefits, troubleshoot interfaces with base process control systems, and promote effective application use. The role also designs, configures, tests, implements, and optimizes control strategies on DCS and PLC platforms, along with associated industrial communications networks and interfaces. Work includes supporting software and vendor upgrades, peer reviews, technology evaluations, reporting, and performance metrics. The position requires collaboration across teams, independent work, and attention to ownership, quality, schedule, and safe work practices. The role requires a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field and at least seven years of relevant experience in automation, process control, process optimization, application development, or a related technical field, including knowledge of oil and gas processing operations and systems. Travel may reach 30%. The role may involve extended hours, evenings, weekends, occasional on-call duties, holidays, field work, and physical and environmental demands.
Requirements
- Legally authorized to work in the United States; candidates for regular U.S. positions must meet the stated citizenship or immigration-status eligibility requirements and must not require current or future work-authorization sponsorship.
- Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field.
- At least 7 years of relevant experience in automation, process control, process optimization, application development, or a related technical field.
- Strong knowledge of oil and gas processing operations and systems.
- Basic proficiency designing, implementing, maintaining, or troubleshooting automation solutions, process control systems, DCS, PLC, or related applications.
- Basic proficiency with communications interfaces between APC technology and DCS platforms such as Schneider Electric Foxboro, Emerson DeltaV, Honeywell Experion, Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or similar systems.
- Valid driver's license.
- Willingness and ability, with or without reasonable accommodations, to travel up to 30% of the time.
- Willingness and ability, with or without reasonable accommodations, to work extended hours, including evenings, weekends, occasional on-call duties, and holidays.
- Willingness and ability, with or without reasonable accommodations, to transport articles weighing up to 50 pounds.
- Willingness and ability, with or without reasonable accommodations, to work safely near large, hot, high-speed machines; chemicals including acids and bases; and hydrocarbons under high pressure and heat.
- Willingness and ability, with or without reasonable accommodations, to climb ladders and stairs up to 200 feet in height.
- Willingness and ability, with or without reasonable accommodations, to work outside in harsh weather conditions.
- Willingness and ability, with or without reasonable accommodations, to wear fire-retardant clothing and personal protective equipment, such as steel-toe shoes and ear and eye protection.
Nice To Haves
- Master's degree or PhD in chemical engineering or a related technical discipline.
- Gas-processing knowledge, including strong understanding of process units, interactions among units, business drivers, and natural gas cryogenic processes.
- Experience with APC and optimization software such as Aspen DMC+/DMC3, Honeywell Profit Suite, Aspen GDOT, Schneider Electric ROMEO, or similar tools.
- Experience with communications interfaces between APC technology and DCS platforms such as Schneider Electric Foxboro, Emerson DeltaV, Honeywell Experion, Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or similar systems.
- Knowledge of machine learning, AI, AutoML, data analytics, Python, R, business intelligence, or advanced data analysis and reporting.
- Experience developing reusable scripts, frameworks, APIs, applications, or tools that improve automation, process performance, or user experience.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while providing guidance, collaborating across teams, and sharing technical expertise.
- Strong commitment to safe work practices, trust, respect, and clear verbal and written communication.
- Practical understanding of continuous process operations, process control principles, control-loop schemes, loop tuning, software configuration, or structured text programming.
- Ability to analyze complex business or operational requirements, document current and future state needs, and recommend practical technical solutions.
- Strong technical capability with industrial communication networks or interfaces such as OPC, Modbus, EtherNet/IP, or similar technologies.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with operations, engineering, IT, contractors, vendors, and technical partners while maintaining accountability for quality, schedule, and outcomes.
Responsibilities
- Partner with process engineering and site operations teams to identify, prioritize, develop, and execute advanced process control applications across gas processing facilities.
- Maintain APC applications day to day, sustain their benefits, troubleshoot interfaces with base process control systems, and support strong utilization.
- Provide consulting and training to operations and engineering teams on effective, consistent use of advanced control and optimization applications.
- Develop and apply best-practice standards for APC, multiunit optimization, inferential predictor applications, and related process control improvements.
- Translate automation and process-improvement needs into practical road maps, reusable approaches, and prioritized project work.
- Design, configure, test, implement, and optimize control strategies using DCS and PLC platforms, including related industrial communication networks and interfaces.
- Assist with software updates, vendor upgrades, peer reviews, technology evaluations, progress reporting, and performance metrics.
- Work independently and collaboratively across teams while maintaining ownership, quality, schedule, and safe work practices.
Benefits
- Annual Variable Cash Incentive Program bonus for certain eligible full-time employees.
- 8% 401(k) company match for certain eligible full-time employees.
- Cash Balance Account pension for certain eligible full-time employees.
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits for certain eligible full-time employees.
- Annual company contribution to a Health Savings Account for employees enrolled in an HDHP.
- Total well-being programs and incentives, including an Employee Assistance Plan, well-being reimbursement, and backup family care services.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
