Automation Engineer

BASIC FUNCTION

Provide control system support for the continuous manufacture of quality high density polyethylene (HDPE) and specialty fluids at a high rate of production and minimum cost, consistent with high standards of quality, safety, housekeeping, and good employee relations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Operational Responsibilities

• Designs, implements, and maintains all process automation systems on site.
• Independently troubleshoot and solve control issues
• Stay current on new technology and identify new applications to implement.
• Develop new routines and methods to implement new technology
• Develop business case for new technology
• Manage projects that affect APC/DCS applications developed by outside resources
• Develop and modify operator interfaces as needed
• Plan and execute testing as needed
• Train operations staff on new technology and new applications
• Lead the start-up, commissioning and tuning of new applications
• Gathers, selects, analyzes, and interprets data to understand the impact of changes on the Advanced Process Control (APC) system, distributive control systems (DCS) and Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS), specifically the potentials for domino effect problems, loss of view, loss of control, incorrect logic, and the interconnected nature of the system
• Assist contract DCS programmers, as needed, for larger projects
• This position is the site Automation Engineer for both Emerson and Honeywell Distributive Control Systems

Maintenance Responsibilities

• Maintain DCS, ESD, SIS, and PLC systems
• Perform hardware and software updates for automation systems while on-line
• Install, set-up, upgrade, and edit program logic control (PLC) statements without bringing system down
• Set-up new equipment and change how equipment is viewed on the DCS
• Investigate, repair, and provide preventative maintenance on plant APC, DCS, SIS, and PLC hardware and software
• Guide instrument technicians and electricians in the field to identify equipment malfunctions
• Partner with engineers to program alarms and operational limits
• Partner with capital support for new APC and DCS installations
• Interpret and follow company guidelines for industrial control system security
• Build various density, pressure, temperature, flow, auto/manual, valve position trends
• Maintain documentation, instructions, and procedures
• Participate in functional acceptance testing of APC and DCS applications
• Manage vendor testing to ensure operating to Company specifications

QUALIFICATIONS / EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• B.S. in either Chemical or Electrical Engineering (other engineering/technical degrees will be considered depending on experience).
• Computer proficient: Windows 10, Server 2016, MS Office, SAP
• Excellent verbal/written communication
• Ability to manage multiple issues/projects simultaneously
• Manufacturing experience in instrumentation or IT
• Advanced Process Control experience
• Experience with Honeywell Experion or Emerson DeltaV systems