Furnace Engineer II

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SUMMARY

The Furnace Engineer will play a pivotal role in ensuring the optimal performance, maintenance, and reliability of the Petro 1 and Petro 2 furnaces. We are seeking a motivated engineer to join our team to focus on managing and optimizing furnace operations within our ethylene production units. Responsibilities include ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable operation, maximizing productivity, conducting performance evaluations, and implementing process improvements. This is an excellent development opportunity to help contribute to the continuous improvement and success of our ethylene units.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

May include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Liaison between Environmental and Operations to ensure compliance with existing regulations and new regulations that arise.

• Provide technical insight and operational support to Operations and the existing Hot-side Production Engineers.

• Develops best practice reporting that gives a clear indication of furnace performance and outlines the opportunities for improvement in the various modes of operations, i.e. cracking and decoke modes.

• Develop and maintain model/simulation inputs, conduct SPRYO simulations as a tool to troubleshoot and enhance furnace performance.

• Maintain knowledge of furnace APC objectives and provide troubleshooting support to maximize on-stream time

• Develop and maintain a knowledge base for furnace economics to support strategic decision-making

• Develop and deploy furnace-specific training programs tailored to operational personnel.

• Act as a resource to work with Operations and Maintenance to help ensure that work scopes for retube and PMs are developed, set, and approved to meet company objectives.

• Supports and helps drive maintenance work flow and efficiency efforts with respect to furnace maintenance. Strives for first quartile Solomon furnace performance.

• Participates in post retube and PM critiques from a performance and cost standpoint.

• Assist Operations and Reliability to develop a retube and PM schedule for the Petro 1 and Petro 2 furnaces, including development of the criteria for furnace retubes.

• Works with Operations, Reliability, and Engineering to develop a 5-year capital plan for each furnace.

• Primary liaison to the Digital Group for scoping digital solutions to help improve furnace performance such as advanced furnace analytics.

• Is current on new furnace technologies such as aluminum tube alloys and helps scope, justify, and implement as needed.

• Maintains a seed list of furnace opportunities, including results from studies, and develop a road map for implementation.

• Build communication strategies to allow for clear and effective information sharing across teams, departments, and operating units.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• A current, valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card is required.

• BS in Engineering, preferably in Chemical Engineering

• Five years of refinery or petrochemical plant process or production experience

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• Exhibit individual initiative and constantly seek continuous improvement.

• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to make data-driven decisions.

• Successful candidates must satisfy background screening, including motor vehicle record screening, drug testing & pre-employment physical requirements before starting work.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to touch, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.  The employee is

occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch.  The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate as normally based in an office.  Some of the work may be required in the operating units which can require usage of required PPE including safety glasses, hearing protection, etc.  May also result in exposure to outside elements and may require usage of stairs and elevators. Inside exposure includes but not limited to A/C 60% of the time. Outside exposure includes but not limited to weather, fumes, and dust 40% of the time. May be exposed to slippery, rocky, uneven surface of floor/ground.

Westlake is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable legislation.

If you are an active Westlake employee (or an employee of any Westlake affiliates), please do not apply here. You will apply via the Jobs Hub application in Workday.