Process Engineer

Westlake offers you the potential to enrich your work life and career experience in an entrepreneurial environment. We work together to enhance peoples' lives through our products and presence in the communities in which we operate.

Process Engineer

SUMMARY

This position supports the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of our production units while driving Continuous Improvement and Process Excellence across the site. This role blends daytoday process engineering support with structured problem solving, data analysis, and implementation of improvement initiatives that reduce variation, improve quality, increase throughput, and lower cost.

This position in this role partner closely with Operations, Maintenance, EHS, and Capital Projects to troubleshoot issues, stabilize processes, and identify opportunities for improvement. Depending on experience level, the Process Engineer - Continuous Improvement will either lead or actively contribute to activities such as process monitoring, root cause analysis, process hazard reviews, and development of frontend development of capital and expense projects scopes.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

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

• Supervise and coordinate the activities of and provide direction and guidance to the engineers in assigned area.
• Provide mentorship and assist with development of engineers in assigned areas.
• Coach employees across functions to apply CI and process engineering tools to optimize group performance
• Generate front-end scope packages for capital projects, including generating heat and mass balances, marked-up P&ID's, PFD's, project justification, piping and equipment sizing, instrumentation requirements, materials of construction.
• Size and recommend relief devices/valves as needed in accordance with applicable codes and standards.
• Attend process hazard reviews as required.
• Create and implement solutions to action items identified in PHA's, audit findings, and root cause analysis.
• Promote and support Westlake's Continuous Improvement Process (CIP) activities as part of the department team.
• Apply Statistical Process Control (SPC), process capability, and other analytical tools to monitor performance, reduce variation, and sustain improvements.
• Prepare monthly and other reports required to keep management informed on progress of projects, improvements made and other items as necessary
• Use Statistical Process Control in the continuous improvement effort.
• Maintain information (files and documentation) for plant processes, equipment and technology.
• Assist in the preparation of capital requests necessary to improve plant operations.
• Maintain strong working knowledge of the plant operations and technology in order to identify improvement opportunities.
• Develops recommendations and make sound decisions that have significant impact on extensive engineering activities
• Represents the company in technical areas with internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintains detailed knowledge of site processes and technologies.
• Demonstrates strong safety culture through personal behavior and commitment to environmental, health & safety. Participates in the PACE culture of safety.
• Other duties as assigned

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering required; PE Certification is preferred

• Experience in a chemical / petrochemical / manufacturing environment preferred.
• Demonstrated interest and/or experience in Continuous Improvement, Lean, Six Sigma, or related disciplines preferred.

• Excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills, verbal and written
• Proficient computer skills, with good working knowledge of all standard company applications (i.e., Microsoft Word, Excel, etc.)
• Self-directed, motivated, and able to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic plant environment.
• Strong leadership and supervisory skills, with the ability to mentor and develop others.
• Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of local management and with other departments to explain problems, data, and proposed solutions.
• Ability to influence and persuade others toward a particular course of action, using data, logic, and collaborative problem solving.

• Strong analytical and problemsolving skills, with attention to detail and a focus on results.

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 10 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Additionally, this position must make general decisions requiring judgement and perform activities requiring sustained concentration.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The noise level in the work environment is sometimes moderate when working in an office, however, some of the work may be required in the operating units which mandates 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. Travel including air travel or auto travel may occasionally be required.

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.