Pilot Plant and Laboratory Design Engineer

About Baytown

With a population of more than 77,000, Baytown, Texas, is located in the Gulf Coast region of the United States, just east of Houston, the nation’s fourth largest city. Those who live and work in Baytown will find an area rich in history, as well as opportunities for outdoor activities due to its proximity to scenic waterways, namely Galveston Bay, the San Jacinto River and Buffalo Bayou.

Founded in 1919, ExxonMobil’s Baytown Complex is located on approximately 3,400 acres along the Houston Ship Channel, about 25 miles east of Houston. Employing a workforce of more than 8,500, it is comprised of four manufacturing sites, including one in nearby Mont Belvieu, and a global technology center. These include the Baytown Refinery, one of the largest refineries in the United States, and the Baytown Olefins Plant, one of the largest ethylene plants in the world.

Its scope of products includes fuels, lube oils, and chemical compounds used in a diverse range of products, from auto battery cases, diapers and tire inner tubes to pharmaceutical uses, food packaging, trash bags and more.

The Baytown area sites are highly integrated, which makes the plants and products more efficient as we develop technologies to make cleaner fuels and work together to operate more safely and reliably.

Learn more about what we do in Baytown here.

What role you will play in our team

We are seeking a talented and experienced Pilot Plant and Laboratory Design Engineer to join our team supporting the Baytown Technology and Engineering Complex. In this role, you will serve as process design engineer through all stages of pilot plant and laboratory projects, provide troubleshooting and technical support, and optimize pilot unit operations and capabilities by creating and implementing engineering solutions to meet customer objectives.

What you will do

• Perform early design scoping and project development for laboratory and pilot plant projects, with a focus on technical feasibility and identification of alternative solutions.

• Create project scoping documents to consolidate and communicate findings.

• Provide technical support to Capital Projects throughout the initial project development and appropriation process.

• Complete detailed process and mechanical design work for projects.

• Develop project PFDs, P&IDs, and plot plans.

• Design laboratory mechanical, electrical, piping, ventilation, and data systems layout to meet lab workflow requirements.

• Perform QA/QC on project construction. 

• Specify and select equipment such as pumps, vessels, and instrumentation needed to meet project goals, often with limited or changing information.

• Develop quality assurance plans and ensure quality of final work product against design specifications.

• Lead projects through all safety, health, and environmental reviews.

• Provide support and technical work direction to trades during construction phase as needed.

• Serve as primary interface for pilot plants designed and/or constructed at third party facilities.

• Provide routine support for pilot plant and laboratory operations.

• Provide daily unit troubleshooting support as needed.

• Review and support site management of change, and continuous improvement activities.

• Specify pressure relief devices in new or changing service in accordance with API 520 guidance.

• Participate in unit HAZOPs and close out HAZOP findings as needed.

• Serve as designated backfill for production engineering duties, including release reporting and raw materials ordering.

• Support of Global Lab Operations including any required travel

About you

Skills and Qualifications

• B.S. in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering and minimum of 5 yrs. relevant experience in the chemical industry

• Proficient in process simulation (Pro/II or equivalent) and Microsoft Office Suite

• Possesses strong interpersonal and communication skills to allow for effective teamwork on projects, relationship building across business lines, and sharing of results to other teams and third parties.

• Extremely self-motivated with the ability to take prompt action to accomplish objectives, effectively prioritize workload, and progress multiple projects simultaneously.

• Adaptable and approaches change with a constructive and positive attitude. 

• Demonstrated experience in solving technical problems, with the ability to think critically and analyze and interpret data while evaluating problems and formulating solutions

Preferred Qualifications/ Experience

• Demonstrated experience in specifying process equipment and sizing pressure relief devices.

• Demonstrated experience in applying relevant industry codes (ASME, NFPA, API, etc.) to pilot-scale equipment.

• Proficient in Microsoft Visio and AutoCAD

Your benefits

An ExxonMobil career is one designed to last. Our commitment to you runs deep: our employees grow personally and professionally, with benefits built on our core categories of health, security, finance, and life.

We offer you:

• Pension Plan: Enrollment is automatic and at no cost to you. The basic benefit is a monthly annuity to be paid to you in retirement for the rest of your life. 

• Savings Plan: You can contribute between 6% and 20% of your pay and are encouraged to enroll right away. If you contribute at least 6% to your savings plan, the Company will contribute a 7% match. 

• Workplace Flexibility: We have several programs such as “Flex your Day”, providing ad-hoc flexibility around when and where you work, as well as longer-term programs such as leaves of absence and part-time work.

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans. 

• Culture of Health: Programs and resources to support your wellbeing. 

• Employee Health Advisory Program: Provides confidential professional counseling for you and your family, including tools and resources promoting mental health and resiliency at no additional cost to you. 

• Disability Plan: Income replacement for when you cannot work due to illness or injury occurring on or off the job. Enrollment is automatic and at no cost to you.

More information on our Company’s benefits can be found at www.exxonmobilfamily.com.

Please note benefits may be changed from time to time without notice, subject to applicable law.

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EEO statement

ExxonMobil is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, protected veteran status, genetic information, or physical or mental disability.

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