Staff Engineer, Process at Cheniere Energy, Inc. in Houston, Texas

Job Description:

At Cheniere, we provide the world with safe, reliable energy. But more than that, we provide opportunities for our talented employees to impact their communities every day. Our diversity is key to our continued success and forges a path where our culture supports greater equity and inclusion—for our employees, customers and beyond. 

 

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Staff Process Engineer reports to the Manager of Engineering, Engineering & Construction, and will advise on all matters related to the process design and process technology within E&C projects. Assigned position is in a multi-discipline Project Management Team (PMT) that provides general Engineering oversight support during the Conceptual, pre-FEED and FEED (Front End Engineering & Design) phases LNG export plant Projects.

 

The successful candidate will support evaluation and development of Cheniere’s new business opportunities, both in the US and globally. The role will require selection and preliminary evaluation for suitability of gas processing and LNG liquefaction processes and supporting facilities. Additionally, the successful candidate will identify appropriate LNG compressor and driver concepts, LNG export and storage, as well as LNG shipping considerations.

 

The successful candidate will also provide expert process engineering support for selected activities such as HAZOP and LOPA within Cheniere’s ongoing portfolio of projects during FEED through the Execute and commissioning and startup stages.

 

KNOWLEDGE

Candidate will be a Process Engineer possessing a broad understanding of all facets of the LNG value chain, from gas pipeline transportation and compression through gas processing and LNG liquefaction, storage, transportation and export. The candidate will readily be able to identify appropriate project configurations at the building block level, i.e., number of LNG trains vs. number of storage tanks and jetties. Candidate will have experience in the application of LNG plant siting criteria. Candidate will possess a broad awareness of the various LNG liquefaction processes and the pertinent codes and standards such as NFPA 59A, USCG, DOT and EN1473.  Candidate will have knowledge of plant maintenance philosophies and design, operation and maintenance of equipment and systems within the LNG liquefaction facility. 

 

The successful candidate will have experience developing process simulations for a range of LNG liquefaction concepts including, but not limited to the Optimized Conoco Phillips-Cascade (OCP) and SMR technologies. The assignment will require independent work within a small multidiscipline team. An ability to integrate into a team comprising of technical and non-technical/commercial staff is essential. The candidate will identify concept-level LNG plant design options and will independently create preliminary engineering deliverables such as block flow diagrams (BFD), process flow diagrams (PFDs) and process simulations to establish equipment sizing sufficient to support conceptual-level cost estimates of +/- 40%. The successful candidate will also be required to evaluate designs from potential joint venture partners.

 

The candidate should be knowledgeable in the areas of process simulation (i.e., Hysys/ Unisim), plant layout, equipment sizing, reliability and availability modeling, LNG storage and shipping modelling to assess suitability of various LNG jetty/tank/carrier configurations. The candidate should also have sufficient knowledge of NRU and Carbon Capture technologies. Knowledge of Process Hazard Analysis including HAZID, HAZOPS, LOPA and facility siting studies.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Development Engineering: 

• Identifies LNG industry norms for LNG plant design and equipment lineup, number of storage tanks and jetties and number of LNG carriers typical to the scale for various LNG configurations.


• Drafts the preliminary process Basis of Design, Technical SOR, Technical SOW, develops conceptual level PFDs and equipment layout based on analogues.


• Provide Process Engineering Governance at each project phase to meet Company Assurance requirements.


• Develops process simulations for plant process designs, including pretreatment and liquefaction.


• Conducts risk assessments to evaluate concept level design decisions.


• Supports development of Monte Carlo assessments for project cost, schedule and production scenarios.


• Leads development of RAM models and shipping models to inform LNG production profiles.


• Interacts with cost engineers to create conceptual level factorized cost estimates based on equipment lists plus scale-up factors to generate total installed costs.


• Provide support to the Manager of Engineering in addressing process technical queries and supervising and coordinating project activities.


• Interacts with Contractor's Process lead/Process Engineering Lead via weekly meetings and provide guidance on the design of the LNG plant and supporting facilities.

 

Process Engineering: 

• Participates in HAZIDs, Model Reviews, HAZOP and LOPA and other formal hazard assessment groups.


• Provide technical guidance for process equipment qualifications, selection, procurement, design, shop testing witnessing and acceptance, site installations, and plant commissioning and start up planning.


• Teamwork with other Cheniere Discipline Engineers in management of Engineering Contractors in the design and development of Capital Projects.


• Monitors plant and equipment performance during commissioning and startup by reviewing production and controls data by exception and identify and recommend opportunities for improvement.


• Leads plant debottlenecking studies in support of maximum utilization of Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi facilities


• Development and implementation of Flare and Relief Design Basis, Isolation Philosophy and other Process and Process Safety philosophies as needed.


• During Engineering and Construction, lead the Management of Change process for all Process plant modifications, review and approve changes through the change order process and verify that documents and drawings are up to date.


• Assist with the development or update of Cheniere’s corporate engineering standards.

 

 

QUALIFICATIONS (EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS)

• 
  Education and Certifications:  Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering is required. Professional Engineering License in good standing with at least one state is preferred. 


• 
  Experience:  10+ years of experience as a Process Engineer with a process plant background within the LNG industry or similar industry. 
  


• 
  Skills:
  
  
  
  • Must be articulate and have effective organizational skills. 
  
  
  • A high level of safety awareness and knowledge of applicable LNG regulations is required. 
  
  
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
  
  
  • Computer literate with typical office packages and HYSIS/Unisim Process simulation applications and basic computer literacy. 
  
  
  • Excellent knowledge of the design, operation and maintenance of equipment and systems within the facility is required. 
  
  
  • Knowledge of plant maintenance philosophies and working experience of plant maintenance systems is also required.
  
  
  
  

 

DIRECT REPORTS

No formal direct reports, but co-ordinates the day-to-day activities with electrical, rotating equipment, instrument and controls, marine, civil engineers and LNG Technology manager.

 

FREEDOM TO ACT

The Staff Process Engineer is an expert in their field and requires minimal supervision.

 

WORK CONDITIONS

• Job is performed in a typical office environment, with the possibility of visits to various sites.


• Airline travel over four hours will be required. 


• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is often required to stand, walk, sit, climb stairs, work at height above ground on stairs and catwalks, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, talk or hear, smell, type and write.


• While performing the duties of this job, the employee will work indoors and outdoors, and exposed to year around weather conditions, ocean environment, noise, and occasionally process gases and vapors.


• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.


• Subject to drug and alcohol testing, per applicable federal regulations.

 

ADA JOB REQUIREMENTS

Reasonable accommodations will be made to ensure that the essential functions of the job can be performed and not hinder the employee's performance due to physical, mental or emotional disability.

 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Cheniere Energy is an equal opportunity workplace. All employment decisions are made without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected categories. This includes providing reasonable accommodation if requested for disabilities or religious beliefs and practices.

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