Position: Advanced Process Control Engineer

Job Duties

This position involves the application of chemical engineering fundamentals and theoretical knowledge to build and maintain regulatory and advanced process control solutions in a team environment. The Advanced Process Control Engineer provides technical expertise for new and existing Advanced Process Control (APC) and Real Time Optimization applications in oil, gas, chemical and mining/mineral processes. This includes preparing functional specifications, process step testing, process model building, developing inferential and first-principles models, control configuration/programming, commissioning, operator training and documentation. The duties are as follows:

  • Prepare functional specifications, perform process step tests, build process models, develop inferential and first principle models, configure/program matrix controllers, commission projects, train operators and other stakeholders, and produce significant documentation.
  • Identify, develop, and implement new advanced control and optimization configurations/strategies to capture economic benefits.
  • Perform process control instrumentation audits on historical process data; review the physical installation of instrumentation to identify non-reliable final elements and transmitters.
  • Develop dynamic multivariable process models from fundamental chemical engineering equations (physics-based models and first principles models) and process response data.
  • Develop a range of process models using artificial intelligence techniques including dynamic neural networks, deep learning, machine learning, expert systems, genetic algorithms, Kalman filters, PLS etc.
  • Review Distributed Control Systems (DCS) programs for control system configuration of underperforming objects and errors.
  • Identify and tune underperforming process control loops and APC solutions.
  • Identify relevant and efficient process step tests, and work with process operators to perform safe process perturbations to generate meaningful process response data for manipulated as well as control variables.
  • Monitor APC/Optimizer applications’ performance daily to help achieve control/optimization objectives.
  • Review process control, advanced process control, and safety systems’ design by participating in PHA, P&ID review, MOC, among other processes/procedures.
  • Develop, together with the marketing team, novel sensor technologies for mineral processing. Participate in the commissioning, prototyping, manufacturing, installation, and development of such technologies.
  • Train operators and other stakeholders in novel and updated control systems.
  • Coordinate efforts between different departments and different companies.
  • Write manuals, one-sheets, internal documents, trainings, SOPs, bill of materials, and data logs.

Travel

This position requires domestic and international travel 50% of the year or more as needed to unanticipated worksites. Travels usually follow the 2×2 or 3×3 system, 2 to 3 weeks traveling and working at worksites, followed by 2 to 3 weeks working at home-office or company headquarters. Travel may be prolonged according to project needs. When an employee must travel to worksites, every day at the worksite is expected to be a workday with no days off.

Telecommuting is available at the employee’s option at the employee’s home office if it is based within a 40-mile radius of the company’s headquarters located in Sandy, Utah. For home office-based employees, travel to headquarters or Pleasant Grove, Utah for meetings on short notice will be necessary.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s Degree in chemical engineering or related field.
  • At least 6 (six) months of advanced process control, modeling, and optimization experience (MPC, optimization techniques, parameter estimation, machine learning, first principles modeling, etc.).
  • Competent knowledge on at least one coding language, including Python, C/C++, Matlab, or another machine learning language.
  • Must have the ability to work as a team as well as independently.
  • Must be willing to work irregular schedules, irregular shifts (including day shifts, night shifts, and multiple combinations between them), and long-hour days based on plant or project needs. During travel time, workdays usually vary between 10 to 16 hours long.
  • Must be able to lift, comfortably, 50 lbs.
  • Must be able to work in a mining environment.

To apply email resume to: sheldon.shumway@optimapowerware.com