Air Separation Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

• Serve as the technical expert for the site's cryogenic Air Separation Unit (O₂, N₂, and Ar production).
• Provide daily process engineering support to operations while ensuring product purity and reliable production.
• Troubleshoot complex process upsets and lead safe recovery during plant disturbances and unplanned shutdowns.
• Optimize operating parameters including temperatures, pressures, flow rates, and energy consumption.
• Lead and support plant startups, shutdowns, cool-downs,  and load changes.
• Develop, maintain, and improve operating procedures and best practices.
• Train, mentor, and qualify operators while improving technical knowledge throughout the organization.
• Standardize startup, shutdown, and upset recovery procedures.
• Develop maintenance strategies for critical ASU assets including:
• Cryogenic distillation columns
• Molecular sieve purification systems
• Turbo-expanders
• Centrifugal compressors
• Pumps
• Valves
• Product purification equipment
• Analyze operating data to identify performance trends and reliability improvement opportunities.
• Support debottlenecking projects, capacity improvements, and energy optimization initiatives.
• Participate in outage planning, turnarounds, and major maintenance activities.
• Lead or participate in Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA), Failure Modes & Effects Analysis (FMEA), and other reliability initiatives.
• Partner with maintenance and operations teams to prioritize equipment repairs and improve long-term asset performance.
• Participate in HAZOPs, Process Safety Management (PSM) activities, risk assessments, and compliance audits.
• Promote a strong culture of process safety and operational excellence.

QUALIFICATIONS / REQUIREMENTS

• Direct experience supporting or operating a cryogenic Air Separation Unit (ASU) is required.
• One of the following:
• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field with approximately 5-8 years of ASU experience, or
• High school diploma or technical training with 15-20 years of extensive hands-on ASU experience.
• Strong technical understanding of:
• Cryogenic distillation systems
• Molecular sieve purification beds
• Turbo-expanders
• Rotating equipment including compressors and pumps
• Experience working with Distributed Control Systems (DCS).
• Ability to troubleshoot complex process and equipment issues in a continuous manufacturing environment.
• Ability to read and interpret:
• P&IDs
• Electrical schematics
• Process flow diagrams
• Thermodynamic flow charts
• Experience with reliability methodologies such as RCFA and FMEA is preferred.
• Knowledge of OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM), industrial safety practices, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Experience using SAP and Microsoft Office.
• Strong analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Six Sigma or other continuous improvement training is a plus.

E04JI800n8pv409ck6j