Rockies Optimization Engineering Manager

Job Summary:

Western Midstream is seeking a Rockies Optimization Engineering Manager to lead its Optimization Engineering team, which supports WES’s Rockies assets and is based in Longmont, CO. The team is responsible for the surveillance, performance optimization, debottlenecking, and execution of small brownfield projects for WES’s gas gathering, compression, treating, and processing facilities and oil gathering, stabilization, and storage systems operating in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah. The manager will partner closely with Operations, Maintenance, Measurement, HSE, Commercial, and Project Engineering to maximize throughput, uptime, recovery, and margin from operating assets.

The ideal candidate for this position will have both a thorough understanding of the operation, surveillance, troubleshooting, and optimization of midstream gathering, treating, and processing assets as well as prior experience managing engineering and/or technical support teams.

Qualifications:

• Ten (10) or more years of relevant work experience in the operation, optimization, process engineering, or technical support of upstream or midstream gathering, treating, and processing assets; onshore, Lower 48 experience is preferred.
• Five (5) or more years in a management role managing engineering, operations support, and/or technical support teams.
• Proven ability to coordinate and communicate with internal and external stakeholders with timely and relevant information.
• Track record of action-oriented performance including taking control of problem situations, developing solutions, and bringing them to resolution, along with operating with a sense of urgency.

• Passion for mentoring, coaching, and developing team members.

• Extensive knowledge of the operation and performance of midstream gas and oil facilities including gas gathering and compression, amine treating and dehydration, cryogenic and refrigeration processing, oil pumping, stabilization, storage facilities and pipelines.

• Thorough familiarity with industry codes and standards as well as applicable local, state, and Federal regulations. Working knowledge of applicable environmental, air permitting, and safety regulations.
• Demonstrated leadership in occupational and process safety principles and their application to the operation, and modification, of oil and gas facilities.
• Knowledge of and experience in utilizing structured problem solving, root cause analysis, and management of change (MOC) practices, as applied to both operating facilities and brownfield modifications.
• Competency in measuring and reporting asset performance using operating metrics such as throughput, run-time, availability, horsepower utilization, recovery, and unit operating cost, and in translating those metrics into prioritized action.

• Proficiency with standard office software such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Working knowledge of process simulation software (e.g., HYSYS or ProMax) and operational data historian and visualization tools (e.g., PI, Ignition, or Power BI) is preferred.
• Experience in identifying, screening, and economically justifying debottlenecking and brownfield optimization opportunities, including development of the supporting cost estimates and economics.

Responsibilities:

• Set roles and responsibilities, secure resources, and provide work assignments to the Rockies Optimization Engineering team, including the engineers supporting the DJ Basin, Powder River Basin, Utah, and SWWY. Monitor utilization levels, ensure the team is meeting its commitments, and adjust prioritizations as necessary.
• Prepare necessary reports and updates for team level progress, asset performance, and forecasts.
• Own the surveillance program for the Rockies assets. Establish routine monitoring of compression, treating, processing, and liquids handling performance and ensure exceptions are identified, prioritized, and resolved.
• Direct debottlenecking and brownfield modification work, from opportunity identification and capacity studies through scoping, economic justification, and support of execution, commissioning, and startup.
• Partner with Operations and Maintenance to improve equipment reliability and availability, targeting compressor and plant downtime, horsepower utilization, and recurring failure modes.
• Drive reduction of fuel gas consumption, flaring, and methane emissions through engineering solutions, and support compliance with applicable air permits and emissions reporting requirements.
• Ensure plant and system process models are maintained and used to evaluate NGL recovery, treating and dehydration performance, and operating setpoints, and that results are translated into actionable operating recommendations.
• Provide responsive day-to-day engineering support to field operations for troubleshooting, equipment performance issues, and management of change.
• Develop the technical capability of the team through mentoring, structured development plans, and cross-training between the basins.
• Interface with internal and external stakeholders including Operations, Maintenance, Measurement, Commercial, HSE and Project Engineering on current and emerging asset performance issues and ensure staffing levels and assignments are adequate for stakeholder support.
• Review monthly and annual operating expenses and capital forecasts, accruals, and budgets for the team.
• Serve as the gatekeeper for team Authorizations for Expenditures (AFEs), confirming requests contain all required scope, economics, expected benefits, and required approvals prior to submittal to management.
• Provide guidance on the selection and use of third-party engineering, testing, and specialty service providers supporting optimization studies and field work.
• Drive internal and third-party performance to deliver optimization studies and field work on schedule and on budget while ensuring contractual commitments are met.
• Perform look backs and reviews of actual results and costs against projected benefits and budget, review variances, and provide feedback to team on performance or needed changes.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of current asset performance and the status of active optimization initiatives, actively managing the team to ensure identified benefits, costs, and schedules are on track.
• Ensure system volume forecasts are routinely evaluated against installed capacity so that constraints are identified early and debottlenecking or optimization solutions are scoped and approved to meet customer’s needs.

• Within the team and stakeholders, promote WES’s safety culture and ensure everyone goes home safely every day.
• Exhibit WES’s core values of Partnership, Customer Focus, Resourcefulness, and Performance.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree required in Engineering; Chemical, Mechanical, or Petroleum preferred, other disciplines may be considered with appropriate experience.
• Grade and salary will be commensurate with relevant education and experience.

Certifications / Licenses:

• Valid driver’s license with no restrictions that would prohibit driving a company vehicle.

Travel Requirements:

• Travel will be required up to 30-40%. Most travel will be to field offices within CO, WY, and UT.

Work Schedule:

• This position will work 9 hours Monday – Thursday and 4 hours on Friday.
• Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays will be worked in the office, while Wednesdays and Fridays will be worked from home.
• To work from home, the candidate must have the ability to remotely access corporate IT systems reliably.

The pay range for this position in Colorado is $160,100-$230,100; however, the base pay offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition, this position is eligible to participate in the Western Midstream Cash Bonus Program, plus offers a competitive benefits package that emphasizes pay-for-performance compensation, work/life balance, premium health benefits, and a top-tier savings plan. Please check that and more on the WES Benefits page. The Company may, at any time, in its sole discretion, modify or vary from anything stated with regards to benefits, with or without notice.

Western Midstream is accepting online applications through August 28th at 11:59 p.m. ([CST]).