Automation Technician

With a strategy centered on people and sustainability, Braskem is engaged in contributing to the value chain to strengthen the Circular Economy. Braskem's 9,000 team members dedicate themselves every day to improving people's lives through sustainable solutions in chemicals and plastics. With its corporate DNA rooted in innovation, Braskem offers a comprehensive portfolio of plastic resins and chemical products for diverse industries, such as food packaging, construction, manufacturing, automotive, agribusiness, health and hygiene, and more. With 40 industrial units in Brazil, the United States, Mexico, and Germany, Braskem exports its products to clients in over 70 countries.

Braskem America is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Braskem S.A. headquartered in Philadelphia. The company is the leading producer of polypropylene in the United States, with six production plants located in Texas, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, as well as an Innovation and Technology Center in Pittsburgh and a New Renewable Innovation Center in Lexington, which focuses on leveraging groundbreaking developments in biotechnology and chemical catalysis. For more information, visit www.braskem.com / usa.

Department : NAMEA Automation

Location : Neal, WV

Travel Involved : 0%

Job Type : Full Time, On Site

Description :

Braskem is looking for a self-motivated and curious process control technician to help our Neal, WV, facility reach its full potential. A successful candidate will work very closely with our site automation engineer, operations, and instrumentation personnel. At Neal, we will need your help maintaining Honeywell Experion (TPS), Safety Manager, Modicon & Rockwell automation systems. You should not be intimidated by challenges, enjoy complex problem-solving, and come prepared to contribute.

Below is a list of activities where you can do your part :

• Perform first-line troubleshooting of the automation systems, including : DCS, SIS, PLCs, Data Historian, Advanced Solutions, and DMZ / PCN layer network
• You will serve a critical role as the primary interface with the I&E technicians, offering them occasional support while troubleshooting particularly challenging issues or providing specific guidance for capital work.
• Collaborate daily with operations personnel, helping them troubleshoot process issues, logic, graphics, drawings, etc.
• Work closely with the site automation engineer, sharing responsibility for the overall reliability of all automation systems. This includes sharing coverage for off-hour support in response to all automation system disruptions on a rotating basis, as well as extended hours during planned and unplanned plant outages.
• Maintain and update process control strategy documents, including loop diagrams, logic drawings, and cause-and-effect matrices.
• Monitor performance of PID loops and tune as necessary. Diagnose poor performance and recommend next steps as needed.
• Monitor and evaluate the health and performance of automation assets, and take necessary actions.
• Be an active participant in MOC and PSSR initiatives, identifying how proposed changes may impact our control systems and helping to determine optimal implementation solutions.
• Support our Alarm Management process by generating alarm reports, participating in alarm rationalization meetings, and implementing changes to the DCS configuration.
• Perform routine tasks such as backups and PMs to verify the viability and reliability of all automation equipment and repair / replace components as needed.
• Identify and correct problems that may arise during the commissioning of new control system equipment.
• Serve as a liaison between the electrical and mechanical groups, providing insight into how their work may impact automation systems.
• Support the automation engineer in developing alarms / interlock testing procedures and conduct functional testing of alarms / interlocks following site-specific procedures.
• Perform minor maintenance on the site historian (AVEVA PI). Be able to add / modify tags.
• Coordinating with vendor & Industrial Data and Architecture (ID&A) team to ensure that Neal's automation system's support software (ex., Microsoft, McAfee, Carbon Black, etc) is patched and up to date.
• Ensure that applicable safety practices are followed and that personnel are informed of possible hazards while working with and around automation equipment.
• Support site cybersecurity initiatives through the Braskem Cybersecurity Champions program
• Provide technical training to operations on control system functionality and alarm management.
• Participate in incident investigations into automation system issues and represent automation during other incident investigations.

Process Safety Responsibilities :

Requirements :

Preferred Skills, Education, and Experience :

What we offer

At Braskem, we offer more than just a competitive pay package. Our total rewards package includes a wide range of benefits you need for every stage of your life. Our benefits include :

Depending on qualifications, the successful candidate may be offered a position at a more appropriate level and / or ladder.

Candidates must be currently eligible to work in the United States without the need for any type of sponsorship now or in the future. Braskem is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified candidates and employees according to applicable law. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. If you require reasonable accommodation as part of the application process, please contact the Talent Acquisition team.