Principal Process Design Engineer

Valdes is a 200-person, multidisciplinary, engineering, architecture, and project management company with an expert focus on technical excellence.

Every client project is assigned a dedicated team of professionals who provide personalized services and solutions. The Valdes success model consists of streamlined work processes, attention to detail, technical expertise, and an unyielding commitment to client satisfaction, safety and quality.

Valdes is guided by our purpose statement : We are talented people who thrive and achieve extraordinary results for our customers.

Our core values reflect who we are, how we perform and what we aspire to : Integrity Critical Thinking Excellence Teamwork Passion Valdes proudly executes all work in the United States to maintain the utmost quality for our clients.

We are a certified Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE) and hold the following certifications : National Minority Supplier Development Council - MBE CertificationIllinois Department of Central Management Services - BEP Certification City of Chicago - MBE CertificationCalifornia Public Utilities Commission, The Supplier Clearinghouse - MBE Certification

Responsibilities

• Provide input to business development and upfront project execution efforts
• Provide consultation on process issues and designs
• Identify a pathway to / and evaluate alternate process technologies
• Identify department procedure requirements, gaps in procedures, and help draft process department procedures
• Develop and evaluate conceptual process designs
• Conduct inter-discipline reviews, highlighting important design aspects to other departments
• Collect process data that is not readily available and make design decisions based on limited process information
• Develop complex process simulations including HTRI etc., utilizing the correct thermodynamic property packages, and understand the limitations of simulation
• Develop and / or confirm / check relief device scenarios and calculate estimated required relief loads
• Develop complex equipment and vessel process designs
• Develop execution plans for projects, including fast track and long lead item identification.
• Identify the necessity for process control interlocks
• Mentor young engineers by providing direction and effectively delegating work to other engineers on a team
• Develop comprehensive process scopes of work
• Solve client operating problems / Troubleshoot existing processes
• Recommend potential instruments and specific instrumentation technologies for applications as required
• Recognize project opportunities when working with clients on other projects
• Utilize estimated solutions to engineering problems versus an exact solution as needed.
• Develop process control strategies
• Utilize the correct staff level for project tasks in order to help control budget
• Identify and resolve client design errors, open issues or conflicting information on projects
• Participate in Process Hazard Analysis
• Develop material balances as required for projects
• Manage process projects of varying complexity
• Write process department ECN’s (Engineering Change Notices).
• Execute P&ID walk-down efforts or field verification of P&ID’s.
• Utilize industry codes and standards in designs, and apply them as required.
• Use familiarity with process technologies and standard refining process to develop designs.
• Interact with vendors regarding packaged processes and technologies for inclusion in process designs.
• Check process data on instrument data sheets and recognize the applicability / limitations of the instrument technology selected.
• Track hours used to execute project tasks, review projects schedules, and complete efforts within allowed budget and schedule.
• Identify out of scope work on projects and learn to resolve issues with project management.
• Demonstrate ability in applying engineering judgment.
• Assist in reviewing resumes, interviewing, and evaluating potential new hires
• All other duties as assigned

Technical Competencies and Skill Sets

• Understanding and ability to apply basic fundamentals in Chemical Engineering, including Fluid Dynamics, Chemistry, Thermodynamics, Heat and Mass Transfer, Process Unit Operations and Separations, basic Reaction Kinetics and Reaction Design Theory, Material and heat balances, etc.
• Understand PFD and P&ID symbology, layout, standards and workflow
• Understand the different stages of P&ID’s development and check P&ID’s against the development stages
• Able to modify P&ID’s and check modifications against CAD drafting standards and client standards
• Able to develop demolition P&ID’s
• Able to develop, and maintain Drawing list, Line lists, Equipment lists, and Specialty Items lists
• Able to read, understand, and utilize piping isometrics and plot plans in order to perform hydraulic calculations for compressible, incompressible and two-phase systems, including dense phase and dilute phase pneumatic conveying
• Demonstrate the ability to perform and document process calculations that can be easily checked
• Capable of developing process simulations and is knowledgeable of physical property estimation packages
• Develop physical property data for the selection of instrumentation
• Understand the hierarchy of process documents in process designs
• Understanding of typical instrumentation types and their principles of operation
• Demonstrate capability to accurately check work produced at all discipline skill levels
• Good computer skills, familiarity with common office software as well as specialty process engineering software, such as Aspen HYSYS and MathCAD
• Demonstrate understanding of process design equations and there applicability to design engineering
• Demonstrated ability to generate Process Flow Diagrams (PFD’s) and Piping and Instrument Diagrams (P&ID’s)
• Ability to develop process man-hour estimates for projects
• Ability to review vendor equipment designs and data for suitability to the process design.
• Ability to develop process control strategies
• Capable of drafting a process scope of work document
• Capable of developing a Process Design Basis
• Able to specify specialty items and generate specialty item data sheets as required
• Demonstrated ability to size, select, specify and design pressure relief devices, inlet an outlet piping and effluent handling systems
• Able to set process design conditions and develop equipment designs / sizes along with the required data sheets

People Skills

• Personable and able to work easily with others at all levels
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Responsible and has ownership of projects and keeps management properly informed on project issues
• Comfortable working alone or in a team environment
• Ability to think critically and logically, solving problems quickly
• Dependable and self-motivated, with strong ethical principles
• Understand the collaborative requirements of client interaction; tactfulness, respect and cost / value relationship of projects
• Understands what questions are acceptable for the client, and what needs to be resolved by Valdes
• Capable of serving as a mentor and giving sound technical advice to less experienced staff
• Provide leadership on projects where process is involved

Organizational Skills

• Must be well organized and able to multitask
• Able to commit to and meet assignment deadlines and understand typical project deliverables
• Able to review and execute process work based on a budget and schedule
• Ability to set and track goals for themselves and staff working under their supervision
• Capable of coordinating work with other departments to achieve project milestones
• Able to drive efforts to completion and finish work
• Ability to commit to and meet project deadlines, and driven to provide outstanding customer service to both internal and external customers
• Collect and maintain process supporting documentation for calculations and project decisions made by the process engineer
• Able to effectively delegate work to less experienced employees
• Take ownership of work thru project completion
• Must keep work are neat, clean and organized

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher Chemical Engineering
• 10+ years of experience in the chemical and refining process industries
• Must be a US Citizen or green card holder

Valdes Architecture & Engineering Company is looking for bright and talented people that want to take their career to the next level.

We offer many rewarding career paths to challenge and engage our employees at all phases of their careers. Our office provides a team environment, and excellent working conditions, which allow individuals to maximize their potential.

Valdes Engineering offers an outstanding benefits package including Medical, Dental, 401K plan, Company paid Long Term and Short Term Disability Insurance, Company paid Life and AD&D Insurance, Pet Insurance, a discounted gym membership and tuition reimbursement.EEO / AAE