Refinery Field Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Join the ECI Group's Professional Technical Services Network as an onsite Field Engineer. This 18-24 month duration from award based in the New Orleans (Waggaman) area. Note: You must be a US Citizen or Permanent US Resident to qualify for this position.

About our Client

Our client is developing and operating a major chemical manufacturing facility in Waggaman, Louisiana, producing Dimethyl Carbonate (DMC) and Ethyl Methyl Carbonate (EMC) for the battery supply chain. The site is a petrochemical/chemical manufacturing operation requiring engineering support for construction, commissioning, startup, reliability, maintenance, and operations activities.

Position Summary

The Field Engineer provides frontline engineering support for plant operations, maintenance, reliability, construction, commissioning, and capital project activities. This position serves as the primary engineering resource in the field to ensure equipment, systems, and processes operate safely, reliably, and efficiently. The Field Engineer works closely with Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, EHS, Contractors, and Project Teams to identify and resolve technical issues, improve asset performance, support facility modifications, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

This role requires a strong field presence and a hands‑on approach to problem‑solving in a dynamic chemical manufacturing environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities Operational Support

• Provide daily technical support to production and maintenance teams.
• Monitor equipment and process performance to identify reliability and operational improvement opportunities.
• Investigate process upsets, equipment failures, and operating issues.
• Assist operators and maintenance personnel with troubleshooting activities.
• Support unit startups, shutdowns, and abnormal operating situations.
• Ensure plant operations remain within safe operating limits and design parameters.

Field Engineering

• Perform routine field inspections of process systems, piping, rotating equipment, and fixed assets.
• Verify field conditions and engineering requirements for maintenance and project work.
• Review and resolve field technical issues during construction, commissioning, and operation.
• Develop engineering recommendations to improve safety, reliability, and performance.
• Maintain technical documentation including redline drawings and engineering records.

Project Support

• Provide field coordination and execution support for capital and expense projects.
• Participate in project scope development, design reviews, constructability reviews, and commissioning activities.
• Coordinate engineering activities with contractors, vendors, and internal stakeholders.
• Support equipment installation, system turnover, startup, and performance testing.
• Verify project work complies with company specifications, industry standards, and regulatory requirements.

Reliability and Maintenance Support

• Collaborate with Reliability, Maintenance, and Inspection teams to improve equipment performance.
• Participate in Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA) investigations and corrective action implementation.
• Support preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
• Review equipment history and maintenance data to identify improvement opportunities.
• Assist in developing maintenance strategies and equipment reliability plans.

Process Safety and Compliance

• Support Process Safety Management (PSM) programs and initiatives.
• Participate in Management of Change (MOC), Pre-Startup Safety Reviews (PSSR), Hazard Reviews, and Process Hazard Analyses (PHA).
• Investigate incidents and support corrective action development.
• Ensure all engineering activities comply with OSHA, EPA, state, and local regulatory requirements.
• Promote UBE's commitment to safety, environmental stewardship, and operational excellence.

Qualifications Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or related engineering discipline required.

Experience

• Minimum 3 years of engineering experience in chemical manufacturing, petrochemical, refining, specialty chemicals, oil & gas, or other continuous process industries preferred.
• Experience supporting plant operations, maintenance, reliability, commissioning, startup, or project execution activities preferred.
• Experience working in a PSM-regulated manufacturing environment is highly desirable.

Technical Knowledge

• Chemical and petrochemical manufacturing processes
• Process equipment and systems
• Mechanical integrity programs
• Rotating and fixed equipment
• Engineering design and troubleshooting practices
• Reliability engineering principles
• Process Safety Management (PSM)
• Risk assessment methodologies
• Construction and commissioning practices
• Maintenance and reliability programs
• Management of Change (MOC)
• Applicable industry standards including OSHA, API, ASME, NFPA, and ANSI

Required Competencies Technical Competencies

• Engineering problem solving and troubleshooting
• Data analysis and interpretation
• Technical report writing
• Field inspections and equipment assessments
• Reading and interpreting PFDs, P&IDs, isometrics, and engineering drawings
• Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA)
• Project coordination and execution

Leadership Competencies

• Strong safety leadership
• Effective verbal and written communication
• Team collaboration and relationship building
• Initiative and accountability
• Sound judgment and decision‑making
• Strong organizational and planning skills
• Continuous improvement mindset

Certifications and Training Required

• Ability to obtain and maintain all site‑required safety qualifications.
• OSHA 30‑Hour General Industry Certification (or obtained within designated timeframe).
• Valid TWIC Card or ability to obtain one.
• Completion of site‑specific Process Safety Management training.

Preferred

• Engineer‑in‑Training (EIT) Certification.
• Professional Engineer (PE) License.
• Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP).
• Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE).
• Project Management Professional (PMP).
• API 510, API 570, API 580/581, or API 653 certifications.
• Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA) training.
• Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) training.

Working Conditions

• Regular work in an operating chemical manufacturing environment.
• Extensive field presence required, including process units, maintenance areas, and construction zones.
• Frequent walking, climbing stairs and ladders, and conducting equipment inspections.
• Use of required personal protective equipment (PPE).
• May participate in on‑call support, turnarounds, startup activities, and emergency response situations.
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather and industrial conditions.

Success Measures

• Safe and incident‑free operations.
• Improved unit reliability and equipment availability.
• Successful project execution and startup activities.
• Reduced unplanned downtime and equipment failures.
• Effective implementation of reliability improvements.
• Compliance with environmental, safety, and process safety requirements.
• Continuous improvement of plant performance and operational excellence.

Reports To: Maintenance & Engineering Manager

FLSA Status: Full-Time, Exempt