Inspyr Solutions
Principal Engineer - Advanced Process Control
Inspyr Solutions, Houston, Texas, United States, 77246
Overview
Principal Engineer - Advanced Process Control, located in Houston, TX. Direct Hire for a senior APC role leading the identification, design, implementation, and maintenance of advanced process control and optimization applications across PEM manufacturing plants. Focus areas include APC platforms such as AspenTech, Rockwell Automation, and Honeywell APC. Collaborate with Data Scientists, Plant Operators, Process Engineers, and Digital Office colleagues to deploy APC solutions that improve safety, reliability, efficiency, product quality, and sustainability. Supports a multi-year APC strategy targeting multi-million-dollar annual benefits and harmonization of control systems across diverse technologies and sites. Key Responsibilities Technical Leadership: Manage the entire lifecycle of an APC project, including identification, design, implementation, and maintenance of APC applications for real-time process optimization across PEM sites. Analyze process dynamics and operation challenges; develop advanced control strategies (multivariable control, advanced PID, sequence control, interlocks, etc.). Monitor, troubleshoot, and tune APC and base layer PID controller performance; support the company-wide APC KPI Dashboard system. Re-evaluate and adapt control strategies in response to changing plant operating conditions. Integrate APC systems with DCS, PLCs, laboratory information systems, and plant historians (e.g., InfoPlus.21, OSIsoft PI); support turnarounds, commissioning, start-up, site acceptance testing, and commissioning of control systems. Ensure changes follow Management of Change (MOC) processes and maintain comprehensive documentation (PID logs, APC design/implementation docs, change logs).
Collaboration & Communication: Provide training and coaching to operators and process engineers; report usage and performance against KPIs. Communicate with multi-disciplinary stakeholders throughout the APC project lifecycle. Develop and participate in Westlake's APC program activities, sharing lessons learned, establishing standards, and guiding implementation/maintenance practices. Participate in DCS/PLC software and hardware upgrades, alarm rationalization, and technical assurance reviews. Work with plant operations and engineering to identify and implement process control improvements.
Strategic Initiatives: Collaborate with OT/IT and Data Science teams to define real-time data strategies for process automation and analytics; contribute to technology roadmaps and capital plans; support standardization across PEM sites.
Qualifications Required
Minimum 10 years of hands-on experience identifying, designing, implementing, tuning, and sustaining AspenTech APC (DMC3/DMCplus/IQ) in refinery, chemical, or petrochemical plants. Experience with Honeywell Profit Suite/Forge APC and Rockwell Pavilion8 MPC is beneficial. Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering (or related field). Proven expertise in multivariable control and process optimization; steady-state and dynamic modeling experience a plus. Strong working knowledge of process flowsheets, P&IDs, and control logic diagrams; proven ability to learn new processes and analyze data. Demonstrated ability to lead APC projects from design through commissioning and sustainment. Experience with plant data historians (OSIsoft PI, InfoPlus.21, etc.), PIMS, and OT/IT integration. Excellent troubleshooting, problem-solving, and analytical skills; strong written and oral communication; collaboration across diverse teams and locations. Strong planning and organizational skills; ability to manage multiple priorities and develop support roadmaps.
Preferred
Experience with additional APC/optimization/modeling platforms (e.g., Aspen Watch, Aspen IQ, SPYRO, ProMV). Experience in training and mentoring plant personnel on APC and process automation topics; coaching APC engineers with less experience and developing central APC programs. Working knowledge of industry standards in industrial automation and project management.
Physical Demands & Work Environment
Office-based with frequent work in operating units; PPE usage and exposure to outdoor elements may occur. Must be able to sit, walk, use hands, talk, and hear in typical office and plant environments. Lifting up to 25 pounds may be required. Travel up to 50% (domestic and international) to support PEM manufacturing plants.
About INSPYR Solutions
Technology is our focus and quality is our commitment. We are a national expert in delivering flexible technology and talent solutions, aligning industry and technical expertise with clients' objectives. Learn more at inspyrsolutions.com. INSPYR Solutions provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics, in compliance with applicable laws. #J-18808-Ljbffr
Principal Engineer - Advanced Process Control, located in Houston, TX. Direct Hire for a senior APC role leading the identification, design, implementation, and maintenance of advanced process control and optimization applications across PEM manufacturing plants. Focus areas include APC platforms such as AspenTech, Rockwell Automation, and Honeywell APC. Collaborate with Data Scientists, Plant Operators, Process Engineers, and Digital Office colleagues to deploy APC solutions that improve safety, reliability, efficiency, product quality, and sustainability. Supports a multi-year APC strategy targeting multi-million-dollar annual benefits and harmonization of control systems across diverse technologies and sites. Key Responsibilities Technical Leadership: Manage the entire lifecycle of an APC project, including identification, design, implementation, and maintenance of APC applications for real-time process optimization across PEM sites. Analyze process dynamics and operation challenges; develop advanced control strategies (multivariable control, advanced PID, sequence control, interlocks, etc.). Monitor, troubleshoot, and tune APC and base layer PID controller performance; support the company-wide APC KPI Dashboard system. Re-evaluate and adapt control strategies in response to changing plant operating conditions. Integrate APC systems with DCS, PLCs, laboratory information systems, and plant historians (e.g., InfoPlus.21, OSIsoft PI); support turnarounds, commissioning, start-up, site acceptance testing, and commissioning of control systems. Ensure changes follow Management of Change (MOC) processes and maintain comprehensive documentation (PID logs, APC design/implementation docs, change logs).
Collaboration & Communication: Provide training and coaching to operators and process engineers; report usage and performance against KPIs. Communicate with multi-disciplinary stakeholders throughout the APC project lifecycle. Develop and participate in Westlake's APC program activities, sharing lessons learned, establishing standards, and guiding implementation/maintenance practices. Participate in DCS/PLC software and hardware upgrades, alarm rationalization, and technical assurance reviews. Work with plant operations and engineering to identify and implement process control improvements.
Strategic Initiatives: Collaborate with OT/IT and Data Science teams to define real-time data strategies for process automation and analytics; contribute to technology roadmaps and capital plans; support standardization across PEM sites.
Qualifications Required
Minimum 10 years of hands-on experience identifying, designing, implementing, tuning, and sustaining AspenTech APC (DMC3/DMCplus/IQ) in refinery, chemical, or petrochemical plants. Experience with Honeywell Profit Suite/Forge APC and Rockwell Pavilion8 MPC is beneficial. Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering (or related field). Proven expertise in multivariable control and process optimization; steady-state and dynamic modeling experience a plus. Strong working knowledge of process flowsheets, P&IDs, and control logic diagrams; proven ability to learn new processes and analyze data. Demonstrated ability to lead APC projects from design through commissioning and sustainment. Experience with plant data historians (OSIsoft PI, InfoPlus.21, etc.), PIMS, and OT/IT integration. Excellent troubleshooting, problem-solving, and analytical skills; strong written and oral communication; collaboration across diverse teams and locations. Strong planning and organizational skills; ability to manage multiple priorities and develop support roadmaps.
Preferred
Experience with additional APC/optimization/modeling platforms (e.g., Aspen Watch, Aspen IQ, SPYRO, ProMV). Experience in training and mentoring plant personnel on APC and process automation topics; coaching APC engineers with less experience and developing central APC programs. Working knowledge of industry standards in industrial automation and project management.
Physical Demands & Work Environment
Office-based with frequent work in operating units; PPE usage and exposure to outdoor elements may occur. Must be able to sit, walk, use hands, talk, and hear in typical office and plant environments. Lifting up to 25 pounds may be required. Travel up to 50% (domestic and international) to support PEM manufacturing plants.
About INSPYR Solutions
Technology is our focus and quality is our commitment. We are a national expert in delivering flexible technology and talent solutions, aligning industry and technical expertise with clients' objectives. Learn more at inspyrsolutions.com. INSPYR Solutions provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics, in compliance with applicable laws. #J-18808-Ljbffr