Process Heater Specialist
POSITION SUMMARY
With minimal supervision the Process Heater Specialist is responsible for training and consulting with operations personnel. The specialist will also train and provide directions for steam boiler operations, process treatment of raw water, boiler feed water, cooling water and condensate.
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Chemical or Mechanical Engineering degree or 10+ years of equivalent refinery operations experience.
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
10+ years of progressive refinery experience required
2+ years operations leadership experience required
Demonstrated knowledge of refinery processes and technology
Efficient with Microsoft Office Suite required
Fluent in English, oral and written require
Strong understanding of mechanical systems, thermal processes, and refinery operations.
Proficiency in safety protocols, environmental regulations, and refinery safety standards.
Ability to read and interpret technical manuals, blueprints, and equipment specifications.
Experience with refractory materials, tube inspection, and heat exchanger systems.
Problem-solving and analytical skills for root cause analysis of failures.
Familiarity with diagnostic tools and control systems used in industrial heating equipment.
Fluent in English, oral and written required.
Ability to adjust schedule to meet business needs.
MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES
Provide leadership and develop job skills of operators
Provide daily directions to operations personnel to meet safe reliable and efficient operations
Implement and drive safety and environmental culture to achieve positive results
Provide specific guidance to inspection, project engineering, drafting/design and electronic data management groups and other refinery departments as required
Maintain close contact with the technical and operations groups to ensure alignment with corporate and departmental procedures
Promote communication with employees to influence the continuous improvement of the refinery heaters, boilers, and process water treatment systems.
Manage specific projects as directed by refinery management and participate in functional and cross-functional initiatives as assigned
Initiate, investigate and resolve incident reports
Communicate effectively with hourly workforce and management
Comply with and require compliance with all company policies, procedures, and collective bargaining agreement(s)
As assigned, serve as back-up for the other refinery staff functions
Operational Oversight: Monitor and adjust temperature, pressure, and flow rates in oil heaters to ensure optimal performance and compliance with safety and environmental standards.
Maintenance & Inspections: Perform routine inspections, preventive maintenance, and corrective repairs to extend equipment life and prevent breakdowns.
Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve operational anomalies, including heater malfunctions, refractory issues, and process deviations.
Technical Analysis: Evaluate heater designs, select and specify fired equipment, and participate in HAZOP studies to ensure safe and efficient operation.
The specialist will also be responsible for the interface with the refinery water and steam treatment chemical suppliers as well as training and directing operations in the applications of water and steam programs.
Lifecycle Management: Calculate remaining life of heater tubes, develop replacement schedules, and implement repair procedures to prevent recurrence of failures.
Support During Turnarounds: Assist in major plant shutdowns and turnarounds to address heater-related issues.
Documentation: Maintain detailed logs and reports for operational review and process improvement.
Typically works in refinery or industrial plant settings, often in high-temperature, high-pressure environments.
May require working in shifts and during plant maintenance or shutdowns.
Safety gear and adherence to strict operational procedures are mandatory.
Regularly communicate with supervisor work progress, concerns, and questions.
Exposure to work near potentially volatile and combustible materials and chemicals.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Safe, reliable and environmentally compliant operations of refinery heaters, steam, and condensate systems
Optimize process water treatment and process chemical usage
Effective and timely communication with all refinery stakeholders, including hourly employees, staff, and management
On stream and on-specification targets are met
Confidential information remains protected
Knowledgeable, trained, and certified operations staff in the areas of operating conditions, limits, and risk management
Excellent communication and teamwork skills
Quality and timely results in a driven team player
Embrace positive change, promote safety, drive inclusive behaviors and support sustainable reliability
Adherence to all company policies and procedures
Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States. The Company will not sponsor immigration or work visas.
CVR Energy is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We encourage qualified minority, female, veteran, and disabled candidates to apply.