Process Engineer - Sulfur Recovery

Job description / Role

Overview

We are seeking a process engineer with extensive hands-on expertise in sulfur recovery unit (SRU) and sour water stripper (SWS) processes to join the downstream operation engineering solutions department (OESD). The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of optimizing SRU and SWS operations in refinery and petrochemical plant settings.

OESD's technical team provides high-quality, multi-disciplinary support to GM operating facilities (refineries, NGLF, and petrochemical plants) within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and globally.
The primary role is to provide in-depth process engineering and operations expertise to monitor, optimize, and drive performance improvement programs for refineries' SRU and SWS, including both remote and on-site technical advisory support, benchmarking, and technology knowledge management.

Key Responsibilities

As the successful candidate you will be required to perform the following:
- Conduct regular performance reviews of existing SRU and SWS facilities, analyzing KPIs related to operability, profitability, reliability, and process safety. Develop and present quarterly benchmarking reports with actionable improvement recommendations.
- Develop and distribute bi-monthly SRU and SWS technical best practices bulletins, ensuring knowledge dissemination across global manufacturing facilities.
- Deliver on-demand remote and field technical advisory support, including troubleshooting, start-up and shutdown activities, capacity test runs, and technology pilot testing. Provide detailed service reports for each support activity.
- Collaborate with global manufacturing facilities engineers to identify and implement cost optimization and process improvement initiatives, focusing on "low-hanging fruits" that require minimal capital investment.
- Conduct internal assessments of SRU and SWS process engineering standards, ensuring alignment with Saudi Aramco engineering standards and supporting their implementation across global manufacturing facilities.
- Participate in business plan development, coordinating with stakeholders on capital investments for SRU and SWS units and supporting techno-economic evaluations.
- Evaluate and recommend new SRU and SWS technologies, coordinating with relevant departments for assessment and piloting support.
- Actively participate in external benchmarking activities with industry bodies such as Japan Cooperation Council Petroleum (JCCP) and Gulf Downstream Association (GDA).
- Lead and participate in SRU and SWS hazard operability (HAZOP) and safety integrity level (SIL) studies as required by operating facilities.
- Investigate incidents related to SRU and SWS process technologies, providing expert analysis and recommendations.
- Act as the primary coordinator for SRU and SWS data requests from global manufacturing affiliate affairs for Saudi Aramco wholly-owned facilities.
- Demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning, staying updated on the latest SRU and SWS technologies and industry best practices. Provide in-house technical training to global manufacturing facilities as needed.

- Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or related specialization. An advanced degree is preferred.
- A minimum of 15 years of total refinery or gas plants process units experience, with at least 10 years of hands-on experience in handling SRUs and SWS plants.
- Demonstrated ability to optimize SRU and SWS operations, with specific examples of performance improvements achieved.
- In-depth knowledge of SRU process licensor technologies.
- Proven track record of conducting technical troubleshooting, start-up, shutdown, and capacity test runs for SRU and SWS units.
- Strong proficiency in data analysis and visualization tools specific to SRU and SWS performance metrics.
- Excellent computer skills and presentation abilities.
- Strong management and coordination skills, with experience in stakeholder management.
- Fluency in English, both verbal and written.
- Ability to work under pressure and adapt to dynamic environments.
- Candidate with mostly project or design experience will not be considered.

Working Environment

Our high-performing employees are drawn by the challenging and rewarding professional, technical and industrial opportunities we offer, and are remunerated accordingly.
At Aramco, our people work on truly world-scale projects, supported by investment in capital and technology that is second to none. And because, as a global energy company, we are faced with addressing some of the world's biggest technical, logistical and environmental challenges, we invest heavily in talent development.
We have a proud history of educating and training our workforce over many decades. Employees at all levels are encouraged to improve their sector-specific knowledge and competencies through our workforce development programs - one of the largest in the world.

About the Company

Saudi Aramco is an integrated global energy enterprise. The company markets and exports crude oil, petroleum products, natural gas liquids and sulfur. It also ships crude oil worldwide through an affiliated company and participates in petroleum refining and marketing activities at home and abroad. Its overseas affiliates are in the United States, Egypt, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea and Japan.

Saudi Aramco's subsidiaries span the globe, with offices in Houston, Washington, New York, London, Leiden, Dubai, Singapore, Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul.