Senior Process Engineer

About the job:

Kent is looking for a Senior Process Engineer to be based in our Houston, TX office and support regional project sites.

The role requires at least 10 years of relevant process engineering experience with a strong background in onshore oil and gas facilities, including production, natural gas liquids (NGL) processing, midstream facilities, gas compression, refining, petrochemicals, and/or chemicals. Experience should include project development, pre-FEED, FEED, and detailed design execution within an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) environment.

The successful candidate will serve as a client-facing Process Engineering focal point, representing Kent in technical discussions, defining project scope, resolving technical issues, and delivering process engineering work in coordination with clients and multidisciplinary project teams.

Skills and Responsibilities:

Responsibilities:

• Execute process engineering work for onshore oil and gas production, NGL processing, midstream facilities, gas compression, refining, petrochemical, and chemical projects across project development, pre-FEED, FEED, detailed design, and EPC execution, supporting both greenfield and brownfield projects.
• Serve as a client-facing Process Engineering focal point for assigned projects or scopes, participating in technical discussions, communicating recommendations, resolving technical issues, and aligning engineering work with project objectives and client expectations.
• Develop, review, and approve process engineering deliverables within assigned responsibilities, ensuring technical accuracy and completeness, including:
  • Design Basis / Design Criteria
  • Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs) and Heat & Material Balances
  • Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs)
  • Hydraulic and line sizing calculations
  • Equipment and instrument process datasheets
  • Relief valve contingency analysis and sizing calculations
  • Relief system load summaries
  • Process control narratives
• Perform process simulations and design calculations using industry-standard tools such as Aspen HYSYS, Aspen Plus, and/or PRO/II, selecting appropriate thermodynamic property packages, validating results, and applying findings to design and operating decisions.
• Troubleshoot process and equipment performance issues by evaluating operating data, performing engineering analyses, and working directly with operations and maintenance personnel to identify causes and recommend practical corrective actions.
• Evaluate facility capacity, operating performance, process configurations, operating scenarios, and modification options to provide technical recommendations and support project development and scope definition.
• Act as Lead Process Engineer for assigned projects or scopes, coordinating deliverables, providing technical direction, reviewing the work of assigned engineers, and mentoring less-experienced team members.
• Plan and manage assigned process engineering work, including development of workhour estimates, input to staffing plans and project schedules, and monitoring of progress against quality, budget, and schedule requirements.
• Support proposal development through scope definition, technical input, and basis of estimate development; identify potential follow-on work and communicate opportunities to project and discipline leadership.
• Work directly with client operations, technical, and project teams to define scope, confirm design requirements, and develop practical solutions that meet facility needs.
• Lead or participate in P&ID reviews and design workshops; participate in HAZOPs, Management of Change (MOC) reviews, and technical review meetings, ensuring assigned actions are resolved and incorporated into the design.
• Coordinate with piping, mechanical, I&C, electrical, and CSA teams to ensure process intent is properly translated into multidisciplinary design deliverables.
• Coordinate assigned work across multiple offices and engineering centers, maintaining consistency in technical quality and delivery expectations.
• Review engineering designs from an owner/operator perspective, identifying risks related to process safety, operability, maintainability, constructability, and long-term reliability.
• Support vendor and package activities, including technical bid evaluations, vendor document reviews, and resolution of technical queries.
• Provide field support as required, including site visits, walkdowns, operating data collection, construction support, commissioning, and startup assistance.
• Support brownfield project execution, including tie-in definition, battery limits, evaluation of existing equipment and utility capacity, and coordination with operating facilities.
• Identify and communicate scope changes, technical risks, and potential impacts to cost and schedule; support development of mitigation strategies with project leadership.
• Contribute to development and continuous improvement of engineering procedures, guidelines, and work practices.
• Apply sound engineering judgment to balance technical rigor with practical execution, delivering solutions that are safe, operable, and constructible.
• Ensure all work is executed in accordance with applicable company, client, and regulatory requirements, with a strong focus on safety and quality.

In addition to the responsibilities listed herein, the employee may be required to perform other ad hoc tasks as needed or directed by the supervisor or management. These tasks will be within the reasonable scope of the employee's skills, capabilities, and role within the organization. The intent of this provision is to allow for flexibility and adaptability in meeting the dynamic needs of the organization, ensuring that operational requirements can be met efficiently. All such tasks will be assigned considering the employee's current workload and with respect to their professional development.

Your knowledge/skills, education, and experience:

Knowledge/ Qualification/ Training/ Certification:

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering.
• Minimum of 10 years of process engineering experience in onshore oil and gas production, NGL processing, midstream facilities, gas compression, refining, petrochemicals, and/or chemicals.
• Experience across project development, pre-FEED, FEED, and detailed design, including execution within an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) environment.
• Strong working knowledge of relevant process facilities, equipment, utilities, and offsites, including design considerations associated with modifications to operating facilities.
• Demonstrated experience troubleshooting process and equipment performance issues and developing practical optimization recommendations for operating facilities.
• Strong knowledge of process engineering fundamentals, including thermodynamics, heat and material balances, fluid flow, heat transfer, separation processes, equipment performance, and process control.
• Proficiency in process simulation using Aspen HYSYS, Aspen Plus, and/or PRO/II, including selection of appropriate thermodynamic property packages and validation of simulation results.
• Experience developing and reviewing process engineering deliverables, including PFDs, P&IDs, hydraulic calculations, equipment and instrument process datasheets, relief calculations, and process control narratives.
• Working knowledge of pressure relief and depressuring principles, relief contingency analysis, and applicable industry codes and standards.
• Working knowledge of process safety and risk management practices, including HAZOPs, Management of Change (MOC), and safe design.
• Experience supporting brownfield modifications, including evaluation of existing equipment, tie-ins, utilities, and operating constraints.
• Ability to work effectively with operations, maintenance, and project personnel in both office and site environments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead assigned process engineering scopes, coordinate multidisciplinary interfaces, review technical work, and provide guidance to less-experienced engineers.
• Ability to develop workhour estimates, plan engineering activities, and manage assigned work against scope, budget, and schedule requirements.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to evaluate incomplete information and apply sound engineering judgment.
• Demonstrated client-facing experience and the ability to communicate technical findings and recommendations clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including written, verbal, and presentation abilities.
• Professional commitment to engineering ethics, safety, and compliance with applicable company, client, and regulatory requirements.
• Professional Engineer (PE) licensure preferred, but not required.

Communication:

• Communicates clearly and effectively in English, both verbally and in writing, with clients, owner/operator representatives, project management, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Leads or participates in client meetings and technical discussions, explains design decisions, and presents recommendations with confidence and sound technical reasoning.
• Communicates scope changes, technical risks, and potential impacts to cost and schedule promptly, supporting resolution with clients and project teams.

Behavior/ Core Competencies:

At Kent, you will be expected to operate with a high degree of professional judgment, accountability, and autonomy, while remaining aligned with project and organizational objectives. In this role:

• Works independently and takes responsibility for technical decisions and delivery of assigned work, involving the appropriate stakeholders when needed.
• Applies engineering judgment and practical process engineering experience to resolve technical challenges.
• Provides technical guidance and mentoring to less-experienced engineers; sets clear expectations for quality and timely delivery.
• Represents Kent professionally and builds effective working relationships with clients, project teams, and other engineering disciplines.
• Responds to changing project priorities and client needs while managing commitments and communicating impacts.
• Maintains technical knowledge of relevant processes, engineering standards, and industry practices.

HSSEQ:

• Comply with all Health, Safety, Sustainability, Environment, and Quality (HSSEQ) requirements of the Company, its clients, and applicable regulatory authorities.
• Integrate HSSEQ considerations into engineering decisions and day-to-day work, ensuring designs are safe, operable, and aligned with applicable standards and practices.
• Identify and communicate HSSEQ risks or concerns in a timely manner and support development and implementation of appropriate mitigation measures.

Details about the role:

Location: Houston, TX

Relocation required: N/A

Travel required: Per Project Requirements

Contract type: Direct hire

Experience level: 10+ years