Principal Reliability Engineer

POSITION OVERVIEW

Ascend Performance Materials is the premium provider of high-quality chemicals, fibers and plastics. With world scale integrated manufacturing facilities, we are able to develop new products from our core technologies and provide flexibility to respond to the expanding needs of customers. Ascend has global sales and distribution facilities across the globe and manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Europe and China. As a privately held company, our people do big things and make big decisions, often much earlier in their careers than at larger companies. Ascend Performance Materials offers team members the opportunity to contribute in big, meaningful ways-all within a stable and growing business.

Ascend is currently searching for a Principal Reliability Engineer

• Fixed Equipment for our Alvin, Texas site. The primary purpose of the Reliability Engineer

• Fixed Equipment is to manage fixed equipment assets and their reliability risks which could adversely affect plant or business operations. The Fixed Equipment Reliability Engineer is responsible for developing, optimizing, and implementing equipment stewardship. strategies and predictive/preventative maintenance programs that will maximize asset value creation, safe. equipment operation, and controlled cost of ownership for the various assets supported. The Fixed Equipment Principal Reliability Engineer also provides technical support to projects and maintenance and establishes best practices for repairs on vessels, tanks, piping, and relief devices.

TARGETED OUTCOMES

• Measurable improvements in unit uptime (e.g. OEE, remaining life, inspection efficiency…etc.), maintenance cost and process safety performance related to fixed equipment.

• Technical support, guidance and expertise on fixed equipment/assets and supporting projects, from front-end engineering through detailed design, costing estimates, fabrication, inspection/validation, installation, commissioning, and maintenance.

• Best-in-class Mechanical Integrity (MI) Programs

• Support Reliability and/or Productivity continuous improvement via key projects based on equipment bad actors, asset life extension, or other approved tasks that will yield positive business impact.

• Application of cutting-edge reliability technology to improve manufacturing processes and equipment performance to provide competitive advantage.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Troubleshoot equipment problems and conduct root cause failure analysis investigations on failed equipment, develop action plan to eliminate repeat failures, and implement corrective actions.

• Work with production to identify key areas for reliability improvements (e.g. bad actor flanges, heat exchanger tube failures…etc.), develop action plan, and work to implement action plan.

• Communicate progress of fixed equipment & MI programs to leadership with clear metrics.

• Establish priorities for inspection planning and execution using risk-based methodologies, identify relevant damage mechanisms, select appropriate inspection tasks/NDE methods, and develop inspection/ maintenance plans for all equipment types.

• Provide technical support to all Mechanical Integrity Inspectors as it relates to mechanical repairs, troubleshooting problems, and equipment installation issues.

• Provides technical support to the Project Engineering Department on the selection of mechanical equipment based on reliability improvements and industry best practices.

• Provides support through phases of projects: Design, Fabrication, Installation, Testing and Conducts and reviews vessel and piping design calculations, including fitness for service evaluations and rerating of equipment (i.e. pressure vessels).

• Lead and/or support development of vessel repair plans and temporary repair devices.

• Support job planning for fixed equipment inspection and repairs including base maintenance and turnaround activities.

• Demonstrates and stays abreast of developments and advancements in technology (i.e. engineering and inspection equipment and techniques).

• Drive culture change at Ascend that puts Safety and Reliability at the forefront of decision making. This includes cross-functional partnerships to educate departments about new fixed equipment / mechanical integrity initiatives

TEAM

• Reports to: Mechanical Reliability Manager

• Team Members: Mechanical Reliability Engineers and Inspectors

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 15 years post grad plant maintenance experience with fixed equipment.

• Working knowledge of API/ASME Mechanical Integrity programs and supporting MI

• Software

• Knowledge and understanding of predictive technologies for fixed equipment evaluations.

• Demonstrated use of CMMS as an effective management tool for pulling equipment

• information and history.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering required

• Computer Systems: Microsoft Suite (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Visio);

• Enterprise Resource Planning (SAP)

• Critical thinking: use of logic, reasoning, and calculations to identify alternative solutions,

• conclusions, and approaches to solve equipment problems.

• ASME BP&V Code Knowledge: ASMBE B31.3 & API Codes for Tanks, Vessels,

• Exchangers & piping. API 510, API 570, API 571, API 579, API 580, API 653 (Certifications

• is an added advantage)

• RCFA Methodology to identify the casual factors for component, equipment, or system failures.

• Communication: ability to listen and understand information and ideas and to express

• thoughts and ideas effectively and concisely through oral and written communication.

Preferred Skills

• Reliability Software (Weibull Analysis, RCM, Mechanical Integrity Software).

• Fitness for Service calculations using appropriate API and/or SME Code.

• RBI Methodology to improve risk management results and reduce the risk of failures.

Skills Summary:

About Us:

Ascend Performance Materials is the premium provider of high quality chemicals, fibers and plastics. With world scale integrated manufacturing facilities we are able to develop new products from our core technologies, and provide flexibility to respond to the expanding needs of customers. Ascend has global sales and distribution facilities across the globe and six manufacturing facilities globally. As a privately-held company, our people do big things and make big decisions, often much earlier in their careers than at larger companies. Ascend Performance Materials offers team members the opportunity to contribute in big, meaningful ways-all within a stable and growing business.

Why work at Ascend?

Our vision is to be the recognized leader in the nylon 6,6 value chain, creating new possibilities with PA66 for everyone, everywhere, every day. We achieve that through living our Ascend values.

We care. We operate safely with high integrity for our employees, our customers and our communities. Our people are our greatest assets, and our Total Rewards Program extends beyond traditional benefits to include access to on-site medical clinics at our U.S. facilities, a global wellness rewards program and Performance Matters, an employee-driven recognition plan. Our Commitment to Zero demonstrates our belief that is it possible to operate with zero personal injuries, zero process safety incidents and zero environmental releases. And the Ascend Cares Foundation, led by Ascend employees, supports Ascend families in times of need, provides inspiring opportunities for community engagement and facilitates community leadership.

Customer-focused. We exist for our customers; they drive our actions. Their success is our success. Our plastics and chemicals are building blocks that help make everyday essentials safer and more sustainable, and we constantly strive to develop new and innovative products to meet the future needs of our customers. And that customer focus doesn't only apply to the marketplace - it also applies to how we treat our colleagues and our fellow community members.

Better every day. We invest in our people and our processes to improve every day. A2E, our continuous improvement program, guides the way we do business. And this way of problem solving applies not only to our manufacturing practices but also to our commitment to developing our people. You'll see it during your career at Ascend in our leadership development, skills training and mentoring programs

Agile. We think broadly and lead proactively in a constantly evolving organization and industry. Agility doesn't mean simply working quickly - it means critical thinking, creative problem solving and novel approaches to everyday challenges.

One Ascend. All together, with a common set of goals and an eye toward the future. We don't accept silos. We look for ways to share across departments, sites and geography. This means you won't be boxed into a single role at Ascend - you could get the chance to work with teams across the globe to improve the way we serve our people, our customers and our communities.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, citizenship, genetic information or other protected status under federal, state or local laws.