Process Engineer

PROCESS ENGINEER JD

Role Purpose

To optimise control and continuously improve the seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) process at the Jubail 3B desalination plant. The Process Engineer ensures safe operations strict HSE compliance WPA contractual compliance and accurate KPI monitoring and monthly invoicing via PASS. The role supports Operations Maintenance and Chemistry teams and carries delegated technical responsibilities from the O&M Manager.

Key Responsibilities

1. Process Operations & Performance Monitoring

- Monitor all operational KPIs: TA CA Load Factor recovery DP trends flux SPC (kWh/m³) SDI15 turbidity pH and chemical dosing etc.

- Conduct daily/weekly trend analysis and identify performance deterioration.

- Lead technical root-cause investigations for plant trips pretreatment issues membrane fouling and SDI excursions.

- Plan and evaluate CIP activities including chemistry selection cleaning setpoints and post-CIP performance verification.

- Optimise pretreatment performance (coagulation filtration cartridge filters) ensuring stable RO feed quality.
- Perform RO membrane normalization recording trending and analysis to detect early fouling scaling or performance deviation.

2. WPA Compliance & Contractual Performance

- Ensure complete adherence to the Water Purchase Agreement (WPA) including operational quality performance and reporting requirements.

- Monitor SDI turbidity water quality and compliance parameters.

- Participate in outage classification and ensure strict application of WPA definitions (Planned Forced NPE FM/WTTCO).

- Support monthly performance reports submitted to AJIWC/SWPC ensuring traceability and accuracy.

- Identify risks for LDs and advise management with proper justification.

3. Invoicing & PASS (Plant Availability & Settlement System)

- Prepare and validate all process inputs for monthly invoicing in PASS.

- Verify outages TA/CA calculations availability hours deemed production and supporting evidence.

- Ensure all PASS submissions fully align with WPA formulas and time-stamps.

- Coordinate internally with Finance Ops and Maintenance to achieve 100% invoicing accuracy.

4. HSE Responsibilities (Critical for the Role)

- Ensure compliance with all ENGIE and plant HSE procedures and Life-Saving Rules.

- Participate in hazard identification risk assessments (HAZID HAZOP) and HSE audits.

- Ensure safe chemical handling storage dosing and spill-response practices.

- Maintain strict compliance with environmental discharge permits water quality limits and regulatory reporting.

- Support incident investigation and provide process input to safety-related events.

- Ensure laboratory and water sampling activities meet safety and quality standards.

- Promote a strong safety culture among operators and chemists.

5. Process Engineering & Technical Support

- Review and update PFDs P&IDs mass balance design criteria and operating limits.

- Provide technical support during shutdowns maintenance activities and equipment upgrades.
- Contribute to annual process and laboratory budgeting by identifying operational needs forecasting chemical and consumable requirements and supporting cost-optimization initiatives across pretreatment RO and water quality programs.

- Evaluate membrane performance scaling/fouling indicators and develop recovery actions.

- Interface with vendors for membranes chemicals media filters analyzers and ERD/HP pump support.

- Support commissioning and start-up activities for RO/pretreatment equipment.

6. Chemistry & Environmental Compliance

- Maintain stable and compliant water chemistry for pretreatment RO and post-treatment.

- Oversee chemical dosing optimisation to reduce cost while ensuring stability and compliance.

- Lead process and chemistry audits (internal environmental and customer audits).

- Develop improvements in water quality membrane longevity and chemical usage efficiency.

7. Reporting & Documentation

- Prepare monthly performance sections for management and client reports.

- Maintain proper logs environmental reports water-quality records and trend files.

- Ensure high-quality documentation for events RCA PASS evidence and compliance reporting.

-Prepare revise and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) Work Instructions and process guidelines whenever operational safety or contractual changes require it.

8. Team Collaboration & Delegated Duties

- Provide guidance to operators and chemists on process operations troubleshooting and safety.

- Lead daily performance discussions when delegated by the O&M Manager.

- Represent the plant in technical meetings vendor visits or customer interactions as required.

- Provide training for junior engineers chemists and operations staff.

Qualifications & Experience

Education

- Bachelors Degree in Chemical Engineering Environmental Engineering Mechanical Engineering or Water Treatment Technology.

Experience

- 510 years experience in desalination process engineering with strong focus on SWRO.

- Experience in start-up commissioning or troubleshooting of RO plants preferred.

- Familiarity with WPA/contractual frameworks is an advantage.

Skills

- Strong analytical skills in RO performance water chemistry and hydraulic/process calculations.

- Strong HSE awareness and proven safety performance.

- Ability to interpret PFDs P&IDs mass balance and design documents.

- Excellent communication (English mandatory; Arabic an advantage).

- Strong documentation reporting and data analysis capability.