Air Separation Unit Specialist

At INEOS Pigments, we value the contribution of our people in making us one of the largest producers of titanium dioxide in North America. Providing numerous products and services to industries around the globe, from coatings to plastics to paper and other end‑uses, we invest in employee development and offer a wide range of career opportunities, giving everyone the chance to broaden their experience and build a professionally rewarding career. The Air Separation Unit (ASU) Specialist provides day‑to‑day technical leadership for a cryogenic Air Separation Unit. This role integrates operations support, guaranteeing product purity (O₂, N₂, Ar), process troubleshooting, procedure development, training, and maintenance strategy oversight, to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable plant performance. It is classified as a Safety Critical role. Key activities include: Adhere to INEOS Pigments’ 20 principles of process and Behavioral Safety and Life Saving Rules Provide day‑to‑day technical support for ASU operations (O₂, N₂, Ar production) Troubleshoot complex, non‑routine system process fluctuations and manage swift, safe recovery actions during unplanned shutdowns Maximize plant reliability and efficiency by continuously fine‑tuning process variables such as flow rates, temperatures, and pressures. Support and lead derime and cool‑down, startups, shutdowns, and load changes Optimize plant performance, energy efficiency, and product recovery Develop and maintain operating procedures and best practices Lead operator training, qualification, and knowledge transfer Standardize startup/shutdown and upset recovery procedures Define maintenance strategies for critical ASU equipment (pumps, centrifugal compressors, expanders, product purification units, cryogenic distillation columns, valves) Identify and implement reliability and efficiency improvements Analyze plant data and trends to prevent failures and optimize performance Support debottlenecking and capacity improvements Support planning and execution of outages and turnarounds Lead or participate in RCFA, FMEA, and reliability improvement initiatives Partner with maintenance teams to prioritize work and improve equipment performance Ensure adherence to all safety, environmental, and PSM requirements Participate in HAZOPs, audits, and risk assessments Reinforce a strong safety culture across operations and maintenance Other duties as assigned You should possess: Must have direct Air Separation Unit (ASU) experience Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, or related) with 5–8 years of ASU experience, or non‑degreed (high school diploma / technical training) ASU expert with 15–20 years hands‑on experience Strong knowledge and deep expertise in the mechanics of cryogenic distillation systems, molecular sieve purification beds, and turbo‑expanders Experience with rotating equipment (pumps, compressors) Familiarity with Distributed Control Systems (DCS) Demonstrated troubleshooting and problem‑solving ability Fluent capability to interpret complex Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), electrical schematics and thermodynamic flow charts Ability to use analytical processes (appraise a situation, develop supporting plans, make decisions, generate innovative ideas, analyze and troubleshoot operational problems); Six Sigma training a plus Experience with reliability tools (RCFA, FMEA) desired Working knowledge of chemical/industrial equipment function, design, and regulatory requirements and Process Safety Management and ISO systems and procedures Proficiency with computer programs, specifically Microsoft Office Suite and SAP Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with all levels of employees Schedule / Hours This is a salaried, exempt position with typical work hours of 7:00 am – 3:30 pm, Monday – Friday.