The Air Separation Unit (ASU) Specialist provides day-to-day technical leadership for a cryogenic Air Separation Unit. This role integrates operations support including guaranteeing product purity (Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Argon), 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
- Either:
- 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
- Be able 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) is desired
- Working knowledge of chemical/industrial equipment function, design, and regulatory requirements and Process Safety Management and ISO systems and procedures
- Functionality with various 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 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., M - F. Flexible Schedule: the ability to work on a 9/80 work schedule
Our Ashtabula, Ohio Complex, consisting of two plants just south of Lake Erie, is a state of the art manufacturing complex with leading technology and more than 45 years of manufacturing excellence.
INEOS Pigments offers a competitive salary with an annual bonus and a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off, medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability with the buy-up option, basic life & AD&D insurance with a buy-up option for self and dependents, 401(k) with company match.
