Project Overview:

Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass is the systems contractor selected by the Department of Defense’s Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives program to design, build, systemize, test, operate, and close a facility to destroy the chemical weapons stockpile at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Richmond, Kentucky. The Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) will safely destroy 523 tons of mustard and nerve agent in projectiles and rockets. Neutralization followed by supercritical water oxidation is the technology selected by the Department of Defense to destroy the nerve agent, while the Explosive Destruction Technology will be used to destroy the mustard in the Blue Grass chemical weapons stockpile.

The Senior Cognizant Process Systems Engineer will be assigned to support Main Plant operations with primary responsibilities for the systems and components which mechanically drain and chemically process nerve agent. The purpose of the System Engineer (SE) program, at the Bluegrass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP), is to ensure the continued operational readiness of the systems within its scope. System Engineers are responsible for:

Maintaining overall knowledge and awareness of assigned systems.

Providing systems engineering support for operations and maintenance.

Technical support for ensuring continued system operational readiness.

The SE is to provide technical expertise and direction on a specific system to ensure the safe, efficient, and reliable performance of plant systems and components within the design and within environmental requirements, applicable codes and standards, approved procedures, and BGAPP policy.

Responsibilities:

The successful candidates will be expected to perform the following duties of this position, but are not necessarily limited to:

Maintain overall cognizance of the system and be responsible for system engineering support for operations and maintenance.

Performs equipment equivalency evaluations for the replacement of obsolete parts.

Understand system design and operation, including conformance to environmental Resource and Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA), safety, and health requirements.

Understands and follows processes:

Maintenance Management

Work Control

Change Control

Document Control

Drawing Control

Conduct of Operations

Agent Safety

Limiting Conditions of Operations (LCOs)

Procurement, replacement, and related quality assurance requirements.

Working knowledge of the plant’s operation.

Vendor recommendations, manuals, and any product warnings.

Coordinates closely with other technical disciplines in planning and executing work as an integrated team.

Generates material requisitions for procurement of configured plant equipment and components.

Performs submittal reviews on vendor supplied configured plant equipment and components.

Resolves technical issues related to discipline and discuss with third parties (customer, suppliers, and regulators).

Performs field walkdowns.

Coordinates resolutions of technical issues within engineering discipline, with other engineering disciplines, and with operations, maintenance, and work planners.

Ensures that system configuration is being managed effectively.

Answering system(s) Nonconformance Reports.

Operations and Maintenance Support

Reviews daily operational logs, assists to resolve issues, and provides support.

Reviews and recommends improvements to standing operating procedures and facility/system related procedures.

Communicates system-specific maintenance as well as manufacturer and vendor recommendations and any product warnings.

Provides technical support to Operations, which includes:

Providing technical advice to ensure their understanding of the need for operational requirements.

Supporting personnel technical training.

Supporting operational readiness reviews and other testing activities.

Maintain technical knowledge of the process, equipment, and operations for assigned systems and ensure configuration control is maintained.

Work with operations and Maintenance to trouble shoot alarms, abnormal readings, abnormal trends and other anomalies or failure of equipment to support operational requirements.

Review reading sheets and historical data for assigned systems to identify abnormalities or trends that could indicate a degradation of the operational level of the system.

Provide Technical Direction to Maintenance and Work Control

Developing and reviewing purchase requisitions for replacement and spare parts.

Assisting in planning critical, unusual, or major maintenance activities.

Developing preventative maintenance and job plans.

Recommending changes in maintenance procedures based upon engineering evaluations of the trends.

Conducting investigations during upset conditions.

Preparing contract scopes of work, which includes:

Attending pre-bid meetings and job-site visits, answering bidder questions, locating additional documentation needed to substantiate and answer bidder questions.

Interfacing with the subcontractor, attending in-progress review meetings, and providing additional information to the subcontractor, as required.

Performing final walk downs.

Coordinating with Operations, Maintenance, and the contractor on scheduling installation activities.

SE Training and Qualification

The basic SE qualification level includes prerequisite education and experience, training, familiarization with the BGAPP design, permitting and operational plans, and knowledge of processes and procedures applicable to SE duties. BGAPP SEs will be assigned one or more facility systems for a specific qualification. For system-specific requirements, the SE must demonstrate detailed system‑specific knowledge including key technical requirements, design basis information, and system interfaces, and demonstrate an understanding of specific Safety and Regulatory assumptions/implications for operation of the system. A final evaluation will be done by oral interview assessment.

Qualifications and Skills

Basic Qualifications:

Level 1: A recognized bachelor’s degree in an engineering or a related scientific discipline, from an accredited college or university with at least 6 years of relevant work experience in engineering such as systems design, startup, field engineering, or plant operations in large industrial plants, utilities, process plants or another engineering/construction firms.  In lieu of a degree, a minimum of 12 years of relevant work experience would be considered in areas such as systems startup and field engineering or plant operations in large industrial plants, utilities, process plants or other engineering/construction firms.

Level 2: A recognized bachelor’s degree in an engineering or a related scientific discipline, from an accredited college or university with at least 9 years of relevant work experience in engineering such as systems design, startup, field engineering, or plant operations in large industrial plants, utilities, process plants or another engineering/construction firms.  In lieu of a degree, a minimum of 15 years of relevant work experience would be considered in areas such as systems startup and field engineering or plant operations in large industrial plants, utilities, process plants or other engineering/construction firms.

Minimum Qualifications:

Knowledge of industry, and regulatory guides, codes, and standards and demonstrated expertise in system management.

Knowledge of plant operations, system support and maintenance support activities.

Familiarity and ability to utilize Engineering and office automation tools.

Skill in oral and written communication and must be physically fit and able to work safely at an operating plant.

Preferred Qualifications:

Prior experience on DoD Chemical Demilitarization Projects or working with government agencies, preferably the Department of Defense.

Familiarity with government System Engineering, Configuration Management programs. Preferably those used by the Department of Defense.

Background in Chemical Engineering.

Registered Professional Engineer in USA (Chemical, Mechanical or related Engineering).