Engineer II - Instrument

As an Engineer II - Instrument at Westlake, you will play a pivotal role in providing engineering support across various departments. Your responsibilities will include recommending instrumentation for process measurement, supporting maintenance and operations teams with technical issues, and developing scopes for both small instrumentation projects and capital projects. Additionally, you will maintain detailed documentation and databases related to instrumentation and work towards improving the reliability of essential equipment.

To qualify for the Engineer II - Instrument role at Westlake, candidates must possess a B.S. Degree in Electrical Engineering and have at least 5 years of industrial engineering experience, ideally in a refinery, chemical, or petrochemical plant context. A valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card is also required. Preparation for background checks including motor vehicle record screening, drug testing, and physical requirements is necessary before employment.

Westlake encourages Engineers II - Instrument to maintain and enhance their technical expertise by staying updated with the latest instrumentation technology and design changes. This continuous professional development is key as it directly applies to potential improvements in plant equipment and production processes, enabling you to implement effective engineering solutions.

As an Engineer II - Instrument at Westlake, you can expect to work in a primarily office-based environment, which is usually moderately noisy. Some responsibilities may require you to be onsite in operational units, exposing you to outdoor elements and requiring personal protective equipment. Your work will include a balance between office setting and fieldwork to ensure effective collaboration and troubleshooting.

At Westlake, career advancement is encouraged, especially for those in the Engineer II - Instrument position. With a focus on continuous improvement and operational excellence, you'll have opportunities to initiate projects, communicate ideas to management, and actively participate in project teams, providing a pathway for development into senior engineering roles or specialized positions as you grow your career with us.

When addressing your experience with instrumentation and control systems in the interview, highlight specific projects where you played an active role. Discuss the types of systems you’ve worked with, any challenges you faced, and how you ensured reliability and performance. Use quantifiable examples whenever possible to illustrate the impact of your contributions.

In your response, emphasize your hands-on experience with gas chromatographs and discuss any preventive maintenance practices you have implemented. Explain how data analysis, regular calibration, and upgrades have improved reliability in past situations. Specific examples of your strategic thinking in maintaining performance can be very compelling.

Demonstrate your commitment to professional development by discussing resources you utilize, such as industry publications, seminars, or online courses. Highlight any specific training you have completed that is relevant to the Engineer II - Instrument role, and how you apply this knowledge in your day-to-day work.

In your answer, outline the specific challenge you encountered, the steps you took to analyze the issue, and the resolution you devised. Focus on the methodology and any team collaboration involved, showcasing your technical problem-solving skills and ability to improve processes effectively.

Stress the importance of thorough documentation in your role as an Engineer II - Instrument. Talk about how documentation ensures compliance, supports maintenance, and aids in training new engineers. Use examples from past experiences where proper documentation led to efficiency improvements or reduced downtime.

Describe your systematic approach to developing project scopes, including assessing project needs, collaborating with stakeholders, and defining specific deliverables. Mention any tools you use for project planning and how you ensure adherence to safety and quality standards.

Highlight your background with predictive maintenance, sharing specific examples of how you have implemented it in past roles. Focus on the technologies used, such as condition monitoring or data analysis, and the positive outcomes achieved, demonstrating your ability to enhance equipment reliability.

Discuss the projects you’ve worked on involving wireless systems, your role in their development or implementation, and any challenges you overcame. Emphasize the benefits of wireless systems, like increased flexibility and improved data collection, and how they contribute to process reliability.

Discuss your commitment to safety in the engineering field and the specific protocols you follow, such as conducting risk assessments, following safety procedures while handling instrumentation, and any training you’ve undergone on safety practices. Mention how you report and manage potential safety issues.

Share your strategies for managing multiple priorities and deadlines, such as time management skills and tools you use for task organization. Illustrate your approach to prioritization with real-life examples, showing how you align tasks with broader company goals.