Lead Process Control / Process Automation Engineer
Are you our next driver of change?
This is for you who wants to have a real impact on creating a healthier planet for our children every day. At Neste, you will be working for the world’s leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel and a forerunner in developing renewable and circular feedstock solutions for polymers and chemicals. Let’s create transformation for a sustainable future together.
We are looking for a Lead Automation Design Engineer to join our COO_IPEG organization.
Job Purpose
Neste Investment Project Execution and Governance (IPEG) Unit Plan and execute Neste Refinery Portfolio Projects and Major Investment Projects, maintain and develop project delivery processes, tools, ways of working and competencies and perform Investment project portfolio governance and assurance.
Clients are the Neste production sites. The lead automation design engineer ensures that process control and automation designs are delivered within the correct scope, engineering and quality standards meeting Neste’s business objectives.
Responsibilities
Neste (NESTE, Nasdaq Helsinki) creates solutions for mitigating climate change and accelerating a shift to a circular economy. The company isthe world’s leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel, enabling its customers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Neste refines waste, residues and other renewable raw materials to high-quality renewable fuels at its refineries located on three continents. The company’s annual renewable fuels production capacity will be increased to 6.8 million tons in 2027.
Neste has high standards for sustainability and the company has consistently been recognized by several leading sustainability indices. In 2024, Neste's revenue stood at EUR 20.6 billion. Read more: neste.com
This is for you who wants to have a real impact on creating a healthier planet for our children every day. At Neste, you will be working for the world’s leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel and a forerunner in developing renewable and circular feedstock solutions for polymers and chemicals. Let’s create transformation for a sustainable future together.
We are looking for a Lead Automation Design Engineer to join our COO_IPEG organization.
Job Purpose
Neste Investment Project Execution and Governance (IPEG) Unit Plan and execute Neste Refinery Portfolio Projects and Major Investment Projects, maintain and develop project delivery processes, tools, ways of working and competencies and perform Investment project portfolio governance and assurance.
Clients are the Neste production sites. The lead automation design engineer ensures that process control and automation designs are delivered within the correct scope, engineering and quality standards meeting Neste’s business objectives.
Responsibilities
- Demonstrate senior level expertise in industrial automation and process control standards, including ISA 5, ISA 95, ISA 88 and ISA 106, ISA 101, ISA 18, ISA 84 (IEC 61511) and ISA 62443 and apply them effectively across all project phases.
- Demonstrates in depth understanding of control and process philosophies and logics of multiple process units and defines and leads implementation of improvements via investment projects or other development initiatives if required.
- Lead the development of the complex process control design from the initial stages including Initiative Shaping (when required), Pre-Study and Feasibility phases through Definition and Execution, including Commissioning and Start-Up phases. Additionally, also other complex development initiatives and projects as required.
- Ensure all process control designs strictly adhere to relevant internal, industry, and safety standards throughout the project lifecycle, such as Process Control System (PCS) Execution Specification, Design Rules, Instructions, Procedures and Standards.
- Develop, review, modify and maintain process control, interlock, recipe, sequence, module control and coordination automation descriptions and philosophies and safety requirement specifications (master lifecycle documentation).
- Develop, review, modify and maintain Control and Sequence Diagrams and Interlock and Logic Diagrams (master lifecycle documentation).
- Contribute robust technical input to the Basis of Design (BOD), process and process automation documentation across all project stages.
- Define, manage, and supervise the scope of work for all outsourced process automation engineering activities.
- Facilitate, coordinate and lead technical alignment and scope definition through cross-functional meetings with Process Engineers to ensure solution development and execution.
- Ensure the technical quality and integrity of all deliverables from outsourced engineering firms, including comprehensive review and checking of submitted documents and specifications.
- Actively participate in cross-functional meetings with E&I Design Leads, Functional Safety Engineers, HSE Engineers and Cybersecurity Leads to integrate and align the process automation scope.
- Actively participate and contribute in formal safety reviews, including HAZOP and LOPA sessions.
- Perform and document SIL verification calculations for safety instrumented systems.
- Lead and supervise that planning, coordination, execution, and follow up of all activities by involved stakeholders such as engineering contractor (EPCM), sub-contractors, Automation Vendors and Package Suppliers are done in compliance with the project specifications and procedures and on proper execution sequences according to given priorities.
- Lead and supervise the definition and implementation of PCS (DCS and SIS) application models in cooperation with Automation Vendors, ensuring compliance with Neste requirements.
- Prepare comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and detailed guidelines for project engineering, commissioning and start-up activities.
- Produce all agreed technical deliverables and support the fulfillment of project targets, with a specific focus on automation functional testing, as well as commissioning and start-up planning and execution.
- During the commissioning phase of the projects responsible to execute automation functional tests and related activities and support the commissioning team.
- During the start-up phase of the projects responsible to support start-up team and to execute automation and process control related start-up, tuning and alarm management activities and possible performance acceptance tests.
- Oversee and execute all project closure activities specific to the process automation scope.
- Provide essential technical support to Technical, Maintenance and Operations teams regarding process control, process control systems, and safety instrumented systems.
- Maintain and continuously enhance professional knowledge in process control and related engineering tools.
- Experience with Valmet's Distributed Control Systems (DCS), specifically Valmet DNA and with HIMA's safety systems, specifically HIMax is preferred.
- TUV certification (Functional Safety Engineer/Professional) according to IEC 61511 is beneficial.
- Experience with different types of programmable logic controllers is beneficial.
- BSc or Msc. in Process Control, Process, Cehmical or Control Engineering.
- Senior level professional with 15 years of experience from the petrochemical industry, refinery and renewable processes, oil and gas capital investment projects. Possesses deep knowledge of process controls, project governance and workflows, including delivery resource management.
- Experienced with major investment projects factory acceptance tests, site acceptance tests, automation functional tests, commissioning and start-up phases and its activities.
- 5+ years of professional experience within the Netherlands to ensure familiarity with local standards and regulations.
- Experience preferably obtained at a manufacturing company or with an engineering contractor managing capital projects in the oil and gas industry.
- Excellent leadership, analytical and conceptual design skills.
- Ability to speak and write in English and preferably in Dutch.
Neste (NESTE, Nasdaq Helsinki) creates solutions for mitigating climate change and accelerating a shift to a circular economy. The company isthe world’s leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel, enabling its customers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Neste refines waste, residues and other renewable raw materials to high-quality renewable fuels at its refineries located on three continents. The company’s annual renewable fuels production capacity will be increased to 6.8 million tons in 2027.
Neste has high standards for sustainability and the company has consistently been recognized by several leading sustainability indices. In 2024, Neste's revenue stood at EUR 20.6 billion. Read more: neste.com