DCS Operator - Hydrogen Manufacturing Unit

About Air Products and Role Overview

Air Products is a global leader in industrial gases, known for innovation, operational excellence, and a strong dedication to safety and environmental care. We harness the motivation of our diverse workforce to create solutions that power space exploration, support critical healthcare, and enable large-scale production facilities. We invite candidates to join us in reimagining what is possible.

The HYCO DCS Operator plays a vital role within the Hydrogen Manufacturing Unit (HYCO), reporting to the HYCO Lead/Shift Supervisor. This role involves managing the day-to-day operation of the Distributed Control System (DCS) and field activities to meet production goals safely, efficiently, and with quality compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure a safe and stable working environment by strictly following company and industry safety protocols and maintaining meticulous documentation.
• Uphold compliance with all Safe Work Permits, Lock-out Tag-out (LOTO), and change management procedures.
• Act promptly as the first responder to process emergencies by executing emergency procedures, initiating plant shutdowns if required, and directing field operators.
• Continuously monitor Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) and Fire & Gas Systems, understanding their cause-effect relationships and interlocks.
• Maintain environmental compliance by managing emissions from various plant sources and overseeing waste streams responsibly.
• Operate the Steam Methane Reformer-based hydrogen plant units, including CO2 removal and compression sections, Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) with tail gas compression, membrane units, and utilities as per operational instructions.
• Manage pipeline networks delivering Hydrogen, steam, and CO2 to customers safely and efficiently.
• Provide production progress updates to Shift Supervisors, troubleshoot operational issues, and implement solutions to optimize safety, reliability, and profitability.
• Follow all site operational manuals and procedures to ensure consistent product quality, safety, and flexibility to meet customer demands.
• Maintain ongoing communications and cooperative relationships with customers and other refinery units concerning product supply, utilities, and feedstock integration.
• Vigilantly monitor process variables (flow rates, temperatures, pressures, levels, analysis values) via DCS and adjust control loops, setpoints, and cascades to sustain stable operations.
• Analyze historical data and trends to anticipate equipment degradation and prevent system failures.
• Lead and supervise detailed plant startup sequences from various initial conditions, supporting commissioning activities.
• Collaborate frequently with field operators, maintenance, and engineering teams to coordinate equipment isolation, purging, and reintegration into processes.
• Perform thorough shift handovers, documenting abnormalities, ongoing works, and instructions to guarantee operational continuity and safety.
• Maintain accurate logs of operational parameters and events, ensuring compliance with reporting standards.
• Investigate process deviations and equipment faults to identify root causes and work with engineering to implement corrective measures.
• Contribute to continuous improvement efforts, operational enhancements, and debottlenecking projects.
• Support scheduled maintenance, shutdown, and turnaround planning activities.
• Motivate and coach field teams to achieve operational excellence and customer satisfaction.
• Ensure adherence to process safety protocols, Management of Change (MOC) procedures, and Operational Performance Health Reviews (OPHR).
• Participate in incident investigations and root cause analyses to develop sustainable corrective actions.
• Communicate effectively with other shifts to ensure safe, reliable operation continuity.
• Complete additional duties as assigned by supervisors promptly and effectively.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Chemical Process Operations preferred; Associate Technical Degree with substantial experience considered.
• Minimum of 10 years relevant experience preferred, including at least 5 years leading DCS operations.
• Proven experience operating Steam Methane Reformer (SMR)-based Hydrogen, Ammonia, Methanol, or Syngas plants.
• Proficient with DCS platforms such as Yokogawa Centum VP and Siemens PCS 7.
• Strong foundation in chemical engineering principles, thermodynamics, and process control.
• Ability to maintain situational awareness and make well-informed decisions under pressure.
• Excellent troubleshooting and diagnostic capabilities.
• Clear, effective oral and written communication skills in English, capable of interacting with customers at senior levels and coordinating between operations and maintenance teams.
• Commitment to team building, employee involvement, and embracing diversity.

Additional Information

The position is full-time and based onsite in Jubail, Eastern Saudi Arabia. Candidates should be prepared to work in a dynamic industrial environment with a focus on safety and environmental stewardship.