Electrical Engineer

Department/Location: Pasadena Peformance Products, Pasadena, TX
FLSA Status: (Exempt/Non-Exempt)  Exempt
Position Description:  

Seeking an Electrical Engineer with strong hands-on troubleshooting skills and experience supporting day-to-day operations in a chemical manufacturing environment. The ideal candidate can quickly diagnose electrical issues in the field, mentor I&E technicians, communicate effectively with Operations and Maintenance, and lead small-to-medium engineering projects from concept through detailed design (via internal work or external engineering firms). This position provides a growth path within a fast-growing company backed by a multi-billion-dollar investment firm.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Operations & Maintenance Support 

• Provide daily field support for troubleshooting electrical equipment, including motors, MCCs, VFDs, lighting systems, breaker coordination, transformers, protection relays, switches, UPS/backup systems, and low/medium-voltage distribution.
• Serve as technical authority for electricians and I&E technicians; provide coaching, training, and guidance on best practices and troubleshooting methods.
• Lead or participate in root cause investigations for electrical equipment failures and operational upsets.
• Support turnarounds, outages, and equipment commissioning activities.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Communicate clearly with Operations, Maintenance, EHS, Reliability, Supply Chain, and leadership regarding equipment conditions, risks, and recommended actions.
• Prepare concise technical summaries and recommendations for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Coordinate with OEMs, vendors, and third-party specialists during troubleshooting, repairs, and inspections.

Engineering & Project Support

• Develop scopes of work, engineering specifications, one-line diagrams, load studies, panel schedules, and cable/conduit sizing for small capital projects and reliability improvements.
• Oversee and manage external engineering firms (EPC/E&I) during detailed engineering phases—review drawings, calculations, studies, and ensure compliance with company standards and industry codes.
• Review and approve vendor electrical packages and ensure compatibility with existing plant systems.
• Support construction and installation activities; verify quality of work and perform field inspections.

Electrical Reliability & Compliance

• Participate actively in PSM processes including MOC, Pre-Startup Safety Reviews (PSSR), Incident Investigations, and Process Hazard Analysis follow-ups.
• Support the development and implementation of electrical reliability programs (infrared inspections, breaker maintenance, relay testing, motor testing, etc.).
• Analyze operating data to identify equipment degradation and recommend preventive and predictive actions.
• Ensure compliance with NFPA 70, NFPA 70E, NEC, IEEE, ISA, API, NETA, NERC, and applicable OSHA regulations.
• Maintain and update electrical system documentation (one-lines, three-lines, schematics, equipment databases).

Skills and Abilities Required

• Strong computer skills and proficient with internet, email, and Microsoft Office programs.
• Strong field troubleshooting ability in a chemical or heavy industrial environment.
• Strong understanding of arc flash studies, breaker coordination, and electrical safety programs.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-moving, team environment.
• Ability to analyze complex technical issues and develop engineering solutions.
• Ability to lead, coach, and mentor technicians and junior engineers.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with all levels of the organization.
• Ability to balance urgent operational needs with longer-term reliability and project work.
• Ability to design single-line diagrams, protection & control schematics.
• Proficiency with power system modeling software (e.g., SKM Power*Tools and ETAP)
• Knowledge of protective relaying principles and relay programming (SEL and GE Multilin)
• Understanding of grounding and bonding system design.
• Strong knowledge of low (480VAC), medium (4.16kVAC/13.8kVAC), and high (138kVAC) distribution systems.
• Use of test equipment such as power analyzers, insulation testers, relay test sets, PdMA, etc.

Education and Experience Required

• 10 – 15 years of experience as an Electrical Engineer
• Four-year degree in electrical engineering (power systems).
• Industry/Manufacturing experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience supporting PSM-regulated units strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting commissioning, testing, and troubleshooting of electrical systems.
• Experience performing short-circuit analysis, power quality analysis, relay coordination, and harmonic studies.
• Experience with hazardous area classifications.
• Experience preparing technical reports, studies, and engineering calculations.