Global0footprint kent
Kent Recruitment

Senior Process Engineer

Location
Houston, United States
Category
Engineering
Date Published
09/06/26
Status
Open
About you:
Join us. Unleash your energy within.

If you have world-class ambitions to reach the stars while keeping your feet on the ground, we’re the team for you. We've created a new breed of company – future-focused with reimagined ambition across all disciplines within the energy sector.

We love people who know their own potential and are not afraid to use it. We know that together, we’re far more than the sum of our parts. So, we celebrate people who want to grow and develop as we work together on some of the largest projects on the energy world stage.

We are committed to our diverse and inclusive community – a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop. From day one, we offer a range of family-friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, and employee networks to support staff from different backgrounds.

As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities.

We’re a disability-friendly employer and can make adjustments to support you to perform at your best during the recruitment process.

Our purpose and beliefs:
As Kent, we’re tackling the greatest challenge of our time - to bring our world the energy it needs in the most responsible way ever imagined.

It’s the energy of every member of our team driven by our beliefs that is making this happen. Whatever our skill, our language, or our culture. These beliefs define and direct us every day to be the very best - for ourselves, our clients, our key stakeholders, the communities we operate in and the planet:

We PLAY BIG
We thrive on EMOTIONAL AGILITY
We are FANATICAL ABOUT PERFORMANCE
We are built on INFINITE THINKING

Read more about the Purpose, Beliefs and Guiding Principles that drive us:

Our vision for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging:
We recognise that diversity & inclusion are catalysts for success. We’re heightening awareness on the benefits of people diversity, diversity of experiences and diversity of our perspectives. Creating a culture of inclusivity where all employees feel a sense of belonging.

Our combined energy is fueled by different nationalities, across 6 continents and 24 countries. Our commitment is to celebrate character – no matter what ethnic background, gender, age, religion, identity, or disability.

About the job:

Kent is looking for a Senior Process Engineer to be based in our Houston, TX office and support process engineering execution across refining, chemicals, petrochemicals, energy, power, and renewables projects.

The Senior Process Engineer will support projects from early studies and front-end development through FEED, detailed design, construction support, commissioning, and start-up. This role requires a practical process engineer with strong EPC and technology / licensor experience, sound process design fundamentals, and the ability to support both conventional and emerging process technologies.

The role will include development and coordination of core process engineering deliverables, including design basis documents, process simulations, heat and material balances, BFDs, PFDs, P&IDs, hydraulic calculations, equipment sizing, line lists, utility summaries, relief and flare evaluations, PSV sizing calculations, and process safety support.

The successful candidate will work closely with project management, clients, vendors, licensors, and multi-discipline engineering teams to define scope, resolve technical issues, support project execution, and deliver safe, practical, and constructible engineering solutions.

Skills and Responsibilities:

Responsibilities:

  • Support process engineering execution for assigned projects and scope, with responsibility for technical quality, schedule, and budget performance across early studies, FEED, detailed design, and EPC project phases.
  • Serve as a process engineering focal point, working with project management, clients, vendors, licensors, and multi-discipline engineering teams to support project objectives and execution requirements.
  • Develop, review, and coordinate key process engineering deliverables, including:
    • Design Basis / Design Criteria
    • Process simulations
    • Heat & Material Balances
    • Block Flow Diagrams (BFDs)
    • Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs)
    • Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs)
    • Hydraulic and line sizing calculations
    • Relief valve contingency analysis and sizing calculations
    • Relief system load summaries
    • Equipment and instrument datasheets
    • Utility summaries
    • Emissions / effluent summaries
    • Line lists
    • Tie-in lists
    • Battery limit summaries
  • Perform and/or review process calculations and studies required to support project execution, including equipment sizing, hydraulic analysis, PSV sizing, relief and flare evaluations, control valve / flow element sizing, restriction orifice sizing, utility studies, and process optimization evaluations.
  • Coordinate process engineering deliverables, schedules, and budgeted hours for assigned scopes while maintaining alignment with project priorities and client expectations.
  • Support proposal development and project planning activities, including scope definition, manhour estimating, deliverable planning, and input to project schedules.
  • Interface with clients, owner/operators, vendors, licensors, and third parties to define scope, resolve technical issues, review design information, identify risks or constraints, and support decision-making throughout project execution.
  • Lead or support PFD reviews, P&ID reviews, design reviews, technical workshops, and other project review meetings; participate in PHAs, HAZOPs, MOC reviews, and technical risk discussions as required.
  • Coordinate with piping, mechanical, I&C, electrical, civil/structural, project engineering, operations, and construction teams to ensure process intent is properly reflected in engineering deliverables.
  • Coordinate process engineering work with other Kent offices and engineering centers as required to support project execution and maintain alignment across distributed teams.
  • Review existing drawings, specifications, site standards, vendor documents, licensor data, and engineering documentation to verify project requirements and identify gaps, constraints, and potential scope changes.
  • Support vendor and package activities, including technical bid evaluations, vendor document reviews, vendor coordination, and resolution of technical queries.
  • Support brownfield project execution, including field walkdowns, review of existing facilities, tie-in definition, battery limit definition, constructability input, and coordination with operating facilities.
  • Contribute to development and standardization of process engineering work practices, tools, training materials, and procedures to improve consistency and efficiency across projects and offices.
  • Provide technical guidance and informal mentoring to less-experienced engineers and supporting resources as needed.
  • Apply sound engineering judgment to balance technical rigor with practical execution, delivering solutions that are safe, operable, maintainable, and constructible.
  • Ensure all work is executed in accordance with applicable company, client, and regulatory requirements, with a strong focus on safety and quality.

In addition to the responsibilities listed herein, the employee may be required to perform other ad hoc tasks as needed or directed by the supervisor or management. These tasks will be within the reasonable scope of the employee’s skills, capabilities, and role within the organization. The intent of this provision is to allow for flexibility and adaptability in meeting the dynamic needs of the organization, ensuring that operational requirements can be met efficiently. All such tasks will be assigned considering the employee’s current workload and with respect to their professional development.

Your knowledge/skills, education, and experience:

Knowledge/ Qualification/ Training/ Certification:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering.
  • 7-15 years of relevant process engineering experience in refining, chemicals, petrochemicals, energy, power, renewables, or related process industries.
  • Experience in EPC and/or technology / licensor organizations supporting process studies, FEED, detailed design, EPC execution, construction support, commissioning, and start-up activities.
  • Experience as a Senior Process Engineer or Process Lead, including responsibility for coordinating process deliverables, supporting project planning, monitoring schedule and budgeted hours, and maintaining technical quality.
  • Strong background in process design fundamentals, including process simulations, heat and material balances, equipment sizing, hydraulic calculations, PFDs, P&IDs, line lists, utility summaries, relief systems, and process safety support.
  • Experience supporting both conventional hydrocarbon processing and emerging energy or process technologies is preferred.
  • Experience supporting brownfield project execution, including review of existing facilities, field walkdowns, and coordination with operating facilities.
  • Experience participating in PFD reviews, P&ID reviews, model reviews, PHAs, HAZOPs, LOPAs, MOC reviews, and other technical or process safety reviews.
  • Experience supporting vendor and licensor activities, including technical bid evaluations, vendor document reviews, licensor data reviews, and resolution of technical queries.
  • Proficiency with process engineering software and tools such as Aspen Plus, Aspen HYSYS, ProII, HTRI, Aspen EDR, Aspen Basic Engineering, and Microsoft Office applications.
  • Working familiarity with engineering and project execution tools such as Bluebeam, AVEVA, SmartPlant, COMOS, Plant3D, and similar engineering collaboration platforms is beneficial.
  • Demonstrated ability to coordinate work across multiple disciplines, projects, offices, and engineering centers.
  • Strong analytical capability and engineering judgment, with the ability to resolve technical issues and support practical, safe, operable, maintainable, and constructible design solutions.
  • Commitment to safety, quality, and ethical engineering practices in alignment with company, client, and regulatory requirements.
  • Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) preferred.

Communication:

  • Communicates clearly and effectively in English, both verbally and in writing, across a range of audiences including clients, owner/operator representatives, project management, vendors, licensors, and multi-discipline engineering teams.
  • Presents technical information, issues, risks, and recommendations in a clear, structured, and professional manner, tailored to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Supports productive technical discussions, design reviews, project meetings, and client interactions to help maintain alignment and support timely decision-making.
  • Coordinates effectively across disciplines, project teams, offices, and engineering centers to support consistent execution and delivery.

Behavior/ Core Competencies:

At Kent, you will be expected to operate with a high degree of professional judgment, accountability, and autonomy, while remaining aligned with client, project, and organizational objectives. In this role:

  • Works independently and takes ownership of assigned responsibilities, while engaging the right stakeholders to maintain alignment where required.
  • Applies sound engineering judgment and practical experience to resolve technical issues and support safe, operable, maintainable, and constructible design solutions.
  • Demonstrates strong organization, follow-through, and attention to detail when managing multiple deliverables, priorities, and project requirements.
  • Builds and maintains effective working relationships across disciplines, project teams, clients, vendors, licensors, and other Kent offices.
  • Adapts to changing project conditions, priorities, and client needs without losing focus on safety, quality, and delivery.
  • Provides technical guidance and informal mentoring to less-experienced engineers and supporting resources as needed.
  • Contributes to continuous improvement by supporting development of process engineering work practices, tools, training materials, and procedures.
  • Maintains technical competency and awareness of industry practices aligned with project and business needs.

HSSEQ:

  • Complies with all Health, Safety, Sustainability, Environment, and Quality (HSSEQ) requirements of the Company, its clients, and applicable regulatory authorities.
  • Integrates HSSEQ considerations into engineering decisions and day-to-day work, ensuring designs are safe, operable, maintainable, and aligned with applicable standards and practices.
  • Identifies and communicates HSSEQ risks or concerns in a timely manner and supports development and implementation of appropriate mitigation measures.
Details about the role:
Location: Houston, TX
Relocation required: N/A
Travel required: Per Project Requirements
Contract type: Direct hire
Experience level: 7-15 years
Craft 3
the energy within.
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