Job Title: Safety and Compliance Instrumentation Engineer
Job Summary:
The Senior Safety and Compliance Instrumentation Engineer is responsible for overseeing the design, implementation, optimization, and ongoing maintenance of safety and compliance instrumentation systems within industrial environments. This role involves ensuring that all safety-critical systems, such as pressure, temperature, flow sensors, and emergency shutdown systems, meet or exceed safety standards and comply with industry regulations. The Senior Engineer will lead safety system projects, troubleshoot complex issues, mentor junior engineers, and work collaboratively across teams to enhance system reliability, safety, and efficiency in operations.
Key Responsibilities:
System Design, Strategy, and Optimization:
- Lead the design, development, and optimization of advanced safety and compliance instrumentation systems, including sensors, valves, safety shutdown systems, and alarms.
- Develop long-term strategies for safety system improvements, ensuring alignment with industry standards, regulatory requirements, and company objectives.
- Integrate new safety technologies and innovations, such as AI-driven predictive maintenance, IoT, and automated emergency shutdown systems, to improve system performance and enhance safety protocols.
Project Management and Execution:
- Manage large-scale safety instrumentation projects from conception to execution, ensuring they are completed on time, within budget, and in compliance with safety and regulatory standards.
- Oversee the installation, calibration, and commissioning of safety instrumentation systems across multiple sites or production lines.
- Coordinate with cross-functional teams, including engineering, production, operations, and quality assurance, to ensure smooth integration and alignment of safety systems with operational processes.
Troubleshooting and Complex Problem Resolution:
- Lead troubleshooting and root cause analysis efforts for complex issues with safety instrumentation systems, ensuring minimal downtime and quick resolution of failures.
- Identify and address emerging risks in safety systems, implementing long-term solutions to prevent system malfunctions or regulatory violations.
- Support the design and implementation of corrective actions for recurring issues, ensuring the reliability and accuracy of safety-critical instruments.
Compliance and Regulatory Assurance:
- Ensure all safety systems comply with relevant industry regulations (e.g., OSHA, EPA, ISO, IEC), as well as internal safety standards.
- Lead audits and inspections of safety instrumentation systems, ensuring adherence to safety protocols, regulatory requirements, and best practices.
- Provide expert advice on regulatory updates, helping the company remain compliant with evolving safety standards and ensuring all documentation and reports are prepared for regulatory audits.
Mentorship and Leadership:
- Mentor junior engineers and technicians, providing guidance on the installation, calibration, maintenance, and troubleshooting of safety instrumentation systems.
- Share expertise with cross-functional teams to promote the understanding of safety compliance, best practices, and process improvements.
- Lead training initiatives for staff on new systems, technologies, and regulatory changes to ensure alignment with safety goals.
Continuous Improvement and Innovation:
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing the performance, safety, and compliance of safety instrumentation systems.
- Lead efforts to optimize existing systems through performance monitoring, data analysis, and the implementation of more efficient practices or technologies.
- Stay at the forefront of advancements in safety systems and instrumentation, proactively proposing and implementing cutting-edge solutions to improve safety management.
Risk Management and Safety Assurance:
- Oversee risk assessments and hazard analysis for safety instrumentation systems, ensuring potential risks are identified, addressed, and mitigated effectively.
- Collaborate with safety and risk management teams to ensure the successful implementation of safety management systems and ensure compliance with all applicable standards.
- Maintain a strong focus on safety in all aspects of system design, maintenance, and troubleshooting, ensuring zero tolerance for safety breaches.
Data Management, Reporting, and Performance Monitoring:
- Oversee the collection and analysis of data from safety instrumentation systems, using data-driven insights to optimize system performance and monitor compliance with safety regulations.
- Implement data dashboards and reporting tools to track system health, performance trends, and key safety metrics.
- Provide senior management with actionable insights and recommendations based on system performance reports, including strategies for operational optimization.
Collaboration with Cross-Functional Teams:
- Work closely with production, engineering, IT, and quality assurance teams to ensure safety systems are aligned with overall production and safety goals.
- Collaborate with senior leadership to develop safety standards, policies, and compliance strategies to ensure company-wide safety excellence.
- Liaise with external vendors and industry experts to evaluate and incorporate new safety technologies and instrumentation solutions.
Skills and Knowledge Required:
- Expertise in safety and compliance instrumentation systems, including pressure, temperature, flow sensors, emergency shutdown systems, and alarms.
- In-depth knowledge of industrial safety standards, regulations (e.g., OSHA, EPA, ISO), and compliance practices.
- Strong background in troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and resolving complex instrumentation system issues.
- Proficiency in data analysis and performance monitoring, with experience using tools like SCADA, PLC programming (Siemens, Rockwell), and performance analytics tools.
- Knowledge of advanced technologies in safety instrumentation, including predictive maintenance, AI, and IoT, is highly desirable.
- Strong project management skills, including experience managing cross-functional teams, budgets, schedules, and resources for complex safety system projects.
- Leadership skills, with the ability to mentor and guide junior engineers and drive continuous improvement in safety systems.
Educational Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Instrumentation Engineering, Control Systems Engineering, or a related technical field.
- Professional certifications related to safety systems, instrumentation, or regulatory compliance (e.g., Six Sigma, ISO 9001, OSHA certifications) are highly beneficial.
Experience:
- 7+ years of experience in safety and compliance instrumentation, industrial automation, or process control systems, with at least 3 years in a senior or leadership role.
- Proven experience in managing complex safety system projects, optimizing safety instrumentation, and ensuring regulatory compliance in industrial settings.
- Hands-on experience with PLC programming, SCADA systems, and industrial control systems.
- In-depth knowledge of regulatory compliance, audits, and safety certifications is essential.
Tools and Technologies:
- Proficiency in PLC programming software (e.g., Siemens TIA Portal, Rockwell Studio 5000) and SCADA systems (e.g., Wonderware, Ignition).
- Familiarity with safety instrumentation, control systems, and monitoring devices.
- Experience with data analysis and reporting tools (e.g., Power BI, Minitab, Excel) for performance monitoring and reporting.
- Knowledge of advanced safety systems, including predictive maintenance, AI, IoT, and automated emergency shutdown systems.
Other Requirements:
- Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills to effectively manage teams and collaborate with stakeholders at all levels.
- Ability to manage multiple high-priority projects simultaneously and make data-driven decisions under pressure.
- A commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance.
- Willingness to travel to various industrial or manufacturing sites as needed for system installations, troubleshooting, and safety audits.