Lead Operator - HYCO Facility

About Air Products and BHIG

Air Products leads in industrial gases innovation, merging talent and expertise to create solutions that impact life-saving healthcare, space exploration, and industrial production globally. BHIG (Blue Hydrogen Industrial Gases), a joint venture of Saudi Aramco and Air Products Qudra, drives regional industrial excellence in Saudi Arabia focusing on clean energy through low-carbon hydrogen production.

Role Overview

The HYCO Lead Operator is responsible for controlling day-to-day operations of the HYCO facility, managing the Distributed Control System (DCS) and field operations to meet production demands safely and efficiently. Reporting to the HYCO Shift Supervisor, the role involves overseeing stable hydrogen manufacturing operations, optimizing processes, supporting maintenance activities, and frontlining safety compliance. In the absence of the Shift Supervisor, the Lead Operator assumes shift leadership to maintain operational continuity.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain a safe workplace by enforcing company and industry safety protocols, including Safe Work Permits and Lock-out Tag-out procedures.
• Act as the initial responder to process emergencies, executing emergency plans and directing field staff as needed.
• Monitor safety systems like SIS and Fire & Gas Systems and ensure environmental compliance with emission regulations and waste management.
• Operate key plant units including Steam Methane Reformer, CO2 removal and compression sections, PSA, Membrane Unit, and related utilities per work instructions.
• Manage hydrogen, steam, and CO2 pipeline operations for safe and efficient customer delivery.
• Provide status reports to supervisors, address production shortfalls, and optimize plant performance for safety, reliability, and profitability.
• Communicate with customers and refinery units to align product supply and demand expectations.
• Monitor and control process variables via DCS, adjusting control loops to maintain stable operation.
• Support commissioning and detailed startup/shutdown sequences ensuring smooth transitions between operating conditions.
• Maintain accurate operational logs and ensure compliance with work instructions and safety standards.
• Collaborate with maintenance and engineering teams on preventive and corrective maintenance planning and execution.
• Lead root cause analysis efforts for process or equipment issues and implement corrective actions.
• Engage in continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, process efficiency, and reliability.
• Provide coaching to operations teams to achieve operational excellence.
• Ensure adherence to process safety, management of change (MOC), and operational performance requirements.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Chemical Process Operations strongly preferred; Associate Technical Degree acceptable with substantial demonstrable experience.
• Minimum 10 years’ relevant experience, including at least 5 years leading DCS operations.
• Experience in operating SMR-based hydrogen or related plants (Ammonia, Methanol, Syngas).
• Proficiency with DCS platforms such as Yokogawa Centum VP and Siemens PCS 7.
• Strong knowledge of chemical engineering principles, thermodynamics, and process control.
• Ability to make sound decisions under pressure and possess solid troubleshooting skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, capable of interaction at all organizational levels including board-level customer communication.
• Commitment to teamwork, diversity, and employee engagement.

Additional Information

Founded in 1940, Air Products is a global leader in industrial gases, committed to innovation, safety, and environmental stewardship. This opportunity is based in Jubail, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia, and requires onsite full-time presence.