Senior Instrument Electrical Engineer in Houston, Texas at Magnum Technical Services, Inc.

Job Title: Senior Instrument Electrical Engineer
Department / Service: Capital Engineering / Operations
Office Location: Multiple - Alvin, Pasadena, Freeport, TX
Travel: Minimal; primarily local operating sites, contractor offices, and fabrication shops

A. Purpose of the Job
The Senior Instrument Electrical Engineer provides senior-level engineering expertise and owner’s‑team technical leadership for capital projects and asset improvement initiatives across the Olefins & Polymers asset base. This role ensures instrument electrical engineering deliverables are technically sound, code‑compliant, safe, maintainable, and aligned with approved project and business objectives. Acting as the project‑level instrument electrical authority, the engineer applies independent engineering judgment from concept development through commissioning and final handover.

B. Environment / Context
Internal Factors
Strong emphasis on Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE), instrument and electrical integrity, and disciplined application of process safety requirements.
Active capital portfolio ranging from small maintenance and reliability‑driven projects to major projects exceeding $25MM.
Frequent interaction with Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, Inspection, Project Management, Process Engineering, and SHE functions.
High expectations for constructability, operability, maintainability, and long‑term asset performance.

External Factors
Partner with engineering contractors, EPCs, vendors, and fabricators for design execution, procurement, fabrication quality, testing, and commissioning.
Compliance with applicable regulatory, corporate, and industry codes and standards (e.g., ASME, API, ASTM, and company standards).
Schedule, quality, and resource constraints associated with contractor and vendor performance.

C. Accountabilities of the Job
Accountability 1: Instrument Electrical Engineering Expertise & Technical Judgment
Apply advanced instrument electrical engineering principles to the specification, review, inspection, and testing of instrument and electrical equipment. Including but not limited to field instrumentation, final control elements, transformers, switchgear, breakers, arc flash studies, motors, protection relays, heat exchangers, furnaces, piping systems, rotating equipment, tanks, and packaged systems.
Determines the best means of defining and accomplishing broadly defined jobs/projects.
Sees connections / trends and develops strategies to take advantage of or eliminate findings depending on needs
The ability to optimize / improve work practices
The ability to develop and foster relationships required to influence others at their own or higher levels
Prepare, review, and approve electrical design bases, equipment datasheets, material specifications, piping classes, and electrical scopes of work.
Ensure all electrical designs comply with applicable codes, standards, and company engineering requirements.
Participate in electrical risk assessments, electrical integrity reviews, and operability and maintainability evaluations.
Provide project‑level technical leadership when troubleshooting electrical issues impacting safety, reliability, or operability.
Review and support the electrical aspects of Management of Change (MOC) activities to ensure technical soundness and compliance.

Accountability 2: Capital Project Development & Optioneering (FEL1–FEL3)
Lead electrical engineering input during front‑end project development through sound engineering judgment and trade‑off evaluation.
Develop and assess electrical design alternatives considering:
Technical feasibility and design robustness
Operability, maintainability, and inspection access
Safety, reliability, and lifecycle performance
Capital, operating, and lifecycle cost impacts

Support disciplined option selection to maximize lifecycle value and alignment with approved project objectives.
Define clear and complete instrument electrical requirements within project design bases, specification registers, and contractor scopes of work.
Perform critical reviews of contractor deliverables to verify quality, completeness, and adherence to approved design intent.
Participate in value‑improving practices (VIPs), constructability reviews, and project risk workshops.

Accountability 3: Detailed Engineering Execution & Contractor Oversight
Serve as the Owner’s instrument electrical Engineer for assigned projects during detailed engineering and execution.
Provide technical direction and clarification to EPCs and engineering contractors within the boundaries of approved project scope and design bases.
Review and approve instrument electrical deliverables including:
Equipment datasheets, specification register, and purchase requisitions
Vendor drawings, calculations, and fabrication documentation
Piping and layout drawings, stress analyses, and support details
Material selection, corrosion allowances, and inspection requirements

Coordinate with other engineering disciplines to ensure integrated, constructable, and compliant engineering solutions.
Identify and address design gaps, constructability concerns, and execution risks early to minimize rework, cost growth, and schedule impact.
Responsible for Engineering and Construction Request for Information (RFI)

Accountability 4: Construction, Commissioning & Handover Support
Provide electrical engineering support to answer Request for Information (RFI) during engineering and construction, including review of field changes, deviations, and technical queries.

Support fabrication surveillance, shop inspections, and equipment acceptance activities as required.
Develop inspection, and testing plans, functional acceptance and site acceptance testing. Lead pre‑commissioning and commissioning readiness reviews, punch list resolution, and system turnover activities.
Support Operations and Maintenance teams during startup and early operation to resolve electrical issues and achieve reliable handover.
Ensure completion, accuracy, and proper handover of final electrical documentation for long‑term asset stewardship.

F. Required Profile
Education & Experience
Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering required.
Typically, 7–10 years of electrical engineering experience in petrochemical, refining, polymers, or other high‑hazard process industries.
Demonstrated experience supporting electrical engineering across multiple phases of the capital project lifecycle.
Proven experience with pressure equipment, piping systems, rotating equipment, and electrical integrity.

Technical Capability
Strong working knowledge of applicable electrical codes and standards (e.g., ASME, API, ASTM).
Demonstrated ability to independently review, approve, and defend electrical engineering designs.
Experience interfacing effectively with engineering contractors, vendors, inspectors, and project teams.
Consistent application of sound engineering judgment to resolve complex technical and execution challenges.