Senior Applications Engineer - Engineered Water Treatment Systems

JOB DESCRIPTION – SENIOR APPLICATIONS ENGINEER

Department: Engineering
Reports To: Engineering Director
Industry: Oil & Gas / Produced Water Treatment / Engineered Water Treatment Systems

1. POSITION SUMMARY
The Senior Applications Engineer provides technical expertise, applications engineering, and engineering coordination in support of our clients' proprietary water treatment technologies and engineered process equipment.

The position is responsible for the technical development, design, proposal preparation, and execution support of water treatment solutions incorporating proprietary technologies, including filtration, advanced coalescer, polishing filtration, and retrofit applications.

Reporting to the Engineering Director, the Senior Applications Engineer is expected to independently manage assigned engineering activities, coordinate technical work across multiple projects, proactively resolve engineering issues, and ensure quality and rigor is applied in the completion of engineering deliverables.

A key objective is to reduce the Engineering Director’s involvement in routine engineering activities through technical ownership, initiative, independent problem-solving, and effective coordination.

2. KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Technology Applications and Process Engineering

• Develop engineered water treatment solutions utilizing clients' proprietary filtration, coalescing, and hydrocarbon removal technologies.
• Evaluate customer requirements, including flow rates, oil-in-water concentrations, suspended solids, operating conditions, and effluent water quality.
• Perform process and equipment sizing calculations for our clients' proprietary technologies, polishing filtration, and associated treatment equipment.
• Develop process configurations and treatment trains for produced-water treatment, offshore discharge, water reinjection, and industrial wastewater applications.
• Support the engineering of filtration vessels, media regeneration systems, associated piping, instrumentation, and controls.
• Evaluate retrofit applications involving the conversion or upgrading of existing filtration equipment using proprietary technologies.
• Review hydraulic requirements, pressure drops, operating sequences, regeneration cycles, and utility requirements.
• Coordinate with in-house technology specialists to ensure designs comply with proprietary technology requirements and validated operating parameters.

B. Applications Engineering and Technical Proposals

• Lead technical reviews of customer RFQs, specifications, process data, and project requirements.
• Develop and support technical proposals for in-house water treatment systems and engineered process packages.
• Prepare process design bases, equipment calculations, PFDs, P&IDs, datasheets, equipment lists, and preliminary layouts.
• Develop technical specifications, bills of materials, and preliminary engineering cost estimates.
• Identify technical deviations, exclusions, risks, and clarifications.
• Coordinate with Sales and Business Development to develop technically compliant and commercially competitive proposals.
• Obtain and evaluate vendor quotations and prepare technical bid evaluations.
• Identify value engineering opportunities to optimize equipment design, capital cost, operating cost, and treatment performance.
• Independently manage routine technical proposals involving established in-house technologies and standard equipment configurations.
• Escalate nonstandard applications, significant performance risks, and major technical deviations to the Engineering Director.

C. Project Engineering and Execution Support

• Support detailed engineering and execution of in-house treatment packages from contract award through fabrication, testing, and delivery.
• Coordinate engineering activities involving process, mechanical, piping, instrumentation, electrical, and control systems.
• Review and participate in the engineering drawings, calculations, specifications, and vendor documentation.
• Support the engineering of pressure vessels, filtration housings, process skids, piping systems, and associated equipment.
• Coordinate technical interfaces with Project Management, Procurement, Manufacturing, Quality, and external vendors.
• Resolve routine engineering and fabrication technical queries.
• Review design modifications for impacts on equipment performance, cost, schedule, and compliance.
• Support FAT, commissioning, troubleshooting, and preparation of final engineering documentation.
• Identify potential engineering issues and recommend timely corrective actions.

D. Engineering Director Support and Department Coordination

• Take ownership of assigned engineering priorities and ensure timely completion without continuous supervision.
• Assist the Engineering Director in planning, organizing, and coordinating daily engineering activities.
• Monitor engineering deliverables, deadlines, and outstanding technical action items.
• Coordinate with engineers, designers, vendors, and other departments to maintain progress.
• Provide technical guidance to junior engineers and engineering support personnel.
• Independently resolve routine technical issues within delegated authority.
• Proactively escalate significant technical, commercial, or schedule risks with recommended corrective actions.
• Represent the Engineering Director in technical coordination meetings when delegated.

E. Technical Compliance, Quality, and Continuous Improvement

• Ensure engineering activities comply with customer specifications, engineering standards, and applicable industry codes.
• Apply relevant requirements of Codes and Standards like ASME Section VIII, ASME B31.3, API, NACE MR0175/ISO 15156, etc. and other applicable standards.
• Review material selections, design conditions, equipment specifications, and engineering calculations.
• Support design reviews, technical risk assessments, quality investigations, and corrective actions.
• Maintain accurate engineering documentation and protect in-house proprietary technical information and intellectual property.
• Develop standardized engineering calculations, equipment specifications, datasheets, and design templates.
• Identify opportunities to improve treatment performance, equipment reliability, engineering efficiency, and cost competitiveness.
• Support product improvements and modular equipment designs based on operating experience and lessons learned.

3. RESPONSIBILITY AND DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY
The Senior Applications Engineer is expected to exercise independent technical judgment and take ownership of assigned responsibilities within established MYCELX standards and delegated authority.

Responsibilities Managed Independently

• Routine equipment sizing and configuration of established in-house treatment systems.
• Technical proposals for standard equipment and applications.
• Preparation and review of engineering calculations, datasheets, and technical documents.
• Coordination and follow-up of assigned engineering deliverables.
• Routine vendor technical evaluations and document reviews.
• Resolution of routine engineering and fabrication technical queries.
• Engineering progress reporting, action tracking, and identification of technical risks.

Responsibilities Requiring Engineering Director Coordination or Approval

• New or nonstandard applications of in-house proprietary technologies.
• Significant changes to validated process designs or equipment configurations.
• Major technical deviations affecting performance, safety, cost, or contractual requirements.
• Significant equipment redesigns, material substitutions, or customer technical disputes.
• Engineering resource conflicts and major product development initiatives.

The Engineering Director retains responsibility for engineering strategy, departmental resources, major technical decisions, and approval of significant engineering commitments. Required code, quality, and professional engineering approvals remain with appropriately authorized personnel.

5. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline.

Experience

• Minimum 8–10 years of relevant experience in oil and gas process equipment, water treatment, filtration systems, or engineered process packages.
• Experience in produced-water treatment, oil-water separation, filtration, coalescing, or related industrial water treatment applications.
• Experience with equipment sizing, process calculations, PFDs, P&IDs, datasheets, and technical specifications.
• Familiarity with pressure vessels, piping, pumps, valves, instrumentation, and skid-mounted equipment.
• Working knowledge of ASME, API, NACE, and applicable industry standards.
• Experience preparing technical proposals, reviewing customer specifications, and evaluating vendor quotations.
• Experience supporting engineering execution, fabrication, testing, and commissioning.
• Experience with proprietary treatment technologies, regenerative filtration, or equipment retrofits is preferred.

6. REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

• Technical Expertise: Strong understanding of water treatment processes, engineered equipment, and applicable engineering standards.
• Ownership and Accountability: Ability to independently manage assignments and deliver results without repeated follow-up.
• Initiative and Problem-Solving: Ability to anticipate technical challenges and recommend practical solutions.
• Planning and Organization: Ability to manage multiple assignments, priorities, and deadlines.
• Communication: Strong technical writing, reporting, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Leadership and Teamwork: Ability to guide engineering personnel and coordinate cross-functional activities.
• Commercial Awareness: Understanding of equipment cost, project profitability, customer requirements, and delivery commitments.

8. OVERALL POSITION EXPECTATION
The Senior Applications Engineer is expected to function as a trusted senior technical resource and an effective extension of the Engineering Director’s leadership. Success in this position requires strong technical competence, practical knowledge of in-house proprietary technologies, initiative, sound judgment, and accountability. Training will be provided to understand the full breadth of Technologies and water treatment applications as part of the on-boarding process post-hiring.

The fundamental expectation is that the Senior Applications Engineer will independently drive routine engineering activities, take ownership of assigned responsibilities, proactively resolve technical challenges, and ensure timely delivery of engineering work, allowing the Engineering Director to focus on strategic engineering leadership, critical technical decisions, and overall departmental performance.

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.