Civil, Structural & Process Engineering · Role - Process Engineers
Process Engineering Talent for Oil, Gas, and Petrochemical Programs
Process engineers design and simulate the process systems that turn a feedstock into a product safely. This is one of the scarcest disciplines in oil, gas, and petrochemical, and generic screening does not surface qualified candidates.
Discipline map
Where process engineers sit in Civil, Structural & Process Engineering
This role sits beneath a broader discipline hub, alongside related specializations.
Role overview
What process engineers do
Process engineers own process design, simulation, P&ID development, mass and energy balances, and equipment sizing across oil, gas, and petrochemical programs. Much of their work directly informs plant safety: a process design error can create a hazard that surfaces only under upset conditions, long after commissioning.
Process engineers are among the most specialized and scarcest disciplines we recruit for. We maintain dedicated pipelines by sub-specialty and validate HAZOP facilitation experience and SIL assessment capability independently at qualification, since these are frequently overstated on resumes relative to actual hands-on ownership.
Scope of work
Core responsibilities
We screen against these responsibilities directly rather than against job-title history.
- Develop process designs, P&IDs, and mass and energy balances
- Run process simulations to validate equipment sizing and system performance
- Facilitate or participate in HAZOP and process hazard reviews
- Support safety instrumented system (SIS) and SIL assessment work
- Coordinate process design with mechanical, instrumentation, and safety engineering
- Prepare technical documentation supporting permitting and startup
Screening criteria
Skills and credentials we verify
Technical skills
- Aspen HYSYS
- Aspen Plus
- HTRI
- PRO/II
- PHAST
- P&ID development
- Mass and energy balances
- HAZOP facilitation
Certifications and licensing
- PE - Chemical
- CFSE (Certified Functional Safety Expert)
- OSHA 30
Grid Method™ screening
What we specifically screen for in this discipline
Simulation model defense - Candidates walk through a simulation they built in Aspen HYSYS, Aspen Plus, or PRO/II and defend the assumptions, not just describe the software.
HAZOP facilitation history - We confirm whether a candidate has led sessions as facilitator versus attended as a participant.
Sub-specialty match - We validate refining, gas processing, or petrochemical experience against the specific plant type in scope.
Deployment
Projects this role supports
- Refinery process unit design
- Petrochemical plant HAZOP facilitation
- Gas processing facility simulation
- Process safety management (PSM) documentation
- Equipment sizing for new process trains
Market reality
Why this role is hard to fill
HAZOP facilitation is frequently overstated
Many candidates have participated in a HAZOP; far fewer have actually facilitated one, and we test for the difference directly.
Sub-specialty scarcity is severe
Refining, gas processing, and petrochemical process design each require different simulation experience, and the pool for each is small.
SIL assessment capability is not universal
Safety instrumented system assessment is a distinct, less common skill within process engineering that we verify independently.
Our method
How we recruit process engineers
Define process scope
Day 1
We identify plant type, simulation platform, and safety review requirements before sourcing.
Technical review
Candidates walk through a process design or simulation model they authored.
Safety and reference check
We verify HAZOP facilitation history and SIL assessment capability with former supervisors.
Shortlist delivery
Days 7–12
You receive candidates matched to your plant type and safety review requirements.
Sectors
Industries hiring this role
Oil, Gas & Petrochemical
Process, piping, mechanical, and I&C engineers for LNG, petrochemical, and turnaround programs spanning all six project phases.
See sector coverageEnergy
Electrical, instrumentation, and project engineers supporting solar, storage, and emerging generation projects.
See sector coverageManufacturing
Mechanical, electrical, and maintenance engineers supporting plant expansions, retrofits, and reliability programs.
See sector coverage
Engagement
Ways to engage this discipline
Direct Hire
Source and place permanent engineers who join your payroll directly from day one, screened through the same 14-stage evaluation standard applied to every engagement.
How this model worksContract Staffing
Discipline-qualified engineers deployed to your project phase - not your job description - mobilized within a 10 business day standard.
How this model worksContract-to-Hire
Evaluate before you commit: a structured 3 to 6 month contract with conversion criteria fixed upfront, reducing permanent hiring risk without sacrificing speed.
How this model works
Answers
Frequently asked questions
Question not covered here? Ask a recruiter directly - you will get a straight technical answer, not a callback from a salesperson.
Keep going
More on hiring process engineers
Pay benchmarks, screening criteria and market availability for this discipline, plus the wider engineering bench we recruit from.
- Salary guidesCompensation drivers and rate structures that decide whether an offer for process engineers closes.
- Hiring guidesScope templates, screening questions and interview structures for technical requisitions.
- All engineering disciplinesThe full set of disciplines we recruit, from protection engineers to project controls.
Hire process engineers without the resume triage
Send the scope and we will return a short slate with written technical assessments, verified credentials and realistic availability.