Advanced Application Engineer
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About this opportunity
As an Advanced Process Engineering Specialist, you will take a leading technical role in the design, configuration, and implementation of application software used for industrial process operations across oil refineries, petrochemical plants, and other process industries.
You will combine your process engineering expertise with advanced process control, optimization, and process simulation technologies to deliver high-value solutions that improve operational performance, safety, energy efficiency, and profitability. This role also serves as a key technical interface with Japanese customers, requiring strong local communication capabilities and leadership in project execution.
This position is intended for experienced senior engineers who can independently lead complex technical activities while mentoring team members and ensuring engineering excellence across projects.
Key Responsibilities
Application Software Design & Process Engineering
Lead or support the design and configuration of application software used for process operation in refineries, petrochemical plants, pulp & paper mills, and similar process industries.
Apply strong chemical engineering and process control fundamentals to support design, configuration, and implementation of industrial applications.
Support or lead process unit design, operation review, and performance improvement activities using engineering analysis and digital tools.
Ensure that application software configuration meets customer operating requirements, engineering standards, and project specifications.
Advanced Process Control, Optimization & Plant Performance
Lead or provide senior technical support for Advanced Process Control (APC) and plant-wide optimization projects, covering assessment, design, configuration, testing, commissioning, and post-implementation audits.
Act as a technical reference for model predictive control (MPC) and optimization applications, ensuring alignment with plant operating and economic objectives.
Review and update APC economic targets, control objectives, variables, and constraints in response to changing plant or business conditions.
Identify controller performance gaps and drive improvement actions to enhance throughput, energy efficiency, stability, and product quality.
Identify poorly performing regulatory control loops and coordinate tuning or stabilization activities at the DCS level in collaboration with plant teams.
Lead or participate in proof-of-concept studies, trial evaluations, and feasibility assessments of advanced control and optimization technologies.
Process Simulation & Digital Twin
Provide technical leadership in the development and application of process simulation models (steady-state and/or dynamic) to support engineering and operational decision-making.
Perform and oversee heat and material balances, scenario studies, and process analysis using UniSim Design, Aspen HYSYS, Aspen Plus, or equivalent tools.
Guide modeling of core process units such as distillation columns, reactors, heat exchangers, furnaces, compressors, and integrated process systems.
Support digital twin initiatives by validating simulation models against plant data and enabling their effective use in optimization and troubleshooting.
Identify simulation-based opportunities for debottlenecking, energy reduction, and operating envelope expansion.
Project Leadership, Customer Interface & Collaboration
Provide technical leadership within project teams, ensuring compliance with Honeywell project execution methodologies and quality standards.
Anticipate technical and execution risks and proactively drive mitigation actions.
Serve as a primary technical interface with customers, including conducting technical discussions, design reviews, and results presentations in Japanese.
Collaborate with R&D, customer support, operations, and sales teams to deliver integrated and scalable solutions.
Support proposal development and technical scoping activities for application software, APC, optimization, and simulation projects.
Mentor and coach junior engineers to build technical capability and ensure consistent engineering quality.
You Must Have
Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, Control Engineering, or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution.
5+ years of experience in process engineering, process control, advanced control, process simulation, or application engineering within the process industry.
Understanding of chemical engineering fundamentals, unit operations, and industrial process behavior.
Experience or exposure to design and configuration of process control systems or industry application software.
Basic IT knowledge related to industrial applications, systems integration, and software configuration.
Ability to independently lead technical workstreams and make sound engineering judgments.
Japanese language proficiency sufficient for customer communication and technical documentation is essential.
English communication skills sufficient for internal collaboration with global teams.
We Value
Hands-on experience implementing or supporting Advanced Process Control or plant-wide optimization applications.
Experience with process simulation tools (UniSim Design, Aspen HYSYS, Aspen Plus; steady-state and/or dynamic).
Experience in process unit design, operation, startup, or commissioning.
Exposure to DCS, PLC, safety systems, real-time databases, or automation platforms.
Programming or scripting experience (Python, C#, MATLAB, VB, or similar).
Experience contributing to digitalization, optimization, or data-driven performance improvement initiatives.
Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in Chemical Engineering or a related technical discipline.
Strong leadership mindset, customer focus, and structured problem-solving skills.
Job details
How this role compares
Computed from every other active Controls Engineering role in our database, not just this employer's listings.
We currently track 496 comparable Controls Engineering roles across 18 employers.
Salary context
36 of 496 peers report a salary range (USD, annualized)
Peers share this role's job function. This posting doesn't list a seniority level, so peers aren't narrowed by seniority either -- the range below may span more levels than usual.
Where these roles are based
Top locations among the 496 comparable roles
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Seniority mix
139 of 496 peers have a known seniority level
Currently open similar roles
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