Process Safety, HAZOP and Hazardous-Materials Specialists

Houston, TX

Opportunity

Axyde Analytics is assembling a multidisciplinary expert team for anticipated U.S. government-funded project-scoping assignments involving critical minerals and international infrastructure.

We seek process-safety, HAZOP and hazardous-materials specialists capable of evaluating the safety, containment and operational risks associated with mining, mineral processing, refining, recycling, pilot plants and advanced-material production.

Potential assignments may involve high-pressure leaching, toxic or reactive chemicals, strong acids and bases, halogens, combustible dust, molten materials, reactive metals, radioactive constituents or other high-consequence process hazards.

Axyde does not expect one candidate to cover every hazard or process system. Applicants should identify the process-safety disciplines, materials and facility types in which they possess direct, demonstrable expertise.

Specialist Tracks

We are recruiting experts in one or more of the following tracks:

Process-hazard analysis and HAZOP facilitation
What-if, checklist, FMEA, LOPA and bow-tie analysis
Pressure systems and high-pressure acid leaching
Reactive, toxic, corrosive and flammable chemicals
Fluorine, chlorine, hydrogen fluoride and hydrochloric-acid systems
Sulfuric, nitric and other strong-acid systems
Hydrogen, oxygen, ammonia and industrial-gas systems
Combustible dust and fine-powder hazards
Graphite, silicon, magnesium, aluminum and reactive-metal powders
Smelting, molten-metal and furnace safety
Thermal runaway and battery-material hazards
Corrosion, materials compatibility and containment
Ventilation, gas detection, scrubbing and emissions controls
Relief, flare, vent and emergency-depressurization systems
Fire protection, explosion prevention and emergency response
Hazardous-material storage, transportation and handling
Pilot-plant and scale-up safety
Process-safety management systems and operating discipline

Potential Responsibilities

Depending on the assignment and specialist track, selected experts may:

Identify credible process, chemical, pressure, fire, explosion and toxic-release scenarios.
Review process-flow diagrams, piping and instrumentation diagrams, equipment lists and design criteria.
Develop or independently review process-hazard-analysis and HAZOP scopes.
Evaluate safeguards, interlocks, alarms, shutdown systems, containment and emergency systems.
Assess pressure-relief, venting, scrubbing, flare and depressurization requirements.
Review chemical incompatibilities, reaction hazards, decomposition and thermal-runaway potential.
Evaluate combustible-dust characteristics, ignition sources, zoning, inerting and explosion protection.
Assess materials selection, corrosion, erosion, lining, inspection and mechanical-integrity requirements.
Review worker exposure, industrial-hygiene, ventilation and personal-protective-equipment requirements.
Evaluate storage, loading, unloading, transportation and security controls for hazardous materials.
Assess pilot-plant hazards, representative operating conditions and scale-up risks.
Review emergency-response, fire-protection, spill-control and incident-management requirements.
Identify fatal flaws, missing safeguards and additional studies required before project advancement.
Translate identified hazards into feasibility-study, technical-assistance or pilot-project tasks.
Contribute to capital-cost, operating-cost, schedule and implementation assumptions for required safeguards.
Evaluate whether proposed safety controls are practical in the host-country operating environment.
Participate in sponsor, government, engineering, vendor, insurer or financing-source discussions.
Support international meetings, site visits and field verification when required.
Prepare concise safety findings and recommendations for senior government decision-makers.
Serve as a discipline lead, contributor, same-discipline alternate or independent technical reviewer.

Required Qualifications

Candidates should possess:

At least 7–10 years of directly relevant process-safety or hazardous-materials experience, with greater experience preferred for discipline-lead and independent-review roles.
A degree in chemical engineering, process engineering, mechanical engineering, fire-protection engineering, metallurgy, chemistry, industrial hygiene or a closely related field.
Direct responsibility for identifiable process-hazard analyses, HAZOPs, facility-safety reviews, designs, commissioning programs or operating plants.
Demonstrated experience with high-consequence chemical or metallurgical operations.
Knowledge of recognized process-safety, fire-protection and hazardous-material practices applicable to the candidate’s specialty.
Ability to distinguish screening-level concerns from hazards requiring detailed quantitative or design analysis.
Strong written and verbal English-language communication skills.
Ability to prepare concise, decision-oriented technical work.
Ability to collaborate across process, mechanical, environmental, operating, commercial and financial disciplines.
Either U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent-resident status in the United States.
Legal authorization to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship.
Willingness and ability to travel internationally when an assignment requires it.
No known employment, confidentiality, intellectual-property, noncompete or conflict-of-interest restriction that would prevent participation.

Professional Engineer, Certified Safety Professional, Certified Industrial Hygienist, certified HAZOP facilitator or equivalent credentials are advantageous but not mandatory when supported by substantial relevant experience.

Application Information Requested

Please submit a résumé and a brief response identifying:

Your strongest process-safety and hazardous-material specialties.
The chemicals, materials, process systems and facility types with which you have direct experience.
Up to five representative HAZOPs, safety reviews, projects or facilities and your personal responsibilities on each.
Your experience with mining, mineral processing, refining, recycling, chemical plants, pilot facilities or advanced-material production.
The analytical methods and safety-review techniques you are qualified to lead or review.
Countries and regions in which you have worked.
Whether you can serve as a discipline lead, independent reviewer, or both.
Your current U.S. location.
Whether you are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
Your availability during the next 30 days.
Your ability to travel internationally and any geographic restrictions.
Your anticipated hourly rate.
Any actual or potential conflicts involving governments, project sponsors, technology providers, engineering firms, operators or current employers.

Engagement Conditions

This is a contingent opportunity supporting anticipated government-funded assignments. No employment, contract award, minimum workload or particular assignment is guaranteed.

Selection for an assignment will depend on contract award, the specific process and hazard question, qualifications, availability, eligibility, conflicts, travel requirements, mutually acceptable compensation and execution of appropriate employment or consulting documentation.

Axyde may tailor and reformat selected résumés for proposal compliance without materially changing the candidate’s qualifications or experience.

Axyde Analytics
Strategic minerals • Supply-chain security • U.S. industrial base