Job Description

Job Title: Traveling ASU Operations Support Specialist
Location: Greater Los Angeles Area, CA (travel role; candidates can live anywhere in the US)
Travel: Rotational schedule: 14 consecutive days on site, then 12 days at home, repeating
Compensation: Daily per diem (full per diem on travel days), rental car and fuel covered, travel days paid at 10 hours, and work days scheduled at 12 hours or more. A discounted hotel rate is available about 10 minutes from the plant.

About the Role:
A global industrial gas producer needs a seasoned ASU professional to support day-to-day operations at its cryogenic air separation plant in the Los Angeles area, which makes liquid oxygen, nitrogen and argon. The assignment runs at least six months. You’ll keep the plant on spec, find and fix process problems, and help the local team get the most out of the facility. This is a hands-on role for someone who has run air separation plants for a long time and knows them from the compressor to the cold box.

What You’ll Do:

• Operate the ASU control system and adjust process variables so product purity and production targets are met
• Watch compressor, purification, expander and distillation column performance, and fine-tune operating parameters to improve output and power efficiency
• Diagnose upsets, alarms and abnormal conditions, and take corrective action yourself or alongside site personnel
• Support safe plant startups, shutdowns and load changes based on operating conditions and customer demand
• Perform mechanical, instrument and electrical maintenance on compressors, pumps, turbines/expanders, valves and motors as needed
• Read P&IDs, electrical drawings and OEM manuals to troubleshoot equipment and system problems
• Monitor cooling water chemistry and cooling tower performance to protect plant equipment
• Calibrate and maintain online analyzers and lab test equipment, and keep accurate records
• Review and release medical-grade oxygen in line with FDA requirements, and prepare certificates of analysis and other quality documentation
• Keep production, distribution and loss records that satisfy FDA, OSHA, ISO and internal quality requirements
• Help write and update startup, operating and maintenance procedures
• Track performance data, recommend best operating practices and carry out cost-saving improvements
• Work closely with engineering, maintenance, distribution and vendor teams, and keep plant safety the first priority

What You Bring:

• At least 10 years of hands-on air separation plant operations experience (more is better)
• Background with a major industrial gas producer (Linde/Praxair, Air Liquide/Airgas, Air Products, Messer or similar)
• Deep knowledge of cryogenic distillation and of main air compressors, mol sieve pre-purifiers, expanders and cryogenic pumps
• Solid electrical knowledge: motors, power distribution, medium- and low-voltage switchgear, and NFPA 70E electrical safety
• Current Qualified Electrical Worker status, or the ability to maintain it
• Experience troubleshooting PLCs, field instruments, analyzers and vibration monitoring equipment
• Comfortable with a DVM, megger, process calibrator and transmitter simulator
• Working knowledge of FDA medical gas requirements and product release
• High school diploma or GED plus technical training or equivalent industrial experience
• Clean driving record, and willingness to work a 14-on/12-off travel rotation with 12-hour days

Nice to Have:

• ASU startup or commissioning experience, especially on new-build plants
• Experience with remote operations centers or multi-plant performance optimization
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in a technical field
• Background with argon recovery columns and liquid product loading operations