Employment

About AVN

AVN is a strategic innovation partner providing deep, uncommon expertise and infrastructure to solve the most challenging problems of science and technology. With expertise in chemicals, energy, environmental issues, and advanced software, AVN enables its partners to move ideas from conception to market with speed and efficiency. AVN’s chemical, energy, and environmental services business unit is headquartered in South Charleston, West Virginia. This business unit provides unbiased chemical process development, scale-up, and research and development services to its chemical and energy-focused, global customers.

AVN services for chemical and energy customers include building and operating chemical pilot and demonstration plants. AVN customers seek these services to demonstrate and validate their technology, produce market development samples, or to do other specialized testing. The Pilot Plant Operating & Maintenance Technician position plays an important role in the design, construction, operations, and research conducted at AVN’s world-class pilot and demonstration plant facilities.

Scope

Pilot Plant Operating  & Maintenance Technicians work within a team of operators, engineers, and instrument/electrical technicians who are collectively responsible for the safe construction, operation, and maintenance of small to intermediate-scale chemical facilities. These operations are typically built and operated for research purposes or the generation of market development samples. As such, Pilot Plant Operating & Maintenance Technicians in our Pilot Plant Operations are required to carefully collect research data and assist with process development while following safe work practices and being familiar with life-critical procedures similar to full-scale chemical operations.

The nature of AVN’s Pilot Plant Operations is such that technologies come and go as projects startup and shut down, as is the nature of many research programs. Unlike many large chemical operations with distinct craft roles, AVN technicians will participate in constructing, operating, maintaining, and decommissioning plants over the course of a project that may last a few weeks to many months. The technologies are also varied as they come from many different types of companies and industries from around the world. The Pilot Plant Operating Technician will work with various chemicals depending on the project requirements. Therefore, the Pilot Plant Operating & Maintenance Technician must be flexible and capable of adapting to the changing work requirements with each new project.

Major Responsibilities/Accountabilities

• Operation of small to intermediate-scale chemical operations (pilot plants). This includes operating from a distributed control system as well as field operations.
• Construction of pilot plants under the guidance of AVN engineers, construction coordinator, and project managers. This includes installing tubing or small-diameter piping; rigging and mounting equipment; mounting instrumentation; etc.
• Troubleshooting and maintenance of the pilot plant mechanical equipment, including equipment disassembly and repair.
• Troubleshooting process operations and upsets in new and changing technologies.
• Execution of life-critical work processes, including Lock-Out Tag-Out (LOTO), Safe Work Permits, Hot Work Permits, and Confined Space Entry.
• Communicating process status to AVN colleagues, including engineers and technicians, and interfacing with customer representatives when appropriate.
• Execution of an experimental run plan and research-quality data collection via logbook entries.
• Sample collection and analysis.
• Maintenance of the general facilities, including housekeeping, minor repair work, environmental operations, painting, or other general upkeep and renewal activities.
• Normal work hours are Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM, but chemical operators must have the flexibility to work irregular hours based on project needs. In the past, this has included rotating shifts, evening shifts, 10 or 12-hour workdays, or weekend coverage. Periodic overtime will be required.

Required Skills

The following skills will be required for the job. Entry-level candidates will be considered if they meet the educational requirements, and some of these skills may be acquired on the job, but an aptitude for this type of work is required.

• A high school diploma or equivalent is the minimum requirement. However, preferred candidates will also have one or more of the following additional considerations:
  • Associate’s or BS degree in process technology, chemistry, engineering, or industrial technology.
  • Five or more years of experience in a chemical, petroleum, or intermediate-scale research facility.
• A fundamental understanding of a variety of chemical unit operations, equipment, controls, and piping systems.
• Basic mechanical aptitude for construction and deconstruction of small-scale equipment and tubing and piping systems in a safe and timely manner.
• General chemical operator skills and expertise, including safe work habits and adherence to safe and environmentally responsible work practices.
• The capability to lead and execute safe work permits, LOTO’s, etc., and the ability to take responsibility for one’s own safety and the safety of co-workers and AVN clients.
• An ability to adapt quickly to changing conditions, new process technologies, and the capacity to face new challenges on a frequent basis.
• An ability and willingness to provide leadership to the pilot plant team to achieve project objectives.
• Good note-writing and general communication skills for effective research documentation and team understanding of operational conditions and issues.
• An understanding and capability of performing basic chemical analytical techniques such as gas chromatography, titration, etc.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. regularly throughout an 8 to 12-hour work shift, move construction materials, erect or relocate equipment, move drums, climb stairs and ladders, work at heights, etc.
• Ability to stand, walk, stoop, bend, and twist; work in tight or closed-in spaces; and wear all personal protective equipment including respirators and chemical protective clothing.

Required Experience

• No experience is necessary if the candidate meets the educational requirements, but candidates with chemical operating experience are preferred.

Position Location

South Charleston, WV

Position Pay Range

AVN offers competitive pay commensurate to the candidate’s experience and education level.

To Apply, use the following link:https://avncorp.applicantstack.com/x/detail/a2ok1ad7uq2l/aa0

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, familial status, disability status, genetic information, national origin, age, veteran status, or current or future service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law.