The Senior Panel Operator will be responsible for controlling and optimizing the DRI facility from the Central Control Room during commissioning, start-up, normal operation and shutdown.
This is a critical control-room position requiring strong knowledge of DRI process behaviour, DCS operation, alarms, interlocks, process troubleshooting and emergency response.
Key Responsibilities
Operate and monitor the DRI plant through the PCS7 Distributed Control System (DCS).
Participate in DCS/PLC loop checking, functional testing, interlock testing and Site Acceptance Testing.
Monitor major process sections including the reactor/reduction shaft, PGH, process gas circuit, CO₂ removal, HBI system and water-treatment facilities.
Execute plant start-up, stabilization, normal-operation and shutdown sequences.
Continuously monitor pressure, temperature, gas composition, flow, level and other critical process parameters.
Maintain required DRI metallization, carbon content, production rate and product quality.
Analyse trends and identify developing process abnormalities before they result in plant trips or production losses.
Respond to alarms, trips and interlocks and take corrective action in accordance with approved operating procedures.
Coordinate field actions with Senior Field Operators and Field Operators.
Support emergency shutdown and plant recovery activities.
Optimize consumption of natural gas, electricity, process gases, cooling water and other utilities.
Maintain comprehensive control-room logs and shift reports.
Support troubleshooting of recurring process and equipment problems.
Coach Panel Operators and support their technical development.
Work closely with Shift In-Charge, maintenance and instrumentation teams during breakdowns and plant interventions.
Requirements
Bachelor's degree in Science or Diploma in Chemical Engineering or equivalent.
Minimum 4 years' relevant experience for degree holders or 8 years for diploma holders.
Minimum 4 years' experience as a Senior Panel Operator or equivalent control-room position.
Strong preference for candidates with Tenova HYL/Energiron DRI plant experience.
Strong knowledge of DRI plant start-up, shutdown and emergency operating procedures.
Hands-on experience with PCS7 or comparable modern DCS platforms.
Excellent understanding of process alarms, interlocks, trips, permissives and ESD philosophy.