The Project Operations Business Division
and its Engineering Department is looking for a
Pressure Vessel Specialist (F/M)
Localisation : Rueil-Malmaison
Axens Presentation :
Axens group provides a complete range of solutions for the conversion of oil and biomass to cleaner fuels, the production and purification of major petrochemical intermediates, the chemical recycling of plastics, all natural gas treatment and conversion options along with water treatment and carbon capture. The offer includes technologies, equipment, furnaces, modular units, catalysts, adsorbents and related services. Axens is also specialized in Carbon Capture. Axens is ideally positioned to cover the entire value chain, from feasibility study to unit start-up and follow-up throughout the entire unit life cycle. This unique position ensures the highest level of performance with a reduced environmental footprint. Axens global offer is based on highly trained human resources, modern production facilities and an extended global network for industrial, technical supports & commercial services.
Axens combines the friendliness of a company on a human scale and the influence of a multinational environment whose customers are spread over more than 85 countries.
Axens is an IFP Group company.
Context:
Axens’ Project Operations Business Division is specialized in the design and supply of proprietary equipment, modular units, and process furnaces for refineries and petrochemical sites worldwide. This division oversees the full execution of products—from design to start-up at customer sites.
Within this division, the Engineering Department is responsible for detailed technical studies and provides support for the development of new equipment sold by the company.
We are currently seeking a Pressure Vessel Specialist, who will serve as the technical reference for pressure vessels within the Axens Group. The position reports to the Equipment Mechanical Group Manager
Missions :
The Pressure Vessel Specialist is the technical authority for pressure vessels (columns, reactors, heat exchangers, etc.) and is involved in all project phases: development, design, procurement, document validation, manufacturing, and installation.
Your main responsibilities will be as follows:
At bid stage or during project execution
- Advise Process Engineers on pressure vessel designs proposed to clients (supports, end types, transitions, piping positions, interfaces with internals, ...)
- Advise on the feasibility of reusing pressure vessels or equipment as part of unit revamps.
- Perform and validate design and calculations according to codes (mainly ASME VIII Div. 1 & 2, and sometimes PD5500, EN 13445, AD 2000, GOST, etc.)
- Analyse customer specification, prepare technical requisitions and equipment datasheets to purchase pressure vessels and internals,
- Provide technical support to industrial design teams, purschasing team or project managers in front of clients or suppliers,
- Review and approve calculation notes, general arrangement drawings, and detailed drawings, ensuring compliance with applicable standards and project requirements, while coordinating with other disciplines (heat transfer, piping, instrumentation, structural, etc.).
- Provide technical assistance to subcontractors, both on manufacturing choices and issue resolution
- Conduct equipment inspections at manufacturers’ facilities, independently or with clients
- Supervise and manage subcontracted pressure vessel design studies from bid phase to final document validation.
Continuous improvement, Training
- Monitor construction codes, standards and regulation to maintain calculation tools and design guides (ASME VIII, API, PED, etc.).
- Act as a mechanical expert on pressure vessel for new processes under development, proposing innovative design solutions and identifying associated risks.
- Ensure lessons learned are effectively integrated into engineering processes and future projects.
- Contribute to the improvement and structuring of pressure vessel activities within the engineering department (standards, procedures, tools, subcontractor qualification, interfaces, etc.).
- Deliver internal training sessions on pressure vessel topics.
KNOWLEDGE AND REQUIRED LEVEL
You hold a degree in Mechanical Engineering or an equivalent qualification.
- You bring approximately 15 years of experience in pressure vessel design and calculation, acquired within the Oil & Gas sector.
- You demonstrate strong technical expertise in:
- Pressure vessel design and calculation in compliance with international codes and standards, particularly ASME.
- The use of specialized pressure vessel design software (such as PV Elite or equivalent).
- Metallic materials and manufacturing processes, including welding, heat treatment, and non destructive testing (NDT).
- You are comfortable working in a project driven environment (Oil & Gas, petrochemicals, nuclear, or related industries).
Associated Skills
- You demonstrate strong scientific rigor and meticulous attention to detail, consistently delivering high‑quality, reliable technical outputs.
- You bring proven leadership, coordination, and problem‑solving capabilities, successfully applied in complex engineering environments.
- You are able to work independently while thriving in multidisciplinary teams, adapting easily to diverse project contexts.
- You communicate clearly and effectively, fostering strong alignment across internal teams and productive collaboration with external stakeholders.
- You exhibit a proactive and decisive mindset, with the confidence to justify, defend, and stand by technical decisions.
- You have solid experience in subcontractor management, ensuring performance, quality, and adherence to project requirementsYou are fluent in English, both written and spoken, enabling you to produce technical documentation and collaborate effectively in international environments.
- You demonstrate flexibility and availability for short international business trips to suppliers’ and customers’ sites.
“At Axens, we challenge stereotypes and clichés.
It is actually the foundation of our commitment to Diversity Equity & Inclusion.
Only your talent and personality matter to us!”
