Inspection Engineer

About Aster

Aster Chemicals and Energy (Aster) is a leading provider of chemical and energy solutions in Singapore and Southeast Asia. Aster is a joint venture led by Chandra Asri in partnership with Glencore Group. Building on the foundations of Singapore’s first oil refinery, our facilities on Pulau Bukom and Jurong Island serve as the nation’s hub for integrated refining and petrochemical production. Aster Bukom operates a 237,000 barrels per day refinery and a 1.1 million tonne per year ethylene cracker, while Aster Jurong Island produces essential petrochemicals that support industries across the region.

With over 60 years of heritage, Aster is shaping the future by driving progress and creating new opportunities for our people.  From advancing energy solutions to driving petrochemical innovation, we welcome you to join us in our journey that reflects our commitment to sustainability and operational excellence in an evolving industry landscape.

Together, we can achieve more—come be a part of it.

Job Purpose

The Inspection Engineer is accountable for assuring the mechanical integrity, regulatory compliance, and fitness-for-service of pressure equipment, piping, and static equipment within assigned petrochemical and/or refinery units.

The role carries direct accountability for inspection strategy, integrity risk identification, and technical decision-making that safeguards safe, reliable, and cost-effective plant operation. Beyond inspection execution, the incumbent is expected to exercise sound engineering judgement, actively identify and mitigate integrity risks, and act as a technical partner to Operations, Maintenance, and Engineering.

The Inspection Engineer shall be capable of operating in complex and high-risk environments, including turnarounds, projects, and cross-site deployments, and is expected to progressively demonstrate readiness for higher technical authority and focal roles.

Key Responsibilities

1. Inspection & Integrity Assurance

• Accountable for the execution and quality of inspection programs for pressure vessels, piping, tanks, and static equipment within assigned units.
• Own and maintain inspection strategies, inspection intervals, and scopes in accordance with applicable codes and standards (API 510, API 570, API 653, ASME, NBIC).
• Evaluate and approve inspection findings, corrosion data, and NDT results to determine equipment condition, remaining life, and fitness-for-service.
• Exercise engineering judgement to determine and endorse repair, replacement, mitigation, monitoring, or continued operation, balancing safety, risk, operability, and cost.
• Accountable for day-to-day integrity management of assigned process units, utilities, and offsites, with deep understanding of operating conditions and damage mechanisms (e.g. corrosion, erosion, fouling, cracking, sulfidation, MIC).
• Accountable for statutory inspection compliance, deferments, and regulatory engagements
  
  

2. Risk Management & Technical Decision-Making

• Proactively identify, assess, and escalate emerging integrity threats (e.g. MTOs, IOW/DOW excursions, recurring leaks) with clear technical framing and executable recommendations.
• Own the mechanical integrity input to Management of Change (MOC), Pre-Startup Safety Reviews (PSSR), and incident investigations and other work processes as required.
• Approve and govern temporary repairs, operating deviations, hydrotest waivers, and special inspection cases with documented technical justification.
  
  

3. Turnarounds, Projects & Execution

• Accountable for inspection scope definition, execution quality, and close-out during turnarounds, shutdowns, and online inspection campaigns.
• Act as inspection focal, deputy focal, or block owner during turnarounds, commensurate with experience and assignment.
• Own inspection and integrity inputs to projects, including inspection planning, and integrity requirements during design, fabrication, and installation.
• Ensure full closure and integrity of inspection records, histories, and recommendations in IDMS (wIMS)
  
  

4. Collaboration & Stakeholder Accountability

• Act as the accountable integrity authority within multi-disciplinary teams (Operations, Maintenance, Process, Reliability, HSSE).
• Lead integrity risk discussions in established work processes (RBI, AMP, MTO, IFB, etc.).
• Communicate and defend technical positions clearly, fact-based, and with awareness of operational and commercial context.
• Build and sustain credibility through consistent technical judgement, discipline in execution, and professionalism.
  
  

5. Systems, Data & Continuous Improvement

• Accountable for the accuracy, completeness, and quality of inspection records, corrosion monitoring data, and reports in IDMS (wIMS).
• Ensure data integrity supports RBI, regulatory submissions, and management decision-making.
• Drive and contribute to integrity improvement initiatives, lessons learned, and standardization across sites.
• Own improvements to inspection procedures, standards, and work processes, including adoption of digitalization and AI-enabled tools where applicable.
  
  

Technical Competencies

• Strong working knowledge of API, ASME, NBIC codes and statutory inspection requirements.
• Solid understanding of corrosion mechanisms, materials selection, and damage mechanisms in hydrocarbon service.
• Proficiency in Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) methodologies and inspection planning tools.
• Ability to interpret NDT data, metallurgical findings, and failure analysis outputs.
• Practical understanding of repair methods, temporary repairs, and fitness-for-service concepts.
  
  

Behavioral Competencies

• Strong safety mindset and commitment to process safety and Goal Zero.
• Demonstrates ownership, discipline, and reliability in execution.
• Exercises independent judgement with appropriate escalation.
• Communicates complex technical issues clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Adaptable and willing to take accountability across units and sites as business needs require.
  
  

Working Conditions

• Primarily site-based with regular plant exposure, including work at height and in confined spaces.
• Participation in shutdowns, turnarounds, and on-call support is expected.
• Travel between petrochemical and refinery sites may be required.
  
  

• Diploma in Mechanical / Materials Engineering or equivalent with 6–8 years of relevant experience, or
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical / Materials Engineering or equivalent with 3–5 years of relevant experience.
• Hands-on experience with pressure equipment, piping, static equipment inspection, and NDT activities.
• Exposure to both petrochemical and refinery operations is preferred.

• API 510 – Pressure Vessel Inspector (mandatory)
• API 570 – Piping Inspector (mandatory)
• API 653 – Storage Tank Inspector
• Welding Inspector – AWS CWI or CSWIP