Advanced Process Control Engineer

Marathon Petroleum Corporation•Carson, CA

1d•$122,900 - $212,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Marathon Los Angeles Refinery is seeking an Advanced Process Control (APC) Engineer to serve as a technical leader for multivariable predictive control and optimization applications across multiple refining units. The role is accountable for the APC lifecycle, from identifying opportunities and establishing economic justification through design, commissioning, sustainment, and long-term value realization. The APC Engineer partners with Operations, Planning, Economics, and Control Systems teams to align control strategies with refinery business objectives, operational constraints, and safety requirements. The position calls for deep process knowledge, strong analytical capability, and the ability to mentor engineers while improving APC performance. It is an onsite position in Carson, California, with schedules of 9/80, 5/40, or 4/1. Occasional after-hours calls and turnaround support may be required. Travel is 10% for training and seminars; relocation may be available. The position requires a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and at least ten years of engineering experience in refining, petrochemical, or related industries, including at least four years in advanced process control engineering. Candidates must be able to work in refinery field conditions, wear appropriate PPE including a respirator, access areas using stairs or ladders, and meet the stated licensing and U.S. work-authorization requirements. The role may require extended hours, nights or weekends, on-call availability, and emergency response.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering.
At least ten years of total engineering experience in refining, petrochemical, or related industries, including at least four years in advanced process control engineering.
Proven experience leading APC applications from concept through sustained operation, including economic justification and benefit tracking.
Ability to wear appropriate refinery PPE, including a respirator, physically perform field tasks, and access refinery areas using stairs or ladders to inspect equipment.
Must be able to take a hair drug test and physical.
Valid driver's license; MPC determines valid status.
Legally authorized to work in the United States without future visa sponsorship.
Ability to work extended hours on occasion, including nights and weekends, in a process operations environment and during inclement weather.
Ability to maintain on-call status and respond to emergencies during off-hours as necessary.

Nice To Haves

Ten or more years of Process Control experience, with demonstrated responsibility for APC design, commissioning, and sustainment.
Fifteen or more total years of experience within Controls, Economic & Planning, or Process Engineering.
Ability to build or develop advanced multivariable process control models from inception through commissioning.
Ability to manage APC-related intermediate tags and troubleshoot communications or APC-related tuning within Honeywell Experion and TPS/TDC.

Responsibilities

Lead development, commissioning, and long-term sustainment of multivariable predictive control (MPC/APC) applications to optimize unit performance, stability, and profitability.
Own the APC project lifecycle, including opportunity identification and prioritization, economic benefit estimation, controller design, model development, commissioning, validation, post-implementation audits, and continuous improvement.
Collaborate with Operations, Planning, and Economics to align APC strategies with refinery business objectives, constraints, and LP signals, translating economic intent into control objectives.
Apply cost-benefit analysis to prioritize APC work and focus engineering effort on high-value opportunities.
Track, report, and communicate APC performance metrics, KPIs, and realized economic benefits, and maintain accountability for sustained results.
Conduct advanced process data analysis and dynamic modeling to identify performance gaps, root causes, and optimization opportunities.
Develop and maintain dynamic process models, inferential sensors, and lab-bias-corrected estimators for APC and optimization objectives.
Design and maintain cross-unit and plantwide optimization strategies, including coordination of multiple APC controllers.
Provide technical leadership during APC commissioning, unit startups, shutdowns, turnarounds, and system migrations, ensuring APC readiness and robustness.
Develop, maintain, and audit APC and control system documentation, including control narratives, design basis documents, MV/CV/DV definitions, system architecture diagrams, and technical reports.
Partner with Control Systems, OT, and vendors on APC platform upgrades, migrations, and cybersecurity-aligned system changes.
Mentor and guide APC and Process Control engineers and promote best practices in controller design, testing, documentation, and sustainment.
Provide training and technical guidance to Operations, Engineering, and Technical Services on APC functionality, limitations, and economic intent.
Stay current with industry trends and emerging APC and optimization technologies and apply lessons learned to improve performance and business value.