Plant Mechanical Engineer

Vertex Refining Alabama LLC•Saraland, AL

10h•Onsite

About The Position

The Plant Mechanical Engineer provides technical expertise and engineering support to ensure the safe, reliable, and cost-effective operation of refinery mechanical equipment. The role serves as a primary technical resource for rotating and fixed equipment, including pressure vessels, piping, heat exchangers, tanks, pumps, compressors, and other mechanical systems. Working with Operations, Maintenance, Inspection, and Project Engineering, the engineer troubleshoots equipment issues, develops repair and reliability solutions, supports capital projects and turnarounds, and ensures compliance with applicable engineering standards, industry codes, and regulatory requirements. The position supports mechanical maintenance and integrity programs, reliability and defect elimination, capital projects, turnarounds, shutdowns, and equipment return-to-service decisions. The role is based at the Vertex Refining Alabama Site, a 24/7 manufacturing plant in Saraland, Alabama, and follows a 9/80 work schedule. The expected start date is by the end of 2026.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
Minimum of 4–6 years of mechanical engineering, plant engineering, or equipment reliability experience in refinery, petrochemical, or similar industrial operations.
Working knowledge of rotating and fixed equipment, mechanical integrity principles, maintenance practices, and equipment troubleshooting.
Ability to analyze equipment failures, develop engineering recommendations, and collaborate effectively with Operations, Maintenance, Inspection, and Project teams.
Must be authorized to work permanently in the United States on a full-time basis without requiring sponsorship.
Must possess and maintain a current valid license to operate a motor vehicle in the United States.
Must be able to read, speak, and write English fluently.
Must hold or be able to qualify to receive a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card.
Must adhere to site alcohol and drug standards, including random drug screenings.
Must receive satisfactory results from required pre-employment background checks, including drug screening (including a hair sample), medical evaluation, and reference checks.

Nice To Haves

Experience with refinery reliability programs, Root Cause Analysis, Failure Mode and Effects Analysis, defect elimination, and preventive and predictive maintenance practices.
Working knowledge of applicable ASME, API, and NBIC codes and standards, including ASME B31.3, API 510, API 570, API 579, API 653, and API 520/521.
Familiarity with pressure equipment design, inspection, repair, and Fitness-for-Service assessments, including pressure vessels, piping, tanks, heat exchangers, and fired equipment.
Experience with rotating equipment condition monitoring and troubleshooting, including vibration analysis, infrared thermography, and centrifugal or reciprocating compressors.
Knowledge of welding inspection, nondestructive examination (VT, PT, UT, RT), fabrication quality assurance, and applicable inspection practices.
Familiarity with fired heater design, refractory inspection and repair, heat exchanger evaluation, and protective coatings.
Experience with engineering software and technical tools used for pressure equipment evaluation, piping analysis, and mechanical reliability.
Relevant technical certifications or specialized training in vibration analysis, infrared thermography, nondestructive examination, or API inspection practices.

Responsibilities

Provide mechanical engineering expertise to improve asset reliability, equipment integrity, and cost-effective performance across refinery operations.
Lead the development and execution of maintenance strategies and repair plans for rotating and static equipment used in refinery units.
Troubleshoot and improve the performance and reliability of pumps, compressors, turbines, seals, and bearings.
Provide technical guidance on equipment design, fabrication, troubleshooting, maintenance, and repair to Operations, Maintenance, Inspection, and Engineering personnel.
Support preventive and predictive maintenance improvements, including operator care tasks, vibration analysis, infrared monitoring, and acoustic monitoring.
Support pressure equipment design, fabrication, inspection, modification, and repair in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, codes, and standards.
Manage and review Integrity Operating Windows, Risk-Based Inspection analyses, Corrosion Control Documents, and applicable safe operating limits.
Develop and maintain mechanical integrity procedures, engineering standards, and specifications for pressure vessels, piping, valves, painting, and insulation.
Perform Fitness-for-Service assessments and engineering calculations to evaluate equipment condition and continued serviceability.
Review and approve mechanical and pressure equipment portions of the Management of Change process.
Develop and evaluate temporary and permanent equipment repair recommendations, including freeze plugs, hot taps, sealing technologies, and engineered enclosures.
Evaluate corrosion and deterioration mechanisms to guide equipment inspection, maintenance, and repair decisions.
Identify and implement improvements to the site's mechanical integrity program.
Conduct Root Cause Analysis and failure investigations to reduce recurring equipment failures and improve mechanical reliability.
Analyze failure histories, degradation patterns, inspection findings, and operating data to identify reliability improvements.
Investigate pressure equipment leaks, mechanical failures, and performance degradation, determine causes, and recommend corrective actions.
Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Inspection, and Engineering personnel to develop and execute defect elimination plans.
Define scopes, develop cost estimates, and prepare technical justifications for capital projects related to reliability, mechanical integrity, and equipment replacement.
Support technical reviews and engineering evaluations with Project Engineering.
Support mechanical equipment planning and execution for turnarounds, maintenance activities, capital projects, and plant shutdowns.
Develop turnaround equipment inspection and repair plans based on equipment design, operating conditions, and inspection history.
Provide technical support during turnarounds and shutdowns for inspections, repairs, and return-to-service decisions.
Prepare periodic reliability and project status reports for Reliability Steering Teams, Asset Performance reviews, and other governance groups.
Maintain a current valid U.S. motor vehicle operator's license and adhere to site alcohol and drug standards, including random drug screenings.
Complete required pre-employment background checks, drug screening (including a hair sample), medical evaluation, and reference checks with satisfactory results.