Senior Metallurgical Engineer - Failure Analysis & Materials Reliability
About The Position
As a Senior Metallurgical Engineer in Phillips 66’s Energy Research & Innovation organization, you will address materials reliability challenges to support the safe and reliable performance of refining, midstream, and renewable fuel assets. The role applies scientific expertise to improve methods and tools and translate technical findings into practical value across the enterprise. You will lead failure investigations and root-cause analyses, plan and manage research and technical-support projects, and design experiments and testing to evaluate technical problems. The work involves advanced diagnostic methods, laboratory techniques, scientific software, simulation tools, and company-approved AI tools to investigate welding, corrosion, metallurgy, and other materials reliability challenges. You will develop improved test methods and reusable standards, analyze laboratory and field data, prepare reports and business cases, and advise sites and stakeholders on technical findings and emerging issues. As a subject matter expert, you will mentor colleagues, review technical work, and guide less experienced scientists and engineers. You will also monitor developments, regulations, and industry practices; contribute to publications and knowledge sharing; represent Phillips 66 in technical forums; and promote safe laboratory and operating practices. Travel up to 5% is required, and the role involves working around chemicals, including acids and bases.
Requirements
- Legally authorized to work in the job posting country; candidates for regular U.S. positions must meet the stated U.S. citizenship or immigration status requirements and must not require work authorization sponsorship.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent level in Materials Science & Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related scientific or engineering field.
- At least 6 years of experience in metallographic specimen preparation, corrosion damage mechanisms, welding techniques, optical and electron microscopy, hardness testing, fractography, and metallurgical failure analysis.
- At least 3 years of hands-on experience supporting refining, midstream, or renewable fuel assets.
- Ability to travel up to 5% of the time.
- Ability to work around chemicals, including acids and bases.
Nice To Haves
- At least 10 years of experience in metallographic specimen preparation, corrosion damage mechanisms, welding techniques, optical and electron microscopy, hardness testing, fractography, and metallurgical failure analysis.
- At least 8 years of hands-on experience supporting refining, midstream, or renewable fuel assets.
- Strong working knowledge of corrosion mechanisms, materials degradation, welding and metallurgy, chemical treatment, coatings, fouling mitigation, or corrosion modeling.
- Experience conducting or supporting failure analysis, root-cause investigations, risk assessments, or laboratory corrosion studies.
- Experience with corrosion modeling or simulation tools such as COMSOL, Aspen HYSYS, OLI, or similar applications.
- Proficiency selecting, interpreting, and drawing conclusions from techniques including XRF, XRD, CHN, IC, ICP, GCxGC-MS, GC-MS, SIMDIS, SEM, TGA, and optical microscopy.
- Experience using AI tools for research, analysis, or technical problem-solving.
- Experience mentoring colleagues, critically reviewing work, guiding method development through influence, or representing an organization in external technical forums and industry consortia.
- Experience providing general supervision of more junior colleagues.
- Experience applying research methods, experimental design, data collection and analysis, and research and development testing.
- Experience using research databases, scientific software, laboratory equipment interfacing tools, or related technologies.
- Experience performing advanced data analysis, modeling, or simulation for scientific or technical problem-solving.
Responsibilities
- Lead complex materials failure investigations and root-cause analyses using metallography, fractography, and advanced materials characterization; identify failure mechanisms and recommend solutions.
- Plan and manage research and technical-support projects, balancing priorities, resources, schedules, technical risk, and the needs of sites and customers.
- Design and conduct experiments, testing, data collection, and analysis, and translate results into practical applications.
- Apply diagnostic methods, laboratory techniques, scientific software, simulation tools, and company-approved AI tools to investigate welding, corrosion, metallurgy, and materials reliability challenges.
- Identify gaps in procedures, methodologies, and tools; develop improved test methods, diagnostic capabilities, and reusable standards.
- Analyze laboratory, field, process, and other data; assess business impacts; prepare reports and business cases supporting proactive investigations and research.
- Provide specialist advice on technical findings, standards, procedures, and emerging materials reliability issues.
- Serve as a subject matter expert in materials science, metallurgy, welding, and corrosion damage mechanisms; mentor colleagues, review technical work, and guide less experienced scientists and engineers.
- Monitor external developments, regulations, and industry practices; contribute to technical publications and knowledge sharing; represent Phillips 66 in technical forums; and promote safe laboratory and operating practices.
Benefits
- Annual Variable Cash Incentive Program (VCIP) bonus.
- 8% 401(k) company match.
- Cash Balance Account pension.
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits, with an annual company contribution to a Health Savings Account for employees on an HDHP.
- Total well-being programs and incentives, including an Employee Assistance Plan, well-being reimbursement, and backup family care services.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
