Sr. Staff Advanced Process Control Engineer

Valero • San Antonio, TX

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Valero’s Sr. Staff Advanced Process Control Engineer serves as a corporate resource for implementing and maintaining Advanced Process Control (APC) applications on typical units across multiple refineries. The role supports APC and similar advanced control applications and their interfaces to DCS systems, and consults with site resources on APC-related issues. A significant portion of the work is conducted onsite at various refineries and includes pretests, step tests, inferential sensor development, application commissioning, troubleshooting, and operator training.

The position designs and implements optimization and maintenance of Aspen DMCplus applications for new and existing process units. It manages multiple parallel refinery projects with site and contract resources, leads APC network meetings, helps sites develop corporate monetary and utilization metrics, develops and audits corporate APC standards, and supports or leads corporate-sponsored APC training. The role is salaried exempt and is not eligible for overtime pay. Travel of up to 30% domestically and/or internationally may be required, and the employee must be able and willing to work onsite in person at Valero’s San Antonio location.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Chemical Engineering or a similar discipline.
• 15 years of process control engineering experience in the refining industry, with extensive demonstrated hands-on APC implementation experience.
• Able and willing to work onsite in person at the Valero San Antonio location.
• Able to travel up to 30% of the time domestically and/or internationally as required.
• Eligible to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering or a similar discipline.
• Experience with the latest versions of DMC3 Builder (9 and 10) and related products.
• Large-unit or multi-unit real-time optimization experience.
• Experience with AI tools such as neural networks.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement optimization and maintenance of Aspen DMCplus for new and existing process units.
• Conduct refinery unit pretests, make instrument recommendations, develop inferential sensors, tune DCS loops, improve control strategies, perform step testing and model development, commission and troubleshoot APC applications, and train operators and engineers.
• Manage multiple parallel projects at a refinery using a mix of site and contract resources.
• Host or lead APC network meetings.
• Assist sites in developing and generating corporate monetary and utilization metrics.
• Develop, modify, and audit corporate APC standards.
• Assist with and/or lead corporate-sponsored APC training activities.
• Consult with site resources on APC and related issues.

Benefits

• Competitive pay and annual bonus program.
• 100% match on 401(k) contributions up to 7%, with immediate vesting.
• Company-sponsored pension plan.
• Comprehensive healthcare and wellness programs.
• Onsite daycare center.
• Onsite employee and family wellness centers with physician and pediatrician services.
• Onsite pharmacy.
• Free state-of-the-art 24-hour fitness center for employees and spouses, with access to tennis and basketball facilities.
• Onsite cafeteria open for breakfast and lunch.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior