Sr. Staff Process Optimization & Support Engineer

Valero•San Antonio, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

As a Sr. Staff Process Optimization & Support Engineer, you will bridge process engineering and IT teams to enable the work of process and reliability subject matter experts (SME’s) by monitoring data work flows, historian queries, analytics, and engineering document management. This role functions as an SME in process engineering data analytics, refinery unit performance monitoring, and engineering data systems with accountability for working with Valero’s IT team to translate process engineering requirements into IT solutions. The Sr. Staff Process Optimization & Support Engineer acts as a thought leader for Valero’s use of AI, analytics, and operation/process data to improve safe, reliable, and profitable refinery operations. At Valero, we are committed to advancing the future of energy through innovation, ingenuity and unmatched execution. You can help achieve this goal if you can: Serve as the administrator for Valero‑developed Unit Health Monitoring (UHM) system, managing process‑unit key performance indicators, SME requests for changes to limits and engineering calculations, and downtime requests. Ensure the UHM system is robust, reliable, accurate, and consistent with historian, planning, and business accounting data. Lead tool selection, rollout, training, and end‑user support for process analytics and monitoring tools, such as Trendminer, for SME and refinery process engineering use. Establish guidelines, system design criteria, documents, and train system administrators and end users; support continued rollout and enhancements of the VIEW system for engineering document management. Interface with the IT team to support day‑to‑day routine optimization and troubleshooting across refinery sites. Communicate historian, UHM system, and other tool outages to refinery SMEs in a timely manner, and assist IT with troubleshooting and testing. Assist refinery and San Antonio engineers in automating complex calculations with multiple input sources, such as online Carbon Intensity monitoring for renewables or Acid Runaway Index for HF Alky units. Provide input into the annual IT budget and priorities for the Refining Business Unit. Collaborate with the IT team to vet data readiness and appropriate use cases for AI. Uphold guardrails for data integrity, security, and IP protection in vendor/cloud monitoring tools. Stay abreast of emerging technology in data analytics and AI. Benchmark usage patterns to analyze UHM and VIEW system configuration and usage; propose enhancements that improve reliability, performance, and user experience. Serve as the main point of contact for Process Technologists in troubleshooting issues with refining process data. Respond to SME requests for assistance (e.g., missing data, bad data) and configure, develop, and document data‑extraction and utility tools to support SME day‑to‑day tasks. Coach early‑career engineers on process‑data fundamentals, historian best practices, and effective use of analytics and document‑management tools. Apply process‑engineering depth with strong IT fluency, including practical knowledge of historians, SQL, analytics/reporting, and data modeling to enable SME decision‑making. Maintain a general understanding of refinery operations, process technology, commercial product quality, and interactions among refinery units. Demonstrate clear communication and influence by translating technical details into actionable guidance for engineers, operations, and IT. Provide thorough, efficient, and effective customer service to stakeholders at all levels within the organization. Maintain technical knowledge of database management and historian queries (including OSISoft PI and AspenTech IP.21 systems). Working knowledge of SAP, SQL queries, and Visual Basic for Applications is a plus. Cross‑train in other department duties to ensure efficient coverage of departmental responsibilities. This position is salaried exempt status, which means you are not eligible for overtime pay.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or higher level degree in Chemical Engineering or related field, required.
15 years of experience in the Refining, Petrochemical, or related industry, required.
Occasional travel, up to 10%25, mainly to Valero sites in the US, UK, and Canada, required.
Able and willing to work on-site, in-person at the Valero San Antonio location, required.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience with data historians, analytics, and/or relevant IT collaboration, preferred.
Experience with SQL, Power BI, and VBA, preferred.
5 or more years of on-site refinery experience, preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the administrator for Valero‑developed Unit Health Monitoring (UHM) system, managing process‑unit key performance indicators, SME requests for changes to limits and engineering calculations, and downtime requests. Ensure the UHM system is robust, reliable, accurate, and consistent with historian, planning, and business accounting data.
Lead tool selection, rollout, training, and end‑user support for process analytics and monitoring tools, such as Trendminer, for SME and refinery process engineering use.
Establish guidelines, system design criteria, documents, and train system administrators and end users; support continued rollout and enhancements of the VIEW system for engineering document management.
Interface with the IT team to support day‑to‑day routine optimization and troubleshooting across refinery sites. Communicate historian, UHM system, and other tool outages to refinery SMEs in a timely manner, and assist IT with troubleshooting and testing.
Assist refinery and San Antonio engineers in automating complex calculations with multiple input sources, such as online Carbon Intensity monitoring for renewables or Acid Runaway Index for HF Alky units.
Provide input into the annual IT budget and priorities for the Refining Business Unit.
Collaborate with the IT team to vet data readiness and appropriate use cases for AI. Uphold guardrails for data integrity, security, and IP protection in vendor/cloud monitoring tools. Stay abreast of emerging technology in data analytics and AI.
Benchmark usage patterns to analyze UHM and VIEW system configuration and usage; propose enhancements that improve reliability, performance, and user experience.
Serve as the main point of contact for Process Technologists in troubleshooting issues with refining process data. Respond to SME requests for assistance (e.g., missing data, bad data) and configure, develop, and document data‑extraction and utility tools to support SME day‑to‑day tasks.
Coach early‑career engineers on process‑data fundamentals, historian best practices, and effective use of analytics and document‑management tools.
Apply process‑engineering depth with strong IT fluency, including practical knowledge of historians, SQL, analytics/reporting, and data modeling to enable SME decision‑making. Maintain a general understanding of refinery operations, process technology, commercial product quality, and interactions among refinery units.
Demonstrate clear communication and influence by translating technical details into actionable guidance for engineers, operations, and IT. Provide thorough, efficient, and effective customer service to stakeholders at all levels within the organization.
Maintain technical knowledge of database management and historian queries (including OSISoft PI and AspenTech IP.21 systems). Working knowledge of SAP, SQL queries, and Visual Basic for Applications is a plus.
Cross‑train in other department duties to ensure efficient coverage of departmental responsibilities.

Benefits

Competitive Pay and Annual Bonus Program
100%25 match on 401(K) up to 7%25, with immediate vesting
Company-sponsored Pension Plan
Comprehensive Healthcare and Wellness Programs
Onsite Daycare Center
Onsite Employee and Family Wellness Centers (Physician & Pediatrician)
Onsite Pharmacy
State-of-the-art 24-hour Fitness Center free for employees and spouses with access to Tennis and Basketball Facilities
Onsite cafeteria open for breakfast and lunch
Sprawling campus with walking paths and access to biking trails