Process Modeling & Optimization Engineer

at  Motiva Enterprises LLC

At Motiva, our employees’ energy, passion, and dedication to excellence are what make us who we are and what allows us to generate energy that makes a house a home, gets us from point A to point B, and enables our health and wellbeing. We invest in every aspect of our employees’ lives because, at Motiva, our people matter.
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Motiva refines, distributes and markets petroleum products throughout the Americas. The company’s Port Arthur Manufacturing Complex in Port Arthur, TX, is comprised of North America’s largest refinery with a total throughput of 720,000 barrels per day, the world’s second largest base oil plant, and an integrated chemical plant. Under exclusive long-term brand licenses with Shell and Phillips 66 (for the 76® brand), Motiva’s commercial operations supply more than 12 billion gallons of fuel to customers annually. Motiva is wholly owned by Aramco, one of the world’s largest integrated energy and chemicals companies.
Position Overview:
The Process Modeling and Optimization Engineer provides process modeling support to production organizations to ensure excellence in Process Safety, Reliability, and Margin Optimization. This role works closely with the unit Technical Support Engineers (TSE), Economics & Scheduling, and Technical Excellence to ensure long term reliability and profitability from the operating assets. It is also expected to incorporate day-to-day mentorship, training, and coaching of Operations Support Engineers (OSEs) and TSEs in use of process modeling toolkit. This position plays a key role in continuous improvement. In addition, this role will support real-time optimization initiatives at Port Arthur Manufacturing Complex.

Responsibilities:

• Perform proactive technical monitoring with regards to long term Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), primarily through Yield tracking exercise for every unit, led by the TSE’s of respective units.
• Provide technical assurance to TSEs and operations personnel during test runs, abnormal situations, and unplanned outages through scenario studies in process model as required.
• Develop and maintain process Models of all units including generating and updating LP sub models.
• Mentor and coach Operations Support Engineers (OSEs) and TSEs in use of process modeling toolkit.
• Provide long term technical support and assurance for NLPM and LP work for all process units as applicable.
• Utilize sound Causal Learning methods, work with vendor helpdesk for problem solving and training arrangement.
• Lead, participate in, and provide technical review level assurance in the Management of Change to ensure robust Process Safety Management for changes to be implemented.
• Identify and validate opportunities for margin improvements and drive changes to capture these opportunities via established work processes.
• Ensure sufficient Token/Chip Count for each type of Modeling Software.
• Act as an agent of the business to maintain safe, reliable, and profitable operations that are free of environmental consequence.
• Work to mitigate threats to operating units via the Unit Performance Team.
• Provide a technical review level of assurance to all assigned or initiated MOCs.
• Deploy Hysys models in Aspen Online platform for open-loop Real-time unit optimization.
• Coordinate with Production team and E&S and help optimize conversion units (HCU2, FCC, Reformer, Coker) using solution computed through Aspen Online platform.
• Implement and support real-time monitoring initiative in Hysys/Aspen Online, e.g. crude pre-heat train monitoring.
• Work with Advanced Process Control Engineers to implement Real-time optimization interface with unit Advanced Process Control application.

Experience and Qualifications:

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering
• 2+ years of experience working as a Process Engineer
• Process Modelling experience for steady state simulation packages such as HYSYS and PetroSIM

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years Process Modeling experience preferred for steady state simulation packages such as HYSYS and PetroSIM
• Strong understanding of Yield Accounting/Mass balance and optimization strategies
• Familiarity with real-time optimization tools

Physical Requirements:

• Physical ability to work around and on industrial equipment, including frequent climbing of stairs and ladders
• Ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in designated areas (respirator, hard hat, safety glasses, gloves, heeled boots, and hearing protection)

We reserve the right to amend or withdraw Motiva jobs at any time, including prior to the closing date. Depending on qualifications, the successful candidate may be offered a position at a more appropriate level and/or grade.
Applicants for regular U.S. positions must be authorized to work in the United States for Motiva Enterprises LLC without the need for sponsorship of an immigration authorization or visa (for example, TN, H-1B, or other employment-based immigration authorization or visa).
Motiva participates in E-Verify.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, citizenship, genetic information, or other protected status under federal, state, or local laws

• Perform proactive technical monitoring with regards to long term Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), primarily through Yield tracking exercise for every unit, led by the TSE’s of respective units.
• Provide technical assurance to TSEs and operations personnel during test runs, abnormal situations, and unplanned outages through scenario studies in process model as required.
• Develop and maintain process Models of all units including generating and updating LP sub models.
• Mentor and coach Operations Support Engineers (OSEs) and TSEs in use of process modeling toolkit.
• Provide long term technical support and assurance for NLPM and LP work for all process units as applicable.
• Utilize sound Causal Learning methods, work with vendor helpdesk for problem solving and training arrangement.
• Lead, participate in, and provide technical review level assurance in the Management of Change to ensure robust Process Safety Management for changes to be implemented.
• Identify and validate opportunities for margin improvements and drive changes to capture these opportunities via established work processes.
• Ensure sufficient Token/Chip Count for each type of Modeling Software.
• Act as an agent of the business to maintain safe, reliable, and profitable operations that are free of environmental consequence.
• Work to mitigate threats to operating units via the Unit Performance Team.
• Provide a technical review level of assurance to all assigned or initiated MOCs.
• Deploy Hysys models in Aspen Online platform for open-loop Real-time unit optimization.
• Coordinate with Production team and E&S and help optimize conversion units (HCU2, FCC, Reformer, Coker) using solution computed through Aspen Online platform.
• Implement and support real-time monitoring initiative in Hysys/Aspen Online, e.g. crude pre-heat train monitoring.
• Work with Advanced Process Control Engineers to implement Real-time optimization interface with unit Advanced Process Control application