Principal Process Engineer - Fractionation

Description:

Valero is looking for a Principal Process Engineer - Fractionation to join the Process Optimization & Support team at the Valero Headquarters in San Antonio, Texas . The Principal Process Engineer - Fractionation serves as Fractionation Subject Matter Expert providing best in class support for refinery optimization and project support.

*Responsibilities may also include: *

• Reports to Technology Advisor, Fractionation and Crude units
• Supports day-to-day routine optimization and troubleshooting distillation and Crude and Vacuum unit issues across the Refinery sites as needed.
• Provides higher level troubleshooting and debottlenecking capability.
• Responds to refinery requests for assistance.
• Provide technical leadership to further develop Valero’s Process Chemical treatment program.
• Assists plants with investigation and implementation of strategic projects.
• Assists in the development and application of distillation and Crude and Vacuum unit technologies across the Refinery sites.
• Stays abreast of emerging technology in in Distillation, Crude and Vacuum units.
• Assists with establishing Key Processing “Best Practices” to improve profitability, including: operating conditions, feedstock processing, hardware change recommendations, monitoring process conditions, and unit performance reporting/comparison (benchmarking).
• Supports capital development process in technology selection and front-end engineering as requested.
• Conducts regular site visits to assist in evaluation, monitoring, troubleshooting, process design, performance tests, and optimization.
• Conducts site visits during turnarounds/outages to assist with tower inspections, scope development, and solution evaluations.
• Provides training for Valero early career engineers; Crude/Vacuum, Intro/Advanced Distillation, Intern, and selected onsite training (Operations support and Installation/Inspection).
• Manages projects ranging from $50k - $5M.
• Acts as primary contact with and monitors performance of Consultants, Vendors, Construction Contractors, and Subcontractors, etc. employed for the projects.
• Communicates formally and informally to management at the refinery.
• Develops and releases monthly Progress Reports.
• Resolves technical/commercial/schedule issues and conflicts.
• Controls project changes and directs communication with the refinery management regarding changes and change control.

This position is salaried exempt status, which means you are not eligible for overtime pay.

Qualifications:

• Bachelors of Science (B.S.) degree or higher degree in Chemical Engineering required.
• 15 years of process engineering experience in a refining or petroleum industry, including field experience with startups and operating plant troubleshooting required.
• Field experience in P&IDs review, Instrument Identification, Unit operations, and troubleshooting-data acquisition required.
• Field experience in troubleshooting fractionating towers and separators and in optimization of operating distillation columns required.
• Experience with process design of fractionating internals and their hydraulic ratings required.
• Ability to quickly assess unit/tower/separator performance issues, arrive at actionable recommendations and provide clear communications to operations, refinery leadership and corporate leadership required.
• Able and willing to work on-site, in-person at the Valero San Antonio location, required.
• Strong written and presentation skills is highly preferred.
• Experience in primary crude fractionation operation, including desalting and vacuum systems preferred.
• Experience with leading unit startups, including revamps and new units preferred.

All successful candidates must be eligible to obtain a TWIC card (Transportation Worker Identification Credential). It is Valero’s policy that employees must wear this card at all times while working at the refinery. Please review eligibility criteria at

Position level and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Valero's employees are the heart of its success, and there is a reason why the company is an employer of choice in the fuels manufacturing and marketing industry. It’s not just the excellent benefits package, or the opportunities for personal growth, it’s also the caring and committed culture of the organization that makes everyone feel like they’re truly part of a team. For more information, visit Valero.com.

Valero is an EEO/AA Employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected status, including race/ethnicity, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

Please be advised, if you are viewing this position on a website that lists an estimated salary rate/range, it was not provided by Valero. Valero’s market specific salary rate/range will be provided during the recruiting process and tends to be higher than what is estimated by such websites.

*LI-LP1

Job: Engineering
Primary Location: US-TX-San Antonio
Job Posting: Apr 17, 2026, 2:19:08 PM
Unposting Date: Ongoing
Req ID: 250018J