Operations Research Engineer

Basic Function

The Operations Research Engineer has a deep expertise in refinery linear programming (LP) models, refinery process operations, kinetic modeling, and hands-on experience with the AVEVA Unified Supply Chain (USC) planning and scheduling suite. Drive development, enhancement, governance and continuous improvement of refinery and distribution optimization models by translating plant operating behavior into robust LP representations and kinetic equations. Works closely with Process Engineering, Technical Services, Planning, Commercial, and Operations teams to develop systems for gathering plant data, validate assumptions, and enhance model fidelity for commercial and operational decision making.

Job Duties

• Develops, maintains, and optimizes refinery and distribution LP models to support planning, scheduling, supply chain, and operational optimization activities.
• Leads structural enhancements and continuous improvement initiatives across refinery and distribution models.
• Owns model governance processes including model standards, documentation, validation procedures, version control, data quality checks, and change management.
• Builds, calibrates, and tunes kinetic modeling equations and unit representations within refinery optimization models.
• Partners with Refinery Process Engineers and Technical Services teams to collect, validate, and interpret plant and unit operating data.
• Translates refinery process behavior, operating constraints, yields, logistics limitations, and equipment capabilities into mathematical and LP model formulations.
• Builds, maintains and governs models within the AVEVA Unified Supply Chain (USC) suite – Plan, Schedules, Networks, and crude assay management – to support integrated planning and value chain optimization.
• Enables multi-asset and distribution network optimization in AVEVA USC, connecting refinery plans, distribution, and commercial decisions into a single value chain view.
• Performs model reconciliation against actual plant performance to improve model accuracy and predictive capability.
• Supports refinery wide and regional optimization initiatives across crude selection, unit severity, blending, inventory management, logistics, and margin improvement opportunities.
• Analyzes operational and commercial scenarios to identify optimization opportunities, system constraints, and economic trade-offs.
• Collaborates with Planning, Commercial, Operations and Technical teams, to ensure optimization models aligning with business objectives and real-world operating conditions.
• Supports development of advanced optimization, digital, and analytics capabilities across refining and distribution operations

Special assignments or tasks assigned to the employee by their superior, as determined from time to time in their sole and complete discretion.

Experience

A minimum of 10 years’ experience in the energy industry.

Education Level

A minimum of a bachelor’s degree is required. 

Preferred Education Level: An MBA is preferred.

Required Skills

Must be able to lead and direct the work of other senior management associates. Advanced presentation, leadership and interpersonal skills; advanced strategic and tactical business acumen; good spreadsheet, database and word processing applications knowledge; interpersonal, time-management and organizational skills; advanced business analysis and client management skills; advanced knowledge of company products and sales strategies. Ability to effectively communicate with others, both written and verbal communication. Advanced reading and writing skills, with the ability to perform complex mathematical calculations.

Work Conditions

Office based with up to 20% travel by land and air required. Subject to all weather and varying road conditions.

Benefits

HF Sinclair offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well-being of our employees and their families. Our benefits include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Medical Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Paid Time-Off
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with match
• Educational Reimbursement
• Parental Bonding Time
• Employee Discounts

We are committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment, ensuring our employees have the resources needed to thrive professionally and personally.

Benefit eligibility is governed by official plan documents, for more details visit Total Rewards .

Our One HF Sinclair Culture:

At HF Sinclair, we are united through our One HF Sinclair Culture, which is underpinned by our five core values of Safety, Integrity, Teamwork, Ownership and Inclusion. Developed to empower our people, our five core cultural values are at the heart of everything we do and extend to how we engage our stakeholders. These values influence our decisions, shape our behaviors and keep us connected across the entire organization.

We maintain a true Safety culture for our employees, communities, environments and customers. Our goal is to make sure everyone returns home safely each day. We have a long-standing commitment to Integrity and ethical behavior and do what is right for our employees, investors, communities and the environment. We encourage employees to Step Up and Stand Out by championing a culture of Teamwork and Ownership. We foster a culture of Inclusion by encouraging diversity of experiences, viewpoints and backgrounds. What makes each of us different, together makes us stronger.

About HF Sinclair Corporation

HF Sinclair Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is an independent energy company that produces and markets high-value light products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, renewable diesel and lubricants and specialty products. HF Sinclair owns and operates refineries located in Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Wyoming, Washington and Utah. HF Sinclair provides petroleum product and crude oil transportation, terminalling, storage and throughput services to our refineries and the petroleum industry. HF Sinclair markets its refined products principally in the Southwest U.S., the Rocky Mountains extending into the Pacic Northwest and in other neighboring Plains states and supplies high quality fuels to more than 1,750 branded stations and licenses the use of the Sinclair brand to more than 350 additional locations throughout the country. HF Sinclair produces renewable diesel at two of its facilities in Wyoming and also at its facility in New Mexico. In addition, subsidiaries of HF Sinclair produce and market base oils and other specialized lubricants in the U.S., Canada and the Netherlands, and export products to more than 80 countries.

Equal Opportunity Employer

HF Sinclair Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other prohibited ground of discrimination.