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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 Simulation Advisor at Motiva is responsible for building and maintaining non-linear process models (NLPMs) for refinery and chemical process units. Reporting to the Sr. Manager - Process Technology in Technical Excellence, this role supports the delivery of strategy, governance, technology, and assurance. The advisor works closely with the Digitalization and Strategy Departments, overseeing all aspects of process model support, including building, maintenance, tuning, and user training. This role also plays a key part in extracting data for use with the LP (linear programming) model and managing relationships with technology suppliers.
Key Responsibilities:
The Simulation SME maintains and improves existing process models with respect to structure and accuracy; build new process/kinetic models where needed in refining and chemicals; periodically tune process models using reconciled plant data.
Maintain and enhance existing process models, ensuring structure and accuracy; develop new process/kinetic models for refining and chemicals, and tune models using reconciled plant data.
Assist with building, maintaining, and executing tools to compare process model output with reconciled plant data; collaborate with the LP model coordinator and process engineers on structural changes, model tuning, and validation.
Appraise stand-alone simulation models for accuracy relative to plant data, process model output, and LP model predictions.
Provide support to the Strategy group, including model development and model-based evaluations for decarbonization initiatives.
Support digitalization initiatives through process modeling.
Stay informed on industry trends and simulation innovations to leverage for Motiva's benefit.
Interface with software suppliers (Aspentech, PROII, KBC, OLI) to recommend enhancements and report issues.
Collaborate with Saudi Aramco regarding advancements in simulation.
Champion process improvements to enhance the quality and accuracy of models.
Train users in process simulation, unit troubleshooting, and building/troubleshooting process models.
Build, maintain, and use data extraction interfaces between process models and LP submodels.
Serve as the owner for version-controlled process models, providing governance and oversight.
Assist in evaluating updates to process models.
Host quarterly knowledge-sharing sessions with site process engineering teams to improve model use and understanding.
Limited travel may be required.
Experience and Qualifications:
Basic Qualifications:
Must have legal authorization to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis.
Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or a related field.
Minimum of 15 years' experience in the Refining and/or Chemicals industries.
At least 10 years of experience building, using, and maintaining process models.
Expertise in multiple process/kinetic modeling platforms (HYSYS, Petro-SIM, Spyro).
Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
Proven experience working with teams in operating plants.
Demonstrated experience leading work process improvements.
Preferred Qualifications:
20 years of experience in the Refining and/or Chemicals industries.
15 years of experience using, building, and maintaining process/kinetic models.
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.