Program Manager Research Operations Jobs in El Centro, CA

Oxy is an international energy company with assets primarily in the United States, the Middle East and North Africa. We are one of the largest oil and gas producers in the U.S., including a leading producer in the Permian and DJ basins, and offshore Gulf of Mexico. Our midstream and marketing segment provides flow assurance and maximizes the value of our oil and gas. Our chemical subsidiary OxyChem manufactures the building blocks for life-enhancing products. Our Oxy Low Carbon Ventures subsidiary is advancing leading-edge technologies and business solutions that economically grow our business while reducing emissions. We are committed to using our global leadership in carbon management to advance a lower-carbon world. Visit oxy.com for more information.
Oxy Low Carbon Ventures, LLC (OLCV), a subsidiary of Occidental, capitalizes on Occidental's enhanced oil recovery (EOR) leadership by developing carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) projects that source anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) and promotes innovative technologies is looking for a new graduate.
This position will support the development and demonstration of TerraLithium's direct lithium extraction technology under general direction of the Technology Development Director of Low Carbon Ventures.
Description:
The selected college student will have a unique opportunity to apply the chemical engineering principles learned in the classroom to real-world challenges. By leveraging critical thinking skills, the student will contribute to the advancement of cutting-edge technologies that Oxy is developing, such as Direct Air Capture or Direct Lithium Extraction, which are pivotal for a sustainable future.
The specific project will be determined by the current needs of the business unit and may encompass a variety of tasks, including:

• Hands-on Laboratory Work: Engage in experimental procedures, data collection, and analysis to support the development and optimization of new technologies.

• Pilot Projects: Participate in the design, implementation, and evaluation of pilot-scale processes to test and refine innovative solutions.

• Field Activities: Gain practical experience by working on-site, assisting with the deployment and monitoring of technologies in real-world settings.

Throughout this role, the student will collaborate with experienced professionals from various departments, including engineering, research and development, and operations. This position offers a valuable opportunity to gain practical experience, enhance technical skills, and contribute to projects that have a significant impact on the future of sustainable technology.
Roles and Responsibilities:

• Maintain protection of the environment and the health and safety of our employees, customers, and the communities in which we operate and/or transport our products as our highest priority
• Implement and maintain safe work procedures for Technology Development equipment and experiments
• Lead the scale-up of laboratory processes to pilot and commercial scales
• Design and construct test equipment at the laboratory, pilot, and demo scales
• Perform experiments at the laboratory, pilot, and demo scales
• Process and analyze experimental data using appropriate statistical models
• Define the key questions that need to be answered to gain a strong fundamental understanding of new concepts, and plan, design, and execute the experiments required to answer them
• Interpret the results and communicate the learnings in both written and verbal formats to a diverse audience to support rigorous, data-driven decision making
• Use the learnings to define the logical next steps for the project

Desired Qualifications:

• Self driven, creative and detail oriented

• Previous experience with mechanical equipment is a plus
• Strong analytical / problem solving skills
• Demonstrated balance between experimental and theoretical expertise
• Proficiency in process modeling tools, such as Aspen Plus
• High proficiency in Microsoft applications (such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills including ability to work as part of a team

Required Qualifications:

• Must apply to Oxy's job application at www.oxy.com/careers in order to be considered

• Graduate student pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related Engineering field

• Graduation date between December 2025 - August 2026

• Must maintain minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA on 4.0 scale
• Ability to work on weekends, holidays, and respond to callouts on non-routine basis
• Physical requirements - Must be able to lift 40 lbs, climb ladders and stairs. Walking, bending, stooping is required. Must be able to wear personal protective equipment including use of a respirator. Must be able to respond to visual and audible alarms.

Sponsorship: Oxy regrets that we are unable to sponsor employment visas or consider individuals on time-limited Visa status for this position.
The salary range for this position is:$ 100,800 - $ 138,600 Annual
*Candidates having qualifications that exceed the minimum job requirements may receive consideration for higher-level role given (1) their experience, (2) additional job requirements, and/or (3) business needs.
Check out Oxy's competitive benefit package: http://www.oxy.com/siteassets/documents/careers/oxy-employee-benefits-program-2025.pdf.
The Company anticipates that it will accept applications for this position for 14 days after the posting date, although it may extend that date depending on applicant flow.
Recruitment Fraud
It has come to our attention various individuals and/or organizations are contacting people falsely pretending to recruit on behalf of Oxy. Please be aware that these recruiting scams and communications do not originate nor are they associated with our recruitment process. All Oxy job postings and offers will require a completed application through our company website.
Oxy does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruiting process. We will never:
• Ask you to pay for applications, interviews, meetings, processing, training or for any other fees
• Use recruiting or placement agencies that charge candidates an advance fee of any kind or
• Request personal information such as passport and bank account details at an early stage of our recruitment process.
We recommend against responding to unsolicited business propositions or offers from people you don't know. Do not disclose your personal or financial details. If you believe you have been the victim of a recruiting scam, please contact your local police department.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status or any other basis as protected by federal, state, or local law.