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Refinery Chemical Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Refinery Chemical Engineer information

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$40K

$87.5K

$140K

How much do refinery chemical engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for refinery chemical engineer in the United States is $87,487.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $67,500.00 and $106,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a refinery chemical engineer do?

A Refinery Chemical Engineer is responsible for designing, optimizing, and overseeing the processes that convert crude oil into usable products like gasoline, diesel, and other chemicals. They monitor plant operations, troubleshoot issues, and ensure processes run safely and efficiently. Additionally, they work to improve productivity, reduce environmental impact, and comply with safety and regulatory standards. Their work is critical to maximizing output while minimizing costs and risks in a refinery setting.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a refinery chemical engineer?

To thrive as a Refinery Chemical Engineer, you need a solid background in chemical engineering principles, process design, and safety regulations, typically backed by a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. Familiarity with process simulation software (such as Aspen HYSYS or ChemCAD), control systems, and industry safety certifications like OSHA are essential. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills help you collaborate across teams and address complex operational challenges. These skills ensure safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible operation of refinery processes while maximizing productivity.

What are some of the common challenges faced by refinery chemical engineers in their daily work?

Refinery Chemical Engineers often encounter challenges such as troubleshooting complex process issues, ensuring compliance with rigorous safety and environmental regulations, and optimizing plant operations to maximize efficiency. They must balance maintaining product quality with minimizing operational costs and downtime. Additionally, they frequently collaborate with multidisciplinary teams—including maintenance, operations, and environmental specialists—to implement process improvements and resolve unexpected technical problems.

What is the difference between Refinery Chemical Engineer vs Process Engineer?

AspectRefinery Chemical EngineerProcess Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Chemical Engineering, possibly PE licenseBachelor's in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering, often similar certifications
Work EnvironmentRefineries, petrochemical plantsVarious industries including manufacturing, chemical plants
Industry UsagePrimarily in oil & gas, refiningBroader, including chemical, pharmaceutical, manufacturing
Job FocusRefining processes, safety, optimization in oil refineriesProcess design, improvement, and troubleshooting across industries

Refinery Chemical Engineers specialize in refining processes within oil and gas plants, focusing on safety and efficiency. Process Engineers have a broader scope across multiple industries, working on process design and optimization. Both roles require similar credentials and often overlap in skills, but their primary work environments and industry focus differ.

Can a refinery chemical engineer work in a refinery?

Yes, a refinery chemical engineer typically works in a refinery environment, where they apply chemical engineering principles to optimize processes such as refining crude oil into usable products. They often use tools like process simulation software and may require certifications like P.E. licensure or safety training to perform their duties effectively.

What are popular job titles related to Refinery Chemical Engineer jobs?

For Refinery Chemical Engineer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Refinery Chemical Engineer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 92% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $87,487 per year, or $42.1 per hour.

Intern/Co-op - Refining Chemical Engineering Fall 2026

Anacortes, WA • On-site

Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Oil and Gas Extraction • 10K+ employees

$32.92/hr

Part-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 28 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Become familiar with process equipment fundamentals and best practices in a refinery setting.

  • Work on projects related to refinery operations, process engineering calculations, and process improvements.

  • Assist in developing planning, blending, scheduling, and process models for refinery optimization.


Marathon Petroleum rating

6.1

Company rating: 6.1 out of 10

Based on 205 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

An exciting career awaits you

At MPC, we're committed to being a great place to work - one that welcomes new ideas, encourages diverse perspectives, develops our people, and fosters a collaborative team environment.

Responsibilities:

As a Chemical Engineer at a Marathon refinery, you can expect to become familiar with process equipment fundamentals and best practices, build critical thinking skills, and gain an understanding of how all engineering disciplines work together as a cohesive team. You will also gain knowledge of various aspects of a refinery by working with a team of professionals who run a specific portion of the refining process. Most often, Chemical Engineers will have an opportunity to work on more than one area of the refinery, leading to a broad understanding of how the plant operates. Finally, you will have the opportunity to expand your written and verbal presentation skills in a professional work environment.

Most Chemical Engineering co-ops and interns enter into the following positions:

Process / Technical Service Engineersmay work on a variety of projects in the Technical Services Department together with your mentor that put your classroom experience as a Chemical Engineer into practice. The vast majority of our Chemical Engineering interns/co-ops work in this area. The experience will expand your understanding of the refining environment and technical aspects of the refinery. Past projects/duties include: develop and lead test runs to optimize refinery operations; perform process engineering calculations concerning the various process technology (or equipment) in the refinery; monitor and make recommendations in regards to catalyst and adsorbents; complete projects and provide recommendations for improvements to the refinery process and equipment.

Operations Research Engineersmay help develop planning, blending, scheduling, and process models for refinery engineers. The models are used to optimize crude oil purchasing, refinery production, blending and finished product scheduling, and optimization of refinery production. Typical college co-op assignments include: validation of production data and mass balancing, process modeling, and development of graphical interfaces of refinery process units.

Environmental Engineerswork on projects that involve the compliance of the entire refinery, and you will be exposed to the majority of process units in the refinery. You will be applying the engineering principles and calculations to various environmental projects and will also give you a broad knowledge of the various environmental laws that are applicable to refineries and what it takes to maintain compliance with those laws. Past projects/duties include: perform process calculations for the Risk Management Plan, including taking physical surveys of refinery process units; work on various process engineering projects within a Wastewater Treatment Plant; participate in inspections and/or testing that is conducted by federal, state, or local officials.

Products Control / Economics Engineersmay work on a wide array of projects including operations, blending, and refinery economics. You will gain an understanding of how a tank farm is operated and how gasoline and other products are prepared and shipped to customers. In addition, you will gain some exposure to the overall economics of the refinery and how operating decisions are made based upon these economics. Past projects/duties include: analyze refinery process flow data and compare to recommended optimum levels, this will help in identifying equipment failures which cause variances in capacity from the optimum levels; update information on gasoline blends and tank samples in preparation for an annual blender waiver audit; develop applications to better present process data for refinery operating decisions.

Qualifications:

  • Candidates must be majoring in Chemical Engineering
  • Strong academic performance
  • Candidates must be authorized to work in the US on a full-time indefinite basis without the need for employment visa sponsorship now or in the future.
  • Positions are available spring, summer, and fall semesters
  • Availability for multiple work terms is preferred
  • A valid driver's license is required
  • Concurrent enrollment in a degree seeking program
  • Military experience a plus
  • MIN - $32.92 per hour / MAX - $41.6 per hour

Learn more about Marathon Petroleum's benefits at www.mympcbenefits.com

As an energy industry leader, our career opportunities fuel personal and professional growth.

Location:

Findlay, Ohio

Job Requisition ID:

00018592

Pay Min/Max:

$0.00 - $999.99 Hourly

Grade:

HRLY1

Location Address:

539 S Main St

Additional locations:

Anacortes, Washington, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, Canton, Ohio, Catlettsburg, Kentucky, Detroit, Michigan, Dickinson, North Dakota, El Paso, Texas, Garyville, Louisiana, Kenai, Alaska, Mandan, North Dakota, Martinez, California, Owensboro, Kentucky, Robinson, Illinois, Salt Lake City, Utah, San Antonio, Texas, St Paul Park, Minnesota, Texas City, Texas, Wilmington, California

Education:

Employee Group:

Part time

Employee Subgroup:

Intern

Marathon Petroleum Company LP is an Equal Opportunity Employer and gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, reproductive health decision-making, age, mental or physical disability, medical condition or AIDS/HIV status, ancestry, national origin, genetic information, military, veteran status, marital status, citizenship or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. If you would like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant, click here.
If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process at Marathon Petroleum LP, please contact our Human Resources Department at talentacquisition@marathonpetroleum.com. Please specify the reasonable accommodation you are requesting, along with the job posting number in which you may be interested. A Human Resources representative will review your request and contact you to discuss a reasonable accommodation. Marathon Petroleum offers a total rewards program which includes, but is not limited to, access to health, vision, and dental insurance, paid time off, 401k matching program, paid parental leave, and educational reimbursement. Detailed benefit information is available atmympcbenefits.com. The hired candidate will also be eligible for a discretionary company-sponsored annual bonus program.
Equal Opportunity Employer: Veteran / Disability

We will consider all qualified Applicants for employment, including those with arrest or conviction records, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws. In reviewing criminal history in connection with a conditional offer of employment, Marathon will consider the key responsibilities of the role.


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About Marathon Petroleum

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Marathon Petroleum Corporation, headquartered in Findlay, Ohio, US, is a leading independent petroleum refining, marketing, and transportation company. Their official website can be found at marathonpetroleum.com. The company, part of the energy sector, was established in 1887, making it one of the oldest petroleum companies in the US. It operates an integrated refining, marketing and transportation system concentrated primarily in the Midwest, Northeast, East Coast, Southeast and Gulf Coast of the United States. This includes refineries, pipelines, and terminals that process and transport crude oil and refined products.

Industry

Oil and gas extraction

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Findlay, OH, US

Year founded

1887