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Refinery Project Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Colonial Chemical

Project Engineer

South Pittsburg, TN · On-site

$83K - $111K/yr

... refinery, industrial manufacturing facility, or similar process environment. Candidates with less experience may be considered where project complexity can be scaled appropriately. * Working ...

Colonial Chemical

Project Engineer

South Pittsburg, TN · On-site

$83K - $111K/yr

... refinery, industrial manufacturing facility, or similar process environment. Candidates with less experience may be considered where project complexity can be scaled appropriately. * Working ...

Colonial Chemical

Project Engineer

South Pittsburg, TN · On-site

... refinery, industrial manufacturing facility, or similar process environment. Candidates with less experience may be considered where project complexity can be scaled appropriately. * Working ...

Worley

Project Engineer

Long Beach, CA · On-site

The Project Engineer - Chemicals & Fuels typically manages multiple small projects, a single medium project, or a defined portion of a large or mega project supporting chemicals, fuels, refining, and ...

Outback Landscape

Project Engineer

Idaho Falls, ID

$65K - $95K/yr

Project Engineer Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho About Outback Landscape Outback Landscape is a high ... Our team designs, builds, and maintains some of the most refined residential and commercial ...

Kokosing

Project Engineer

Toledo, OH

Manage project engineering and related personnel functions and activities, including personnel ... Title, duties, and responsibilities will be refined to reflect your current, and future, career ...

Kokosing

Project Engineer

Detroit, MI

Manage project engineering and related personnel functions and activities, including personnel ... Title, duties, and responsibilities will be refined to reflect your current, and future, career ...

Kokosing

Project Engineer

Detroit, MI · On-site

Manage project engineering and related personnel functions and activities, including personnel ... Title, duties, and responsibilities will be refined to reflect your current, and future, career ...

Winaxis

Project Engineer

Beaumont, TX · On-site

Minimum of 9 years working experience which related to petrochemical / refining industry / similar ... Project Engineer Work Location: Remote / Onsite / Hybrid (Remote for 3 months, then Onsite ...

Power Systems Mfg., LLC

Project Engineer

Jupiter, FL · On-site

The Project Engineer is responsible for the technical execution of commercial projects. This ... Refine existing engineering procedures or develop new ones for continuous efficiency & quality ...

Audubon Companies

Project Engineer

Houston, TX

... refining. * Experience as the lead engineer on medium and large multi-discipline projects. * PMP certification recommended; PE license recommended. * Basic understanding of multi-discipline ...

COIM USA, Inc.

Project Engineer

Paulsboro, NJ · On-site

$85K - $120K/yr

... in a chemical plant, refinery, manufacturing facility, or similar industrial environment ... project management principles and engineering design practices. • Strong analytical ...

Audubon Companies

Senior Project Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

$95K - $125K/yr

... refining. * Experience as the lead engineer on medium and large multi-discipline projects. * PMP certification recommended; PE license recommended. * Basic understanding of multi-discipline ...

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Refinery Project Engineer information

See salary details

$45K

$90.6K

$136K

How much do refinery project engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for refinery project engineer in the United States is $90,644.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $74,000.00 and $103,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Refinery Project Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Refinery Project Engineer, you need a strong background in chemical or mechanical engineering, project management experience, and typically a bachelor's degree in engineering. Familiarity with process simulation software, project scheduling tools like Primavera or MS Project, and relevant certifications such as PMP are highly valuable. Excellent problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills help manage cross-functional teams and complex projects effectively. These skills ensure that refinery projects are delivered safely, on time, and within budget while meeting all technical and regulatory requirements.

What does a Refinery Project Engineer do?

A Refinery Project Engineer is responsible for planning, coordinating, and overseeing engineering projects within an oil refinery. Their duties include designing project plans, managing contractors, ensuring compliance with safety and environmental regulations, and monitoring project progress from conception to completion. They collaborate with other engineers, project managers, and refinery staff to ensure projects are completed on time and within budget. The role also involves troubleshooting technical issues and implementing process improvements to enhance refinery efficiency.

What are some common challenges Refinery Project Engineers face when coordinating multidisciplinary teams?

Refinery Project Engineers often work with diverse teams, including process engineers, construction managers, and safety specialists. One common challenge is ensuring clear communication across disciplines, as each team may have different priorities and technical languages. Balancing project timelines with safety standards and regulatory compliance can also be demanding. Successful project engineers typically use strong organizational and interpersonal skills to align team efforts and keep projects on schedule.

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

AspectRefinery Project EngineerRefinery Process Engineer
Primary FocusManaging refinery construction and upgrade projectsOptimizing and improving refining processes
ResponsibilitiesProject planning, execution, and coordinationProcess design, troubleshooting, and efficiency improvements
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, PMP often preferredBachelor's in Chemical or Petroleum Engineering
Work EnvironmentConstruction sites, project officesRefinery process units, laboratories

Refinery Project Engineers focus on managing and executing refinery construction and upgrade projects, ensuring timely completion and adherence to specifications. In contrast, Refinery Process Engineers concentrate on optimizing refining processes for efficiency and safety. Both roles require engineering degrees, but their daily tasks and work environments differ significantly.

More about Refinery Project Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Refinery Project Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Refinery Project Engineer job openings:
What states have the most Refinery Project Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Refinery Project Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Refinery Project Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Refinery Project Engineer jobs are:
Refinery Project Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Refinery Project Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 8% Internship, 46% Full Time, 38% Temporary, and 8% Nights. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $90,644 per year, or $43.6 per hour.
Project Engineer

Project Engineer

Colonial Chemical

South Pittsburg, TN • On-site

$83K - $111K/yr

Full-time

Posted 23 days ago

Job description

Project Engineer
Position Type: Salaried + Performance-Based Bonus
Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET Monday - Friday; after hours when necessary
Reports to: Director of Operations
Job Summary: The Project Engineer is responsible for managing capital and plant improvement projects from scope development through design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and turnover to operations. This is a plant-based project role, not a desk-only design position or a pure project management role.
Projects will typically range from $10,000 to $1,000,000, with an annual project portfolio of approximately $2 million to $5 million. The Project Engineer will have access to senior technical resources for design support, but must be able to independently develop scopes, perform basic engineering checks, manage contractors, and drive projects to completion.
Key responsibilities and accountabilities:
  • Manage assigned projects from concept through closeout, including scope development, estimating, design coordination, procurement support, construction oversight, commissioning, and documentation turnover.
  • Develop practical engineering scopes for process equipment, piping, utilities, structural supports, instrumentation, and general plant infrastructure.
  • Perform screening-level engineering calculations, including pump sizing checks, pipe sizing, pressure drop estimates, valve selection support, utility requirements, and basic process/mechanical evaluations.
  • Coordinate with internal senior engineers, vendors, and outside engineering resources on design reviews, technical troubleshooting, process safety input, and higher-risk or specialty equipment designs.
  • Oversee contractors across civil/structural, electrical, mechanical, instrumentation, insulation, coatings, rigging, and general construction disciplines.
  • Coordinate field work with production, maintenance, safety, quality, and operations to minimize downtime, manage project risk, and support safe execution.
  • Support MOC, PHA action items, PSSRs, commissioning plans, startup troubleshooting, punch list management, and final turnover to production and maintenance

Essential skills and experience:
  • Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline.
  • 5+ years of engineering or project execution experience preferred in a chemical plant, refinery, industrial manufacturing facility, or similar process environment. Candidates with less experience may be considered where project complexity can be scaled appropriately.
  • Working knowledge of common chemical plant equipment, including pumps, piping, valves, tanks, utilities, instrumentation, heat exchangers, agitators, and packaged systems.
  • Ability to perform plant-level engineering checks without relying entirely on vendors or senior engineers. Higher-risk or specialty designs will be supported by senior engineering resources, vendors, or outside engineering partners.
  • Experience coordinating contractors in an active industrial facility.
  • Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, equipment drawings, piping layouts, electrical drawings, instrument details, structural drawings, vendor data sheets, and construction documents.
  • Experience with batch chemical manufacturing, specialty chemical production, PSM-covered processes, MOC, PHAs, PSSRs, or mechanical integrity preferred.
  • Familiarity with OSHA PSM, ASME, API, NFPA, NEC, RAGAGEP, and other applicable codes or standards preferred.

Work Environment
This is a plant-based role with regular time in operating areas and construction zones. Planned off-hours support may be required for outages, tie-ins, commissioning, shutdowns, or other scheduled project work. Routine work is primarily during normal business hours.
About Colonial Chemical
Colonial Chemical is a manufacturer of specialty chemicals and surfactants, with an emphasis on environmentally friendly products. Our chemicals go into personal care, household and industrial cleaning, vehicle care, metalworking, and many other industries.

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