Operations Research Engineer
About the role
The Operations Research Engineer drives development, enhancement, governance, and continuous improvement of refinery and distribution optimization models by translating plant operating behavior into robust LP representations and kinetic equations. This role 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.
Responsibilities
- 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 align with business objectives and real-world operating conditions.
- Supports development of advanced optimization, digital, and analytics capabilities across refining and distribution operations.
- Handles special assignments or tasks as determined by their superior.
Requirements
- A minimum of 10 years’ experience in the energy industry.
- A minimum of a bachelor’s degree is required; an MBA is preferred.
Skills
- Ability to lead and direct the work of other senior management associates.
- Advanced presentation, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
- Advanced strategic and tactical business acumen.
- Proficiency in spreadsheet, database, and word processing applications.
- Strong interpersonal, time-management, and organizational skills.
- Advanced business analysis and client management skills.
- Advanced knowledge of company products and sales strategies.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- 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
- Medical Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Paid Time-Off
- 401(k) Retirement Plan with company match
- Educational Reimbursement
- Parental Bonding Time
- Employee Discounts
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. The company provides petroleum product and crude oil transportation, terminalling, storage, and throughput services to its refineries and the petroleum industry. HF Sinclair markets its refined products principally in the Southwest U.S., the Rocky Mountains extending into the Pacific Northwest, and in other neighboring Plains states, supplying high-quality fuels to more than 1,750 branded stations and licensing the use of the Sinclair brand to over 350 additional locations nationwide.
HF Sinclair produces renewable diesel at facilities in Wyoming and New Mexico. Subsidiaries also produce and market base oils and other specialized lubricants in the U.S., Canada, and the Netherlands, exporting products to more than 80 countries.