Refinery Engineer

We are seeking a hands-on, well-rounded Refinery Engineer to join our Safety-Kleen team in East Chicago, IN. This role provides engineering and technical support to Operations, Maintenance, Health and Safety, and Compliance to improve refinery safety, reliability, environmental performance, and operating efficiency. The Refinery Engineer plays a key role in the site’s Process Safety Management (PSM) program, serves as the Management of Change (MOC) coordinator and gatekeeper, and owns the Mechanical Integrity and Inspection program. You will manage multiple small capital projects annually, with individual larger projects reaching approximately $1 million, from scope development through installation, startup, and closeout. The position supports continuous improvement of existing processes and coordinates the work of contractors and facility personnel assigned to engineering projects.

Why work for Clean Harbors?

• Health and Safety is our #1 priority, and we live it 3-6-5!
• Leader in environmental products and services
• Competitive pay and benefits
• Comprehensive health benefits coverage after 30 days
• 401K with matching component
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Opportunities for growth and development for all the stages of your career
• Generous paid time off, company paid training and tuition reimbursement
• Positive and safe work environments 

What does it take to work at Safety-Kleen?

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Petroleum, Industrial Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Minimum of three years of engineering experience in a refinery, chemical processing facility, or comparable industrial environment; five or more years preferred.
• Experience working in a facility with an established Process Safety Management program, including practical involvement in Management of Change, Process Hazard Analyses, and Pre-Startup Safety Reviews.
• Experience supporting or managing Mechanical Integrity and equipment inspection programs, including inspection scheduling, review of findings, documentation, and corrective action tracking.
• Demonstrated capital project management experience, including scope development, cost estimating, equipment procurement, contractor coordination, installation, and startup.
• General knowledge of multiple engineering disciplines, including process and mechanical engineering, and their application to industrial equipment and process improvements.
• Working knowledge of refinery equipment and systems, including instrumentation, piping, valves, pumps, pressure vessels, storage tanks, heat exchangers, materials of construction, and process controls.
• Hands-on mechanical aptitude and the ability to troubleshoot equipment and process problems in a plant environment.
• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, process flow diagrams, blueprints, equipment drawings, and technical specifications.
• Ability to evaluate process data, identify performance trends, and develop practical recommendations to improve safety, reliability, efficiency, and product quality.
• Familiarity with engineering codes and inspection standards applicable to assigned equipment and projects.
• Ability to organize and manage multiple projects and program responsibilities, maintain accurate documentation, and follow action items through completion.
• Ability to influence and communicate effectively with all levels of the organization and coordinate work across departments without direct supervisory authority.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications; Microsoft Project or comparable scheduling software experience is a plus.
• Waste industry, used oil re-refining, refinery, or chemical processing experience is an asset.
• Ability to perform fieldwork in an industrial environment, including lifting up to 50 pounds, climbing stairs and ladders, stooping, working at heights, bending, standing for extended periods, and working in varying weather conditions, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Availability to provide technical support outside normal working hours, including scheduled outages, startups, and emergency callouts as needed.

Safety-Kleen Systems, a Clean Harbors company, has a commitment to excellence deeply rooted in a strong sense of tradition. Our entire business model revolves around keeping North American businesses green. We generate more than $1.2 billion in annual revenue as a world-class environmental service organization and market leader in industrial hazardous waste management, parts-cleaning technology, and oil re-refining. We collect over 200 million gallons of used motor oil each year and we have the largest re-refinery capacity in North America allowing us to re-refine more than 150 million gallons each year.

Every day, we help our customers resolve their waste management needs and reduce their carbon footprint. PROTECTION. CHOICES. PEOPLE. MAKE GREEN WORK.™

Clean Harbors is an equal opportunity employer.  

Clean Harbors is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact [email protected] or 1-844-922-5547.  

Clean Harbors is a Military & Veteran friendly company.  

Please be advised that Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used to support certain stages of the recruitment process but are not used as a replacement for human decision making.  

Clean Harbors is committed to complying with applicable pay transparency laws and ensuring fair and equitable compensation. The posted salary range reflects the minimum and maximum target for this role. Final compensation may vary based on factors such as location, experience, skills, and business needs. In addition to the base salary, some roles may be eligible for bonus or incentive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package.  

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• Ensures Health and Safety is the number one priority by following safe work practices, identifying and addressing hazards, and actively supporting the company’s safety culture.
• Serves as a key technical resource for the refinery’s Process Safety Management (PSM) program, working with Operations, Maintenance, Health and Safety, and Compliance to implement program requirements and drive continuous improvement.
• Serves as the site’s Management of Change (MOC) coordinator and gatekeeper, ensuring proposed changes receive appropriate technical review, risk assessment, documentation, and approvals before implementation. Tracks temporary changes, required training, document updates, and action items through closeout.
• Coordinates Pre-Startup Safety Reviews (PSSRs) for applicable projects and modifications, verifying that required reviews, inspections, procedures, training, and startup prerequisites are completed before equipment is placed into service.
• Owns the refinery’s Mechanical Integrity and Inspection program, including inspection planning, scheduling, documentation, and tracking for covered equipment and systems. Coordinates with Maintenance, Operations, and qualified inspection resources to complete required inspections and testing.
• Reviews inspection findings and equipment condition assessments with appropriate technical resources, develops repair or replacement recommendations, and tracks deficiencies through resolution. Communicates equipment risks, overdue inspections, and required corrective actions to site leadership.
• Participates in Process Hazard Analyses (PHAs), process safety reviews, incident investigations, and audits. Provides engineering input, develops corrective actions, and tracks assigned recommendations through completion.
• Maintains and coordinates updates to process safety information and engineering documentation, including process flow diagrams, piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), equipment specifications, and design information, to reflect approved plant changes.
• Assists the Refinery General Manager in developing and prioritizing the facility’s annual capital project list, including project scopes, cost estimates, business justifications, and implementation schedules.
• Manages multiple small capital projects annually, with individual larger projects reaching approximately $1 million, from initial concept and engineering through procurement, installation, commissioning, and closeout. Maintains accountability for project safety, scope, budget, schedule, and performance.
• Provides engineering support for the design and development of capital projects and works with Compliance and other stakeholders to identify and obtain necessary permits and approvals before applicable work begins.
• Coordinates project activities at the plant level with Operations, Shipping and Receiving, Maintenance, Health and Safety, Compliance, management, and corporate engineering to support safe execution and minimize disruption to refinery operations.
• Develops equipment specifications and contractor scopes of work, evaluates technical proposals, and coordinates procurement of equipment and services in accordance with company policies, applicable regulations and standards, and approved project budgets.
• Serves as a technical resource for Health and Safety, Compliance, Operations, and Maintenance, evaluating equipment and process concerns and recommending practical solutions that improve safety, environmental performance, reliability, and production.
• Provides engineering support to the plant Maintenance department for equipment troubleshooting, failure analysis, repair planning, and reliability improvements. Coordinates with Operations and Maintenance on scheduled outages of major systems, including inspection requirements, technical scopes, and project priorities.
• Evaluates process data and equipment performance to identify opportunities to improve throughput, product quality, energy efficiency, and operating costs. Coordinates with Operations, Maintenance, and internal and external technical groups to implement engineering improvements and best practices.
• Provides technical services for the development and revision of process instructions and operating and maintenance procedures. Supports technical training related to new equipment, process changes, and lessons learned from equipment failures or incidents.
• Serves as an active member of the facility Health and Safety Committee, participating in inspections, hazard reviews, incident prevention efforts, and follow-up on corrective actions.