Intermediate Refinery Process Engineer

Parkland Refining BC Ltd.; Burnaby; On-site; CAD 93,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Canadian refining company is seeking a Process Engineer to join their Technical Services team in Burnaby. This role involves optimizing refinery operations, troubleshooting issues, and mentoring junior engineers. Ideal candidates will have 5+ years of experience in refinery settings, a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, and expertise in process modeling. The position offers a competitive salary range of $93,500 - $125,000 and opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of technical support for operating refinery units.
• Experience in root cause analysis and incident investigations.
• A thorough understanding of process unit KPIs and monitoring.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and optimize day-to-day performance of assigned process units.
• Conduct plant test runs and structured trials with Operations.
• Support troubleshooting efforts by applying engineering fundamentals.

Skills

Solid Chemical Engineering skills

Strong PSM background

Process modeling expertise

Root Cause Analysis

Education

Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Aspen HYSYS

Job description

Competitive Benefits. Meaningful Extras. Unmatched Value.

Salary: $93,500 - $125,000

Opportunity

As a member of the Technical Services team supporting the Burnaby Refinery, you will play a critical role in maintaining safe, reliable, and profitable operations. You will provide technical leadership on assigned process units, troubleshoot issues, support turnarounds, and develop innovative solutions to optimize performance. This role is ideal for a Process Engineer with refinery experience who is ready to take ownership of unit performance, influence business decisions, and mentor the next generation of Process Engineers.

Processes at the Burnaby refinery include crude distillation, fluid catalytic cracking, hydrotreating, isomerization, catalytic reforming, alkylation, sulfur recovery, energy and utilities, wastewater treatment, and blending and shipping.

The Ideal Candidate

• 5 years of technical support for operating refinery units (unit / contact process engineer)
• Solid Chemical Engineering skills (hydraulics, heat/mass transfer, reactions, etc.)
• Experience with catalysts and adsorbents related processes (selection, working with vendors, procurement, etc.)
• Strong PSM background: PHA/LOPA/HAZOP
• Experience with Root Cause Analysis / Incident Investigations
• A thorough understanding of process unit KPIs, unit monitoring, optimization, revamps, etc.
• Economic thinking (project idea generation, economic analysis, etc.)
• Process modeling expertise (Aspen HYSYS)

Responsibilities

Operational Excellence

• Monitor and optimize day-to-day performance of assigned process units
• Support high-profile troubleshooting efforts by applying strong engineering fundamentals and refinery experience to resolve complex operational challenges
• Conduct plant test runs and structured trials with Operations to validate process assumptions, define best operating practices, and establish process guidelines
• Perform audits of unit performance reports and calculations, ensuring technical accuracy and alignment with refinery KPIs
• Provide technical support for turnarounds, including scope development and screening, preparation, execution and post-execution performance reviews
• Actively contribute to process safety by participating in PHAs, LOPAs, MOCs, and incident investigations

Innovation & Projects

• Identify, evaluate and execute opportunities for process improvements, debottlenecking, energy efficiency, and emissions reduction, supported by strong business cases and economic analyses
• Develop and maintain process simulation and unit monitoring models (Aspen HYSYS or equivalent), updating or building models to reflect current operating conditions and support decision-making
• Collaborate with catalyst and adsorbent vendors for procurement, lifecycle management, and performance monitoring to maximize unit efficiency and reliability
• Develop or update technical toolkits and dashboards for monitoring key performance indicators, ensuring unit health and rapid troubleshooting
• Support benchmark studies, including Solomon studies, to maintain competitive performance standards

Leadership & Mentorship

• Lead troubleshooting efforts, process hazard analyses, and unit monitoring activities
• Build and maintain a strong technical network within Parkland and the wider refining community, engaging with industry experts, catalyst suppliers, and technology providers
• Actively participate in cross-functional teams, driving alignment between Operations, Maintenance, HSE, and Projects on technical initiatives

Basic Requirements / Qualifications

• A Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering is required
• Registered or eligible for immediate registration with EGBC as an EIT or P.Eng.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in an oil and gas industrial plant environment and/or petrochemical facility process engineering, with hands‑on experience in process units

Preferred Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in a refinery setting, with a strong track record in Process Engineering
• Proven experience as a Process Engineer or Project Engineer, successfully leading and implementing projects in an oil refinery
• Expertise in process modeling simulation using tools like Aspen HYSYS
• Demonstrated ability to effectively thrive in a cross‑functional team environment, fostering collaboration and driving project success

Equal Opportunity Statement

We are committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants. If you require accommodation due to a disability, you will have an opportunity to notify us when scheduling your interview. We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from all qualified individuals.

Legal Disclaimer

Candidates must be legally eligible to work in the country in which they applied. Regrettably, we are unable to sponsor employment visas at this time. Final candidates for this position will be required to undergo a confidential pre‑employment background check, including but not limited to educational, criminal, credit, drug and alcohol and/or fitness for duty testing.