Assistant Director of Engineering

Cornerstone Global Partners (CGP Group); Anchorage (AK); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Cornerstone Global Partners (CGP Group) seeks an Assistant Director of Engineering to lead the planning and execution of refinery expansion projects in Anchorage, AK. You will oversee multi-disciplinary teams, manage capital budgets, and ensure safety and environmental compliance from concept through commissioning.

You will collaborate with senior leadership, mentor staff engineers, and drive process improvements while aligning initiatives with long-term business objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in chemical, electrical, mechanical, or civil engineering.
• Minimum ten (10) years of engineering experience in refinery operations.
• Experience leading teams across chemical, mechanical, electrical, and civil disciplines.
• Capable of managing refinery turnarounds, shutdowns, and emergency response planning.
• Well-versed in industry safety, environmental standards, and government regulations.
• Skilled in budgeting, scheduling, and risk management for multi-million-dollar projects.
• Experience implementing continuous improvement methodologies in refinery environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.
• Knowledge of or willingness to learn about Iñupiaq culture; Alaska Native contexts preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee engineering planning and execution of refinery construction projects.
• Provide direct engineering support to operations, maintenance, environmental, and safety departments.
• Develop, submit, and manage capital project funding requests and large-scale capital plans.
• Oversee Management of Changes (MOC) and maintain P&IDs to ensure PSM compliance.
• Manage direct contracting of external engineering firms and resources for expansions and new construction.
• Promote engagement with Alaska Native communities and align with cultural values.
• Ensure adherence to safety, environmental, and regulatory standards; coordinate permitting and reporting.
• Travel between PSI locations as required.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional

Project management

Budgeting

Risk management

Continuous improvement

Communication

Problem solving

Excel

PowerPoint

Driver's license

Education

Engineering degree (Bachelor's or master's)

Job description

Reporting to the Senior Director, Engineering, the Assistant Director, Engineering, is responsible for developing plant processes and capital budgets for refinery expansion and improvement projects. This role supports the Senior Director, Engineering, and refinery management by monitoring plant operations, analyzing performance reports, and directing projects from concept through startup, ensuring compliance with safety and environmental standards. This position is based in Anchorage, AK.

In partnership with the Senior Director, Engineering, lead and oversee engineering, planning, and execution of major and minor refinery construction projects as directed by executive leadership.

• Provide direct, in-person engineering support to operations, maintenance, environmental, and safety departments, ensuring timely and effective problem resolution.
• Lead cross-functional engineering teams, mentor staff engineers, and foster collaboration across departments to achieve organizational goals.
• Align engineering initiatives with long-term business objectives, drive process improvements, and implement innovative technologies to enhance refinery performance.
• Communicate effectively with executives and technical teams, providing clear and concise updates and recommendations.
• Proactively anticipate technical questions, conduct research, and provide informed opinions on discipline-specific engineering matters.
• Apply advanced mathematical skills – including algebra, geometry, and trigonometry – to solve engineering problems, assess hydraulic systems, create heat and material balances, model thermodynamic processes, and review professional survey documents; physically lay elevations, set benchmarks, and create grade documents as needed.
• Manage direct contracting of external engineering firms and resources for expansions, improvements, capital projects, and new construction.
• Provide strategic direction and support to refinery leadership, supervising multidisciplinary teams, union contractors, and skilled laborers.
• Develop, submit, and manage capital project funding requests and large-scale capital plans, including engineering budgets and project lifecycles from concept through commissioning.
• Oversee and evaluate Management of Changes (MOC’s) for engineering feasibility and completeness; maintain and update P&IDs, MOC’s, and as-builts to ensure Process Safety Management (PSM) compliance.
• Ensure adherence to established safety, environmental, and regulatory standards – including Energy Isolation, OSHA, ADEC, EPA, and other relevant agencies.
• Support compliance with all applicable federal, state, and refinery permitting and reporting requirements; assist with document distribution and filing for capital projects and MOC’s.
• Promote engagement with Alaska Native communities, demonstrating knowledge of or willingness to learn about Iñupiaq culture and values.
• Undertake additional projects and responsibilities as delegated by the Senior Director, Engineering, and executive leadership.

Education and/or Experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in chemical, electrical, mechanical, or civil engineering or a related field is preferred.

Experience

• Minimum ten (10) years of engineering experience in refinery operations, preferred.
• Experience leading teams across chemical, mechanical, electrical, and civil disciplines.
• Capable of managing refinery turnarounds, shutdowns, and emergency response planning.
• Well-versed in industry safety, environmental standards, and government regulations.
• Skilled in troubleshooting operational, mechanical, and personnel issues using logic and practical methods.
• Demonstrated success in managing multi-million-dollar capital projects, including budgeting, scheduling, and risk management.
• Experience implementing continuous improvement methodologies in refinery environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient with general computer applications (Excel, PowerPoint, etc).
• Must have a valid driver’s license.
• Knowledge of or willingness to learn about the Iñupiaq culture and values; experience working in Alaska Native or Indigenous contexts is strongly preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit, stand, walk, reach, and use hands and arms regularly.
• Must be able to lift/move up to 10 pounds frequently and up to 25 pounds occasionally.
• Occasional exposure to outdoor weather conditions and industrial environments with moderate noise.

Requires travel between PSI locations.

This is a drug-free workplace, and pre-employment drug testing is part of the hiring process.