Optimization Engineer: Power & Oil Asset Strategy

Trafigura; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Trafigura in Houston is seeking an Optimization Engineer to join the Refining Technical team. The role blends day-to-day splitter asset optimization with commercial support for M&A, especially in the Power business.

This early-career position suits engineers with downstream/refining exposure and a desire to move toward more commercial responsibilities, working with trading, development, and external counterparties in a fast-paced, multinational environment.

Qualifications

• Combined exposure to power and oil/refining assets with early-career project experience.
• Early-career project engineering or project management on plant capital projects.
• Experience with M&A processes, technical due diligence, or transaction support.
• HSEC due diligence experience or familiarity with risk assessment frameworks.
• Experience working directly with trading or business development teams.

Responsibilities

• Splitter asset optimization using LP-based models to maximize margins.
• Assess feedstock flexibility and configuration changes for value.
• Coordinate with Refining Technical Manager to translate constraints into inputs.
• Provide margin, yield, and sensitivity analyses to support decisions.
• Identify capital or operational improvements to enhance asset value.
• Support M&A activity focusing on Oil & Power assets including diligence.
• Lead or contribute to technical due diligence on assets.
• Conduct HSEC due diligence with internal and external teams.
• Build commercial and technical value cases for transactions.
• Interface with asset owners, advisors, and counterparties.
• Support post-acquisition integration and optimization planning.

Skills

Power engineering

Oil refining exposure

M&A experience

HSEC risk assessment

Trading interface

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

Aspen PIMS

Honeywell RPMS

Haverly GRTMPS

Job description

Trafigura in Houston is seeking an Optimization Engineer to join the Refining Technical team. The role blends day-to-day splitter asset optimization with commercial support for M&A, especially in the Power business.

This early-career position suits engineers with downstream/refining exposure and a desire to move toward more commercial responsibilities, working with trading, development, and external counterparties in a fast-paced, multinational environment.