Optimization Engineer - Refining & Power M&A

Trafigura Group; Houston, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Trafigura is seeking an Optimization Engineer to join its Refining Technical team in Houston, a hybrid technical-commercial role split between optimization and M&A support, with a focus on the Power business and commercial evaluation of prospective assets.

This position suits a process/project engineer with early-career asset experience, aiming to move into a more commercial career while collaborating with trading, business development and external advisors.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Splitter Asset Optimization: Run and maintain LP-based optimization models to identify margin-maximizing feed selection and product yields.
• Evaluate operational and structural optionality on the asset and quantify the associated commercial value.
• Collaborate with Refining Technical Manager and plant operations to translate technical constraints into actionable optimization inputs.
• Provide regular margin capture, yield, and sensitivity analysis to support trading and planning decisions on the asset.
• Identify and evaluate capital or operational improvement opportunities that enhance asset value.
• Commercial / M&A and Power Business Support: Support M&A activity with screening, evaluation, and due diligence.
• Lead or contribute to technical due diligence on power and other assets; assess condition and integration potential.
• Conduct HSEC due diligence with internal and external teams; identify risks.
• Build value cases for prospective transactions with deal teams and advisors.
• Interface with external counterparties and advisors in diligence and negotiation settings.

Skills

Power engineering

Project engineering

M&A due diligence

HSEC due diligence

Trading collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, or Power Engineering

Tools

Aspen PIMS

RPMS/GRTMPS

Haverly GRTMPS

Job description

Trafigura is seeking an Optimization Engineer to join its Refining Technical team in Houston, a hybrid technical-commercial role split between optimization and M&A support, with a focus on the Power business and commercial evaluation of prospective assets.

This position suits a process/project engineer with early-career asset experience, aiming to move into a more commercial career while collaborating with trading, business development and external advisors.