Sr. Engineer – Mechanical

Motiva Enterprises LLC; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Motiva Enterprises LLC in Houston, TX, seeks a Sr. Mechanical Engineer to lead rotating equipment design and support major capital projects from concept through commissioning. You will own equipment specifications for pumps, compressors, turbines, and auxiliaries, coordinating with Engineering, Operations, and Procurement to ensure reliability and regulatory compliance.

Travel up to 20% may be required. The role emphasizes strong technical leadership, problem solving, and collaboration across

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering required.
• At least 10 years of rotating equipment experience in refining/chemicals.
• Experience supporting FEED, detailed design, construction, commissioning, and startup.
• Ability to interpret and apply engineering standards, codes, and industry best practices.
• PE license is preferred but not mandatory.
• Knowledge of pumps, compressors, turbines, fans, gearboxes, seals, and lubrication systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide rotating equipment engineering support for major capital projects from concept to commissioning and handover.
• Develop scopes, specifications, datasheets, and technical requirements for rotating equipment.
• Review engineering deliverables, supplier drawings, and calculations for quality and compliance.
• Coordinate with project teams to integrate equipment into facility designs.
• Support FATs, site tests, and startup activities; assist troubleshooting and RCFA.

Skills

Rotating equipment

Project coordination

Analytical troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license (preferred)

Job description

At Motiva, our employees’ energy, passion, and dedication to excellence are what make us who we are and what allows us to generate energy that makes a house a home, gets us from point A to point B, and enables our health and wellbeing. We invest in every aspect of our employees’ lives because, at Motiva, our people matter. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Motiva refines, distributes and markets petroleum products throughout the Americas. The company’s Port Arthur Manufacturing Complex in Port Arthur, TX, is comprised of North America’s largest refinery with a total throughput of 720,000 barrels per day, the largest base oil plant in the western hemisphere, and an integrated chemical plant. Under exclusive long-term brand licenses with Shell and Phillips 66 (for the 76® brand), Motiva’s commercial operations supply more than 12 billion gallons of fuel to customers annually. Motiva is wholly owned by Aramco, one of the world’s largest integrated energy and chemicals companies.

Position Overview

The Sr. Mechanical Engineer provides rotating equipment engineering expertise for major capital projects to support safe, reliable, and cost-effective performance throughout the asset lifecycle. Serves as the rotating equipment discipline engineer for assigned projects, with responsibility for pumps, compressors, turbines, fans, blowers, gearboxes, mechanical seals, and associated auxiliary systems. Partners with Project Engineering, Process Engineering, Reliability, Operations, Maintenance, and Procurement to ensure rotating equipment designs align with Motiva engineering standards, industry codes, reliability expectations, regulatory requirements, and business objectives. Provides technical support throughout equipment selection, specification, procurement, fabrication, installation, commissioning, startup, and troubleshooting.

Responsibilities

• Provide rotating equipment engineering support for major capital projects from concept development through commissioning, startup, and handover to Operations.
• Develop project scopes, specifications, datasheets, and technical requirements for rotating equipment and associated auxiliary systems.
• Support Pre-FEED, FEED, detailed design, construction, commissioning, and startup activities for assigned projects.
• Review and approve engineering deliverables, equipment selections, supplier drawings, calculations, and other technical documentation.
• Ensure designs comply with Motiva engineering standards, applicable regulations, industry codes, mechanical integrity requirements, and reliability expectations.
• Participate in P&ID, HAZOP, design, model, constructability, Management of Change (MOC), and risk-assessment reviews.
• Lead technical evaluations of supplier proposals, bid tabulations, and equipment-selection recommendations.
• Serve as the primary technical interface with rotating equipment suppliers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
• Coordinate multidisciplinary reviews to integrate rotating equipment successfully into facility designs.
• Provide technical input to Procurement and project teams for commercial evaluations and purchasing decisions.
• Witness supplier inspections, factory acceptance tests (FATs), performance tests, and site acceptance tests, as required.
• Provide technical support during equipment fabrication, installation, commissioning, startup, and operational handover.
• Investigate equipment performance issues and support troubleshooting, root cause failure analysis, and corrective action development.
• Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, and Project Engineering to improve equipment reliability, availability, and lifecycle performance.
• Apply emerging technologies, industry best practices, and lessons learned to continuously improve engineering standards and work processes.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with Motiva subject matter experts, operating sites, engineering partners, suppliers, and OEMs.

Experience and Qualifications

• Required Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Required Education and Experience: At least 10 years of engineering experience with rotating equipment in the refining, petrochemical, chemical manufacturing, energy, or a related industry.
• Required Education and Experience: Experience supporting capital projects through FEED, detailed engineering, construction, commissioning, and startup.
• Required Education and Experience: Experience developing rotating equipment specifications and conducting technical evaluations of supplier proposals.
• Required Education and Experience: Ability to interpret and apply engineering standards, codes, regulations, and industry best practices.
• Required Education and Experience: Strong analytical, problem-solving, and equipment-troubleshooting skills.
• Required Education and Experience: Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Required Education and Experience: Ability to travel as required (less than 20%).
• Preferred Education and Experience: Professional Engineer (PE) license
• Preferred Education and Experience: Experience supporting major capital projects valued at $20 million or greater
• Preferred Education and Experience: Demonstrated experience with centrifugal and positive displacement pumps, compressors, steam and gas turbines, fans, blowers, gearboxes, mechanical seals, lubrication systems, and related auxiliaries.
• Preferred Education and Experience: Working knowledge of applicable API rotating equipment standards.
• Preferred Education and Experience: Experience with machinery troubleshooting, vibration analysis, reliability assessments, and root cause failure analysis (RCFA).
• Preferred Education and Experience: Experience serving as the rotating equipment lead for major capital projects.
• Preferred Education and Experience: Familiarity with refinery mechanical integrity and reliability programs.
• Preferred Education and Experience: Experience supporting commissioning, startup, and operational troubleshooting activities.
• Preferred Education and Experience: Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence technical decisions across multiple disciplines.

We reserve the right to amend or withdraw Motiva jobs at any time, including prior to the closing date. Depending on qualifications, the successful candidate may be offered a position at a more appropriate level and/or grade.

Applicants for regular U.S. positions must be authorized to work in the United States for Motiva Enterprises LLC without the need for sponsorship of an immigration authorization or visa (for example, TN, H-1B, or other employment-based immigration authorization or visa). Motiva participates in E-Verify.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, citizenship, genetic information, or other protected status under federal, state, or local laws.

At Motiva, our employees’ energy, passion, and dedication to excellence are what make us who we are and what allows us to generate energy that makes a house a home, gets us from point A to point B, and enables our health and wellbeing. We invest in every aspect of our employees’ lives because, at Motiva, our people matter.