Senior Operation Engineer (CDU & VDU)📣 Job Ad

About the Role

Saudi Aramco Total Refining and Petrochemical Company (SATORP), located in Jubail, Eastern, Saudi Arabia, is seeking a Senior Operation Engineer (CDU & VDU). This full-time role involves providing technical and operational leadership for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and Vacuum Distillation Unit (VDU) within a world-class refinery environment.

Role Overview

The Senior Operation Engineer will serve as a subject matter expert, contributing to operational excellence, troubleshooting complex issues, and driving process optimization. This position supports critical reliability initiatives and personnel development, ensuring high standards of safety and efficiency in refinery operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical expertise and operational support for CDU/VDU units to ensure safe, stable, and optimized operations.
• Monitor unit performance and identify opportunities to improve throughput, energy efficiency, product yields, and operational reliability.
• Lead troubleshooting efforts for process upsets, equipment performance issues, and operational challenges.
• Conduct process performance reviews and recommend corrective and preventive actions.
• Support refinery optimization initiatives, shutdowns, startups, catalyst changes, and turnaround activities.
• Develop and update operating procedures, standard practices, and emergency response guidelines.
• Perform root cause analyses (RCA) and participate in incident investigations.
• Collaborate closely with Operations, Process Engineering, Maintenance, Reliability, Inspection, and HSSE teams.
• Review operating parameters and ensure compliance with refinery operating envelopes and safety requirements.
• Support Management of Change (MOC), Process Hazard Analysis (PHA), and operational risk assessments.
• Coach and mentor console operators, boardmen, senior operators, and trainee operators.
• Participate in commissioning, performance testing, and implementation of continuous improvement programs.
• Ensure compliance with environmental regulations, company policies, and industry best practices.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of refinery experience in process operations.
• Experience in one or more of the following units is highly preferred:
  • Crude Distillation Unit (CDU)
  • Vacuum Distillation Unit (VDU)
  • High Pressure hydrosulfurization
  • Low Pressure hydrosulfurization
  • Naphtha Hydrotreater (NHT)

Work Environment

This is a full-time position based at the SATORP refinery in Jubail, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia, operating within a dynamic industrial setting focused on safety and operational excellence.

Application Information

Candidates who meet the specified qualifications and experience are encouraged to apply. Further details regarding the application process will be provided upon inquiry.