Director, Engineering - Major Capital Projects

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 world's second largest base oil plant, 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:



Motiva is seeking a highly-skilled Director of Engineering to lead engineering, commissioning, and startup activities for major capital projects at Motiva's Port Arthur Manufacturing Complex. This role will ensure engineering excellence, operational readiness, and safe, efficient startup of all project phases. Reporting to the Vice President of Major Capital Projects, the Director will collaborate across disciplines to deliver projects on time, within budget, and aligned with Motiva's safety and quality standards.



Responsibilities:

• Oversee portfolio of engineering projects, ensuring effective prioritization and resource allocation, adherence to industry regulations and best practices, and alignment with company objectives.
• Build and manage cross-functional engineering teams to deliver innovative, cost-effective, and scalable solutions for refining and petrochemical facilities, efficiently leveraging 3rd party consulting capabilities as needed.
• Direct the development and management of processes, methods and technologies to be used by engineering project managers.
• Ensure alignment between engineering designs and commissioning/startup requirements to optimize performance.
• Develop and execute detailed commissioning and startup plans, ensuring seamless transition from construction to operations.
• Establish operational readiness protocols, including performance testing, safety checks, and system validation.
• Manage risk assessments and implement mitigation strategies to ensure a safe and efficient startup process.
• Collaborate with construction, operations, and leadership teams to align engineering, commissioning, and startup timelines with overall project milestones.
• Monitor budgets, schedules, and resource allocation, ensuring optimal performance and cost control.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics for project performance, monitoring and reporting on project outcomes to leadership.
• Champion safety and environmental standards throughout all project stages.
• Communicate project status, challenges, and solutions effectively with leadership, project teams, and external partners.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with contractors, vendors, and regulatory agencies.
• Promote adoption of new technologies and innovative approaches within engineering projects, staying abreast of industry trends and advances.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering.
• 15 years of experience in large-scale refining, petrochemical, or industrial construction projects.
• Proven track record of delivering multi-billion-dollar projects, including commissioning and startup.
• Expertise in engineering design, commissioning, and startup processes for complex facilities.
• Experience in reliability, maintenance and turnarounds.
• Exceptional leadership and team-building skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate diverse teams that may be geographically dispersed.
• Deep understanding of safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements for refining and chemical projects.
• Exceptional communication, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Advanced degree (e.g., Master's in Engineering, Project Management, or Business Administration).
• Deep knowledge of advanced construction technologies, such as modular construction, and digital twin technologies.
• Proficiency in developing innovative solutions and integrating new technologies into projects.