Reliability Engineer - Ethanol Plant

Provides technical support to improve fixed equipment reliability with a heavy focus on Mechanical Integrity Programs to comply with company and OSHA PSM standards.

This position will be based at one of the 12 ethanol plants: Bluffton, Linden or Mount Vernon (Indiana), Albert City, Charles City, Fort Dodge, Hartley or Lakota (Iowa), Welcome (Minnesota), Albion (Nebraska), Bloomingburg (Ohio) or Aurora (South Dakota).

• Performs fixed equipment component minimum thickness calculations, fitness-for service evaluations, and remaining life assessments when needed.
• Provides site support and guidance related to applicable codes and standards as it pertains to fixed equipment material selection, design, fabrication, construction, repairs, alterations, welding processes, inspection, and testing.
• Categorizes and records leaks and other mechanical integrity failures. Obtains sufficient information so that meaningful corrective action and potential common problem areas can be identified. Where consequence or frequency warrant facilitate a formal root cause investigation seeking assistance and input from multiple disciplines as well as internal or external SMEs when necessary.
• Identifies potential and known fixed equipment failures and make appropriate recommendations to reduce vulnerability to equipment damage across the fleet. Recommendations could include inspection type and frequency, equipment or metallurgy changes, process changes or variables to be aware of, or some other appropriate measure. The means to communicate these recommendations may include bulletins, group presentations, or other effective communication tools. A formal means to archive these recommendations for future reference is to be maintained.
• Generates equipment specific inspection plans. The inspection plans must include a thorough damage mechanism review based on service, metallurgy, and any process variability that could impact corrosion rates and/or susceptibility to cracking mechanisms. NDE methods, where required, and the extent of coverage shall be identified. Systems and circuits shall be reviewed to ensure common corrosion environments are identified properly.
• Reviews corrosion rates combined with optimizations to CML counts, locations, and intervals in an effort to ensure that we have adequate CMLs to characterize corrosion without performing excessive inspections on equipment with low risk of localized metal loss.
• Provides site support for temporary repairs to ensure they are designed and installed for the intended service and to recognized standards and codes. Maintains systems to track and inspect these temporary repairs until permanent repairs are performed.
• Provides recommendations related to coating work and specifications throughout the fleet.
• Provides technical support to sites for any deferral evaluations.
• Provides site assistance for plant initiated MOC mechanical integrity action items.
• Assists site Maintenance Managers with adhering to the VRF pump inspection manual.
• Works with site Maintenance Managers as needed to assist with reliability improvement efforts associated with equipment outside the scope of the mechanical integrity program.
• Provides onsite assistance with turnaround inspection scopes. Onsite assistance for other significant inspection scopes outside of turnarounds may also be required.
• Reviews welding activities and associated documentation periodically for equipment covered under the VRF MI program to check for adherence to the applicable codes.
  
  

This position is salaried exempt status, which means you are not eligible for overtime pay.

Job

Engineering

Primary Location:

US-SD-Aurora

Job Posting

Mar 25, 2025, 3:04:37 PM

Unposting Date

Ongoing

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher degree) in Engineering required.
• Degree in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering preferred.
• Minimum of two years related engineering experience required.
• Project management experience preferred.
• Experience in ethanol production, chemical processing, food processing, oil refining, or power plant industry preferred.
• Experience with fixed equipment fitness-for-service evaluations preferred.
• Able and willing to work on-site and in-person, required.
  
  

Position level and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Relocation assistance is available.

Valero’s pre-employment process includes successful completion of a background check and pre-employment drug screen.

About Valero

Valero's Aurora ethanol plant is located near Aurora, South Dakota, six miles east of Brookings and 60 miles north of Sioux Falls. The bio-refinery sits on 420 acres and started ethanol production in November 2003. The facility uses a dry-grind production method and state-of-the-art technology to maintain industry-leading standards in production, safety, product quality and environmental stewardship. Recognized as the ethanol industry's first 100 million-gallon-per-year production facility, the Aurora plant now annually processes approximately 48 million bushels of corn into approximately 135 million gallons of denatured ethanol and 400,000 tons of distiller grains co-products. The bio-refinery employs more than 70 full-time personnel.

Valero's employees are the heart of its success, and there is a reason why the company is an employer of choice in the fuels manufacturing and marketing industry. It’s not just the excellent benefits package, or the opportunities for personal growth, it’s also the caring and committed culture of the organization that makes everyone feel like they’re truly part of a team. For more information, visit Valero.com.

Valero is an EEO/AA Employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected status, including race/ethnicity, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

Please be advised, if you are viewing this position on a website that lists an estimated salary rate/range, it was not provided by Valero. Valero’s market specific salary rate/range will be provided during the recruiting process and tends to be higher than what is estimated by such websites.