Planning & Optimization Engineer
Detroit,
Friday, 24 April 2026
The Value Chain Optimization (VCO) team has an opening for a Planning & Optimization Engineer supporting the Detroit Refinery. This role reports through the VCO North Region to the Refining Economics & Planning Manager. This individual will develop, optimize, and execute regional operating plans using linear programming (LP) models, manage local refinery forecasting and deliverables, and partner across the value chain to align economic strategies. The role leads cross-functional collaboration with Refining, Trading, Supply Chain, and Marketing to evaluate buy-or-make decisions, assess risk through economic modeling and sensitivity analysis, and drive optimal outcomes. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:Coordinates the commercial aspects of refinery operations, including feedstock selection, product and intermediate placement, supply chain optimization, and market analysis. Demonstrates a fundamental understanding of refinery operations, economics, and market dynamics. Develops and communicates strategies that capture missed opportunities and closes production optimization gaps. Assists in collaboration meetings with the value chain to discuss both local and regional economic drivers. Develops optimized and executable production plans for a single refinery using linear programming simulation models. Modifies production plans as needed to adjust to demand/margin changes. Identifies constraints associated with refinery modeling, uses provided input to develop refinery plans. Conducts detailed analysis of buy-or-make options, considering factors such as cost, quality, supply chain implications, and market dynamics. Collaborates with cross-functional teams to gather relevant data and insights. Assists in developing decision-making frameworks and presenting findings to stakeholders. Analyzes historical refinery data to identify trends, patterns, and areas for improvement. Collaborates with cross-functional teams to validate data accuracy and completeness. Assists in developing backcast models andscenarios to evaluate past performance and identify optimization opportunities. Conducts project support cases independently under supervision. Demonstrates understanding of refinery operations and commercial aspects of projects. Able to analyze data, identify issues, and propose solutions with guidance. Collaborates with team members to execute project support tasks effectively. Understands local refinery deliverables and can effectively manage with support of others. Understands how scheduling tools/processes work and is trained on APS to develop local refinery plans. EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering required. Chemical Engineering preferred. Two (2) years relevant experience required. Four (4) years relevant experience preferred. Technical Services or Economics & Planning experience preferred. SKILLS:Action Planning. Adaptability. Business Acumen. Communication. Continuous Learning. Critical Thinking. Decision Making. Innovation. Problem Solving. Results Driven. Teamwork.