Valero is the best-in-class producer of essential fuels and products that are foundational to modern life. We invite you to join our ~10,000 employees to drive exceptional results for our company, the energy industry and our community. A Director Technology - Hydroprocessing identifies, leads, and communicates high‑impact technical programs and projects that support and enhance refinery operations, reliability, and optimization in the short and long term. Directors provide strategic direction, oversee planning and execution, and ensure initiatives align with organizational priorities, clearly communicating objectives, risks, progress, and outcomes to stakeholders at all levels, including senior management and executive leadership. Directors also serve as primary technical escalation points - delivering high‑level troubleshooting for complex process issues, guiding cross‑functional teams through diagnosis and stabilization, and converting lessons learned into durable standards. In parallel, Directors support project development by framing opportunities, evaluating options, and maturing technical scope, and they remain closely engaged through execution and start‑up to help ensure safety, operability, and value realization. At Valero, this role performs duties that support our commitment to advancing the future of energy through innovation, ingenuity, and unmatched execution, including:
- Identifies high impact technical programs, turnaround scope, and projects that advance refinery performance and align with organizational strategy.
- Leads, coordinates, and drives multi-site program planning and execution, ensuring clear objectives, adequate resources, and timely delivery.
- Represents the company in external technical discussions, industry forums, and partnerships.
- Leads high level troubleshooting of complex unit upsets, coordinating cross functional response and restoring stable operation.
- Reviews and approves (with signature authority) all Hydroprocessing catalyst purchases for assigned units, including catalyst request-for-quotation, working with site, procurement, and planning to accurately reflect unit goals and planned feedstock.
- Provides a reasoned technical and economic recommendation for catalyst including range of outcomes, showing continuous improvement as outlined in the Decision Support Package. Applies fundamental Hydroprocessing catalyst knowledge to Valero business in proper application of high activity, optimal selectivity and/or low cost options.
- Knowledgeable on catalyst manufacture, pilot plant testing, and catalyst quality parameters and provides input to catalyst development programs with Valero catalyst supplier partners.
- Knowledgeable of industry unit design criteria in Hydroprocessing and able to evaluate and bring new developments to Valero for potential application. Support early technical framing for initiatives: clarify problem/opportunity statements, value hypotheses, options, key risks, and decision criteria.
- Partners with Project Development group to identify and progress project scope through PDEP milestones, set design criteria, evaluate alternatives, and confirm operability, maintainability, and lifecycle value.
- Represents Valero in external technical discussions with licensors and vendors; evaluates proposals and trials and verifies benefits realization.
- Coaches and develops early career, mid career engineers and technical specialists; fosters a culture of technical rigor, safety, and continuous improvement.
- Informally trains, shares lessons learned and best practices across units and sites to drive consistency and accelerate value delivery.
This position is salaried exempt status, which means you are not eligible for overtime pay.
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree or higher degree in Chemical Engineering or closely related field required.
- 15 plus years of increasingly responsible related process engineering experience within the refining industry at multiple locations with various technologies, required.
- Able and willing to work on-site, in-person at the Valero San Antonio location, required.
- Provides on-site support at refineries outside normal business hours, including evenings and weekends, when required to address urgent operational, reliability, or troubleshooting needs.
- Available for occasional on-site refinery startup support for critical units that may be days-only or 12-hour shift work for 1 – 2 weeks at a time, as required.
- Ability to travel to other company sites or vendors/licensors for project reviews, technical troubleshooting, and knowledge sharing as needed. Overall travel requirement estimated at 25%.
- Current TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) holder or ability to obtain a TWIC card from TSA required as many Valero refineries are categorized as maritime facilities, required.
Need more reasons to work for a company that is both professionally challenging and culturally rewarding? Take a look at some of our best-in-class benefits:
- Competitive Pay and Annual Bonus Program
- 100% match on 401(K) up to 7%, with immediate vesting
- Company-sponsored Pension Plan
- Comprehensive Healthcare and Wellness Programs
- Onsite Daycare Center
- Onsite Employee and Family Wellness Centers (Physician & Pediatrician)
- Onsite Pharmacy
- State-of-the-art 24-hour Fitness Center free for employees and spouses with access to Tennis and Basketball Facilities
- Onsite cafeteria open for breakfast and lunch
- Sprawling campus with walking paths and access to biking trails
Benefits described above are highlights only, subject to an employee’s eligibility and work location. All successful candidates must be eligible to obtain a TWIC card (Transportation Worker Identification Credential). It is Valero’s policy that employees must wear this card at all times while working at the refinery. Please review eligibility criteria at https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/twic. Position level and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Valero's employees and team-focused culture drive our success. We’re invested in our dedicated workforce through a comprehensive, customizable benefits package, while supporting a caring culture that delivers a rewarding work environment built on teamwork, excellence and career growth. To explore the ways we build a stronger team, visit Valero.com/Careers. Valero is an EEO Employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected status, including race, color, religion, sex, 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. The posting may close earlier than the advertised date based on applications received. Note: Valero’s pre-employment process includes successful completion of a background check and hair-analysis drug screen.