U.S. Petrochemical & Refinery Careers – Engineering, Operations & Technical Jobs
Industry Overview - The U.S. petrochemical and refinery sector is a critical part of the industrial economy, producing fuels, chemicals, and feedstocks for a wide range of industries. Refineries and chemical plants rely on complex process systems, rotating equipment, and thermal systems to deliver safe, efficient, and environmentally compliant operations.
At Industrial Recruitment Group (IRG), we connect skilled professionals with companies that design, operate, maintain, and optimize petrochemical and refinery facilities. Our recruitment services cover the full lifecycle — engineering, operations, maintenance, projects, and commercial roles — ensuring companies have the talent to maximize safety, efficiency, and reliability.
Key Industries Served
Oil & Gas Refining: Crude distillation, hydrocracking, and product blending
Petrochemicals: Ethylene, propylene, aromatics, and polymer production
Energy & Utilities: Refinery power generation, CHP, and process steam
Chemical Manufacturing: Specialty chemicals, intermediates, and industrial gases
Offshore & Onshore Facilities: Platforms, terminals, and tank farms
Industrial & Manufacturing Support: Process water treatment, waste management, and utilities
Equipment & Systems We Cover
Rotating Equipment & Turbomachinery: Pumps, compressors, turbines, and motors
Heat & Thermal Systems: Boilers, furnaces, heat exchangers, and kilns
Process Equipment: Reactors, distillation columns, separators, and scrubbers
Combustion & Burner Systems: Fired heaters, flare systems, and burners
Filtration & Separation Systems: Cyclones, coalescers, and membrane separation
Instrumentation & Control Systems: PLCs, DCS, SCADA, and automation integration
Power Systems & Switchgear: Transformers, distribution panels, and emergency power
Hydraulics & Pneumatics: Valves, actuators, and fluid control systems
Storage Tanks & Vessels: Crude, intermediate, and product storage, including pressure vessels
Testing & Measuring Equipment: Flow meters, analyzers, and process monitoring tools=
Heavy Equipment & Material Handling: Cranes, conveyors, and lifting systems
Roles We Recruit
Engineering & Design
Process, Mechanical, Chemical, and Instrumentation Engineers
Projects & Commissioning
Project Managers, Site Engineers, Commissioning Technicians
Operations & Maintenance
Plant Operators, Field Technicians, Reliability Engineers
Commercial & Sales
Technical Sales Engineers, Account Managers, Product Specialists
Health, Safety & Quality
HSE Advisors, Quality Engineers, Compliance Officers
Leadership & Executive
Operations Managers, Plant Managers, Engineering Directors
Future Trends & Outlook
Energy Efficiency: Process optimization, heat recovery, and fuel efficiency improvements
Sustainability: Carbon reduction, waste minimization, and green chemistry initiatives
Digitalization & Smart Systems: Process automation, predictive maintenance, and real-time monitoring
Advanced Refining & Chemical Processes: Upgrading technologies, catalysts, and new feedstock utilization
Regulatory Compliance: Stricter EPA, OSHA, and state environmental and safety regulations
Health, Safety & Compliance (U.S.)
OSHA: Worker safety, hazardous material handling, and process safety management (PSM)
EPA: Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and emissions control
NFPA / API / ASME: Fire, pressure vessel, and piping compliance
ANSI / IEEE: Electrical and instrumentation standards
Local & State Codes: Environmental, safety, and operational compliance
Key Employers & Industry Leaders
Refineries & Oil Companies: ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, Phillips 66, Marathon Petroleum, Valero
Petrochemical Manufacturers: Dow, BASF, LyondellBasell, Eastman Chemical
Equipment & OEMs: Flowserve, Sulzer, Honeywell UOP, Emerson, Siemens Energy
Service & EPC Providers: Turnkey process contractors, maintenance firms, and integrators
Skills & Competencies
Refinery and chemical plant operations, commissioning, and maintenance
Rotating equipment and process systems optimization
Boilers, furnaces, heat exchangers, and thermal management
Instrumentation, PLC, DCS, and SCADA systems
Safety, environmental compliance, and regulatory knowledge
Technical sales, project management, and operations leadership
Why Industrial Recruitment Group? - At IRG, we understand the complexity of U.S. petrochemical and refinery operations. We connect employers with professionals who can enhance operational efficiency, ensure compliance, and drive safe, reliable production.
