{"schemaVersion":"jobsearcher.job.v1","id":"f60f652fa0b862d841bd77cf","url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/f60f652fa0b862d841bd77cf","canonicalUrl":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/f60f652fa0b862d841bd77cf","title":"Process Engineer","description":"SAN JOAQUIN REFINING CO.\nBakersfield, California\nProcess Engineer\nLocation: Bakersfield, CA (on-site) | Employment Type: Full-Time\nAbout San Joaquin Refining Co.\nSan Joaquin Refining Co. is an independent specialty refinery based in Bakersfield, California, processing California naphthenic crude into high-value specialty products rather than transportation fuels. Our product slate includes naphthenic process oils, transformer and dielectric oils, rubber process oils, specialty asphalts, and other industrial lubricant base stocks used by customers across the electrical, rubber, and industrial manufacturing sectors. As a specialty operation, our process engineers work across the full range of unit operations rather than a narrow slice of a large fuels complex.\nPosition Summary\nSan Joaquin Refining is seeking a Process Engineer to support safe, reliable, and efficient operation of our Bakersfield refinery. This role owns process performance across assigned units, drives troubleshooting and optimization efforts, and partners closely with Operations, Maintenance, and EH&S to keep the plant running at its best. Experience is the top priority for this role — we are looking for someone who can walk into our units and immediately add value.\nKey Responsibilities\nMonitor and optimize daily unit operations to maximize yield, throughput, energy efficiency, and product quality.\nTroubleshoot process upsets and equipment performance issues in real time, working directly with Operations.\nDevelop and maintain process models, mass/energy balances, and operating procedures for assigned units.\nLead or support root cause analysis for process incidents, off-spec product, and reliability issues.\nIdentify and drive capital and expense projects to improve safety, reliability, yield, and margin.\nSupport turnaround planning and execution, including scope development and startup/shutdown procedures.\nEnsure compliance with process safety management (PSM), environmental permits, and regulatory requirements.\nPartner with Maintenance and Reliability teams on equipment strategy, inspections, and failure analysis.\nProvide technical support and training to Operations personnel.\nRequired Qualifications\nBachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering (or closely related engineering discipline).\nPrior hands-on process engineering experience in an oil refinery or petrochemical/specialty chemical plant is required — experience is the deciding factor for this role.\nStrong working knowledge of distillation, heat exchange, and fluid processing unit operations.\nDemonstrated experience troubleshooting live process issues in an operating plant environment.\nSolid understanding of process safety management and refinery/plant safety standards.\nProficiency with process simulation and data historian tools (e.g., HYSYS/Aspen, PI, or similar).\nStrong communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally with Operations and Maintenance.\nAbility to work on-site in Bakersfield, CA and respond to occasional off-hours plant needs.\nPreferred Qualifications\nExperience with naphthenic crude processing, specialty oils, asphalt, or lubricant base stock production.\nExperience supporting turnarounds, capital projects, or process safety incident investigations.\nProfessional Engineer (PE) license\nWhy Join San Joaquin Refining\nWork across a full, diverse process unit slate rather than a narrow role in a large fuels refinery.\nDirect, hands-on impact on plant performance and business results.\nGreat benefits package, including 100% employer-paid employee-only medical/health benefits.\n401(k) plan\nGenerous vacation time\nSan Joaquin Refining Co. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.\nPay: $135,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year\nBenefits:\n401(k)\n401(k) matching\nHealth insurance\nLife insurance\nPaid time off\nVision insurance\nWork Location: In person","company":"San Joaquin Refining","rawCompany":"san joaquin refining","city":"Bakersfield","state":"CA","isRemote":false,"isActive":false,"createdAt":"2026-08-06T16:58:05.397Z","occupations":[{"code":"17-2041.00","title":"Chemical Engineers","slug":"chemical-engineers"},{"code":"17-2199.00","title":"Engineers, All Other","slug":"engineers-all-other"},{"code":"17-2171.00","title":"Petroleum Engineers","slug":"petroleum-engineers"}],"industries":[{"code":"324110","title":"Petroleum Refineries","slug":"petroleum-refineries"},{"code":"325110","title":"Petrochemical Manufacturing","slug":"petrochemical-manufacturing"},{"code":"324199","title":"All Other Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing","slug":"all-other-petroleum-and-coal-products-manufacturing"}],"jobPosting":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"JobPosting","title":"Process Engineer","description":"SAN JOAQUIN REFINING CO.\nBakersfield, California\nProcess Engineer\nLocation: Bakersfield, CA (on-site) | Employment Type: Full-Time\nAbout San Joaquin Refining Co.\nSan Joaquin Refining Co. is an independent specialty refinery based in Bakersfield, California, processing California naphthenic crude into high-value specialty products rather than transportation fuels. Our product slate includes naphthenic process oils, transformer and dielectric oils, rubber process oils, specialty asphalts, and other industrial lubricant base stocks used by customers across the electrical, rubber, and industrial manufacturing sectors. As a specialty operation, our process engineers work across the full range of unit operations rather than a narrow slice of a large fuels complex.\nPosition Summary\nSan Joaquin Refining is seeking a Process Engineer to support safe, reliable, and efficient operation of our Bakersfield refinery. This role owns process performance across assigned units, drives troubleshooting and optimization efforts, and partners closely with Operations, Maintenance, and EH&S to keep the plant running at its best. Experience is the top priority for this role — we are looking for someone who can walk into our units and immediately add value.\nKey Responsibilities\nMonitor and optimize daily unit operations to maximize yield, throughput, energy efficiency, and product quality.\nTroubleshoot process upsets and equipment performance issues in real time, working directly with Operations.\nDevelop and maintain process models, mass/energy balances, and operating procedures for assigned units.\nLead or support root cause analysis for process incidents, off-spec product, and reliability issues.\nIdentify and drive capital and expense projects to improve safety, reliability, yield, and margin.\nSupport turnaround planning and execution, including scope development and startup/shutdown procedures.\nEnsure compliance with process safety management (PSM), environmental permits, and regulatory requirements.\nPartner with Maintenance and Reliability teams on equipment strategy, inspections, and failure analysis.\nProvide technical support and training to Operations personnel.\nRequired Qualifications\nBachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering (or closely related engineering discipline).\nPrior hands-on process engineering experience in an oil refinery or petrochemical/specialty chemical plant is required — experience is the deciding factor for this role.\nStrong working knowledge of distillation, heat exchange, and fluid processing unit operations.\nDemonstrated experience troubleshooting live process issues in an operating plant environment.\nSolid understanding of process safety management and refinery/plant safety standards.\nProficiency with process simulation and data historian tools (e.g., HYSYS/Aspen, PI, or similar).\nStrong communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally with Operations and Maintenance.\nAbility to work on-site in Bakersfield, CA and respond to occasional off-hours plant needs.\nPreferred Qualifications\nExperience with naphthenic crude processing, specialty oils, asphalt, or lubricant base stock production.\nExperience supporting turnarounds, capital projects, or process safety incident investigations.\nProfessional Engineer (PE) license\nWhy Join San Joaquin Refining\nWork across a full, diverse process unit slate rather than a narrow role in a large fuels refinery.\nDirect, hands-on impact on plant performance and business results.\nGreat benefits package, including 100% employer-paid employee-only medical/health benefits.\n401(k) plan\nGenerous vacation time\nSan Joaquin Refining Co. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.\nPay: $135,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year\nBenefits:\n401(k)\n401(k) matching\nHealth insurance\nLife insurance\nPaid time off\nVision insurance\nWork Location: In person","datePosted":"2026-08-06T16:58:05.397Z","dateModified":"2026-08-06T16:58:05.397Z","hiringOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"San Joaquin Refining","sameAs":"https://jobsearcher.com"},"jobLocation":{"@type":"Place","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Bakersfield","addressRegion":"CA","addressCountry":"US"}},"identifier":{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"JobSearcher","value":"f60f652fa0b862d841bd77cf"},"url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/f60f652fa0b862d841bd77cf"}}