Instrumentation Project Engineer

Overview

Instrumentation Project Engineer – Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) Los Angeles Refinery, Carson/Wilmington, California. The Instrument Engineer provides technical support to assigned refinery process areas and projects managed by the Mid-Cap project team. This role includes managing instrument-focused projects from conceptual engineering through detailed design, construction, and project completion. The Instrument Engineer reports to the Area Instrument Engineering Manager.

Key schedules: 9/80 or 4/1. Core business hours are 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM. After-hours calls occur a few times per year and are typically handled by phone; TAR support approximately once a year.

• Execute instrumentation projects that align with refinery business objectives, supporting safe, reliable operations and compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.
• Apply project management skills across all phases: development, justification, design, construction, and start-up.
• Provide instrumentation technical support to operating units and capital projects, including scope development and interdisciplinary coordination; serve as project engineer on small projects.
• Manage multiple projects/programs safely, efficiently, and within budget; develop strategies to meet schedules and mitigate delays.
• Perform specification and design of instrumentation, including sizing, selection, datasheet development/review, and preparation of technical requisitions for procurement.
• Ensure compliance with company and industry standards by supporting process safety activities, including Management of Change (MOC), Process Safety Information (PSI), and mechanical integrity documentation. Include HAZOP, LOPA, and Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) lifecycle requirements.
• Support testing and commissioning activities, including factory and site acceptance testing (FAT/SAT), loop checks, calibration, and startup.
• Evaluate new instrumentation technologies and support continuous improvement through collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Maintain accurate engineering documentation, including updates to piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), loop drawings, and logic diagrams.
• Support refinery Turnarounds (TAR) and maintenance outages by planning instrumentation scope, coordinating with operations and maintenance teams, overseeing project implementation, and helping ensure a safe, efficient return to service.
• Provide technical support for process analyzers, including specification, start-up, performance monitoring, and implementation of projects to enhance measurement reliability and process control.
• Support SIS and LOPA gap closure projects by identifying instrumentation scope, developing technical solutions, coordinating implementation, and verifying compliance with process safety and functional safety requirements.
• Develop scope, cost estimates, and schedules for capital and expense projects; prepare Decision Support Packages (DSPs) and present to leadership.
• Coordinate with external engineering consultants and designers to complete projects.
• Collaborate with stakeholders including Maintenance, Construction, and Turnaround teams to support planning and execution.
• Participate in HAZOP reviews and incident investigations; may lead sessions depending on experience level.
• Apply engineering codes and specifications; ensure designs meet safety, environmental, and permitting standards.
• Promote safety awareness and take corrective action when unsafe practices or conditions are observed.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (education must be completed prior to start date).
• Minimum of 2 years of post-degree instrumentation engineering experience in a refinery, chemical plant, or similar industry.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Ability to wear PPE in the refinery (respirator), perform field tasks, and pass hair drug test and physical.
• Valid driver’s license (MPC determines valid status).
• Legal authorization to work in the US without future VISA sponsorship.
• Travel requirement: 5% or less per year.
• Schedule flexibility to work on available schedules (9/80 or 4/1); after-hours calls a few times per year; TAR support…