Technical Owner’s Representative – Refinery & Marine Terminal Projects

Location: Toledo, OH | Remote During Initial Engineering Phases
Employment Type: Contract | January 4, 2027 – January 3, 2028
Schedule: Monday–Friday | Typically 40 Hours/Week
Travel: Approximately 20% Initially; Increased Onsite Presence During Construction & Startup

Great Engineering Doesn’t Just Meet Specifications. It Stands Up to the Toughest Questions.

Are you an experienced refinery or marine terminal project engineer who knows how to challenge designs, identify technical risks, and ensure capital projects are engineered for safe, reliable operation?

Per Sé Group is seeking a highly experienced Technical Owner’s Representative to support a major energy company’s Great Lakes marine dock and terminal infrastructure project.

This opportunity is ideal for a technically strong professional who can independently evaluate engineering deliverables, challenge contractor recommendations, and represent the asset owner’s interests throughout project development and execution.

The Challenge

You’ll serve as a key technical representative for the asset owner, helping ensure that engineering decisions support safe construction, reliable operations, and long-term asset performance.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Independently reviewing and challenging engineering designs, technical specifications, contractor deliverables, and project execution recommendations.

• Supporting front-end engineering (FEL/FEED), detailed design, constructability reviews, and technical evaluations.

• Coordinating mechanical, piping, civil/structural, electrical, controls, and operational interfaces across refinery and marine terminal infrastructure.

• Providing technical oversight for hydrocarbon marine dock improvements, including vapor destruction systems, flush tanks, piping, utilities, controls, and associated equipment.

• Identifying engineering gaps, technical risks, design conflicts, and potential operability or maintainability concerns before they impact execution.

• Working with engineering contractors, project leadership, operations, and maintenance teams to resolve technical issues and drive sound decisions.

• Reviewing project scope, estimates, schedules, contractor recommendations, and proposed changes from the owner’s perspective.

• Supporting construction, commissioning, startup readiness, and operational turnover as the project progresses.

What You Bring

• 10+ years of relevant experience in refinery project engineering, owner’s engineering, marine terminals, petroleum infrastructure, or comparable industrial capital projects.

• Strong experience reviewing engineering designs, specifications, technical deliverables, and engineering contractor recommendations.

• Demonstrated ability to independently identify technical deficiencies, challenge assumptions, and recommend practical solutions.

• Solid understanding of multidisciplinary engineering, including mechanical, piping, civil/structural, electrical, controls, and operational interfaces.

• Experience supporting front-end engineering, detailed design, constructability reviews, and project development.

• Strong understanding of refinery, hydrocarbon handling, terminal, or related industrial operating systems.

• Excellent technical judgment, communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder coordination skills.

• Ability to work independently while collaborating with engineering contractors, operations, maintenance, and project leadership.

Especially valuable: Direct hydrocarbon marine dock experience, product-transfer systems, vapor recovery or destruction equipment, tank and piping integration, brownfield refinery modifications, and construction or commissioning experience.

Direct marine dock experience is preferred but not required. Strong refinery project engineering and technical owner’s representative experience will also be considered.

The Assignment

This position offers a phased work arrangement aligned with the project’s development and execution.

• Engineering & Design: Primarily remote, with onsite participation for project kickoff, engineering reviews, and technical coordination.

• Construction: Increased onsite presence as needed to support technical issue resolution, contractor execution, field quality, and change management.

• Commissioning & Startup: Onsite support as required for system integration, operational readiness, turnover, and startup.

The typical schedule is Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, approximately 40 hours per week. During construction and startup, hours may increase to 50–60 per week for approximately 2–4 weeks, including potential weekend work.

Candidates must satisfy applicable DISA background screening and alcohol/drug testing requirements, including urine, breath alcohol, and hair follicle screening.

No separate per diem is provided for this assignment.

About Per Sé Group

Per Sé Group is a technical and professional staffing firm specializing in power generation, renewable energy, utilities, oil & gas, engineering, and industrial construction. We connect experienced professionals with leading organizations through contract staffing, direct hire, and workforce solutions.

Per Sé Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable law.

Ready to bring your engineering judgment and technical leadership to a complex refinery and marine infrastructure project?

Apply today or contact recruiting@persegroup.com.