Job description

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. Valero is seeking a high-performing Staff Data Scientist to lead transformative AI initiatives across its refining and commercial business units. In this strategic role, you’ll be entrusted with shaping the future of AI at Valero—from conventional machine learning to cutting-edge generative AI. You’ll partner with business leaders to identify high-value opportunities, architect scalable solutions, and drive projects from ideation to deployment and continuous optimization. As a technical thought leader, you’ll spearhead initiatives in advanced plant optimization, inferential modeling, anomaly detection, and forecasting, delivering measurable impact across operations. You’ll also serve as a bridge between business and technology—researching emerging AI trends, recommending innovative tools, and ensuring alignment with enterprise goals. Beyond project execution, you’ll play a critical role in building organizational capability by mentoring junior data scientists and fostering a culture of technical excellence and experimentation. Key Attributes: • Problem Solving • Initiative • Results Orientation • Interpersonal Skills At Valero, we are committed to advancing the future of energy through innovation, ingenuity and unmatched execution. You can help achieve this goal if you can: • Lead the development of solutions for complex analytical challenges across all business units, designing custom algorithms and advanced data analytics to deliver new insights into operational and commercial questions. • Drive cross-functional collaboration to ensure successful execution of high-impact AI initiatives, aligning efforts across Refining Operations, Supply & Trading, Planning & Economics, and Strategic Development & Technology. • Define and monitor key performance metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of AI/ML solutions, ensuring they deliver measurable improvements to operational efficiency and business outcomes. • Serve as Valero’s corporate subject matter expert on applied Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, providing guidance on best practices, model interpretation, and advanced analytical methodologies. • Drive innovation by researching and evaluating emerging AI/ML tools, platforms, and methodologies, ensuring their adoption aligns with established governance frameworks and best practices, while providing feedback to enhance compliance, scalability, and responsible use across the enterprise. • Support and advise employees across the organization on statistical and data analysis projects, developing standards and frameworks for implementing advanced analytical solutions at scale. • Mentor and develop junior data scientists, fostering technical excellence and building organizational AI/ML capability. This position is salaried exempt status, which means you are not eligible for overtime pay. Minimum Requirements: • Bachelor’s or higher-level degree - in a Quantitative Field such as: Mathematics, Engineering, Data Science or Computer Science or related field. • 10+ years of experience in programing & data mining. • Able and willing to work on-site, in-person at the Valero San Antonio location, required. Preferred Requirements: • Master’s or higher-level degree – in a Quantitative Field such as: Mathematics, Engineering, Data Science, or Computer Science or related field o equivalent. • Experience applying data science to refining related applications. • Refining Industry experience. 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. 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/AA Employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected status, including race/ethnicity, 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. *LI-LP1

Requirements

Must-haves

Beyond project execution, you’ll play a critical role in building organizational capability by mentoring junior data scientists and fostering a culture of technical excellence and experimentation.
Problem Solving
Results Orientation
Interpersonal Skills
At Valero, we are committed to advancing the future of energy through innovation, ingenuity and unmatched execution. You can help achieve this goal if you can:
Lead the development of solutions for complex analytical challenges across all business units, designing custom algorithms and advanced data analytics to deliver new insights into operational and commercial questions.
Define and monitor key performance metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of AI/ML solutions, ensuring they deliver measurable improvements to operational efficiency and business outcomes.
Serve as Valero’s corporate subject matter expert on applied Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, providing guidance on best practices, model interpretation, and advanced analytical methodologies.
Support and advise employees across the organization on statistical and data analysis projects, developing standards and frameworks for implementing advanced analytical solutions at scale.
Mentor and develop junior data scientists, fostering technical excellence and building organizational AI/ML capability.
Bachelor’s or higher-level degree - in a Quantitative Field such as: Mathematics, Engineering, Data Science or Computer Science or related field.
10+ years of experience in programing & data mining.

Nice-to-haves

Master’s or higher-level degree – in a Quantitative Field such as: Mathematics, Engineering, Data Science, or Computer Science or related field o equivalent.
Experience applying data science to refining related applications.
Refining Industry experience.
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
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

Application prep

Use the role’s language and application details while tailoring your materials.

Keywords to mirror

aimachine learningml

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Benefits

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401(K)

Wellness