Rachael Mc Carthy
About Rachael Mc Carthy
Rachael McCarthy is an Application Engineer at ExxonMobil, specializing in process control and optimization for refinery operations in Billings, Montana.
Current Role at ExxonMobil
Rachael McCarthy is an Application Engineer at ExxonMobil, based in Billings, Montana. She has been with the company in this capacity since 2019. Her responsibilities include supporting refinery operations and capital projects, specifically for the Hydrocracker and Hydrogen Production Units. Among her tasks are implementing and modifying base and advanced process control applications to align with business objectives, tuning the Dynamic Matrix Controller (DMC) for unit optimization, and facilitating conversations with operators and process engineers to ensure control objectives are met.
Work Experience
Rachael McCarthy has a diverse range of professional experiences. She previously worked as a Process Engineering and Controls Co-op at ExxonMobil in 2017 and as an Automation and Process Control Intern at ExxonMobil in 2016. Additionally, she has worked outside the engineering field as a bartender at Fenwick Crab House in 2017, a manager at Golf Down Under from 2014 to 2015, and a hostess at The Cove at Bayside in 2014. Rachael also has a history of self-employment, having worked as a private chemistry tutor for four years.
Education and Academic Background
Rachael McCarthy holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where she studied from 2014 to 2019. During her time at Virginia Tech, she also worked as an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Department of Chemical Engineering from 2015 to 2016. Prior to her university education, Rachael attended McDonogh School, where she completed her high school education from 2004 to 2014.
Prior Engineering Internships
Rachael McCarthy gained significant experience during her internships at ExxonMobil. In 2017, she worked as a Process Engineering and Controls Co-op in Billings, Montana, where she spent four months. The year before, in 2016, she was an Automation and Process Control Intern at ExxonMobil in Spring, Texas, working for three months. These roles provided her with hands-on experience and a solid foundation in process control and automation.
Engineering Contributions and Initiatives
In her role as an Application Engineer, Rachael McCarthy focuses on improving operational efficiency and safety. She collaborates with console operators to enhance effectiveness during normal operations and unit upsets. She is also involved in redesigning console operator displays and identifying improvements for alarm management and rationalization. Her initiatives are aimed at ensuring that control objectives are not only met but also comprehended by all stakeholders involved.