Inside the cultural shifts attracting a new generation of engineers to energy

Phillips 66 webinar panelists (left to right): Garrison Allen, engineer, process CCA, Ponca City Refinery; Greyson Dudley, engineer, integrity, midstream operations; Caitlyn Toomey, engineer, APC, Ferndale Refinery; Guy Wood, advisor, data scientist, IT; Ananya Singh, sales rep, branded expeditor, U.S. marketing.

For a new generation of engineers, choosing a career isn't just about what they do; it's about having an impact and engaging in work that challenges them.

To explore these priorities and celebrate Engineers Week, Phillips 66 hosted a panel discussion titled Transforming the Future of Engineering. The event brought together early-career engineers from across Phillips 66, representing refining, midstream, IT and marketing roles, to share their perspectives.

Why it matters: Engaging early career engineering talent helps us to build a future-ready workforce, ready to deliver high performance.

At Phillips 66, nearly 1,900 engineers across 33 disciplines are redefining what engineering looks like, applying their problem-solving mindset across the company and often beyond traditional engineering roles and into marketing, sustainability, data science and more.

Expectation versus reality

A common theme shared throughout the panel was how expectations shifted once the work became real.

Ananya Singh applies her industrial engineering background to her marketing role. "I use coding and automation in my day-to-day work - everything from pulling data to streamlining processes," she said. "You don't have to be a developer to use these tools. They have become easily accessible for everyone to utilize."

Many of the Gen Z engineers who participated in the panel say their biggest surprise after college was learning how human the work is - less about equations and theory and more about communication, trust and collaboration.

Closing the perception gap

Perhaps the most candid moment of the session came when Caitlyn Toomey, an advanced process control engineer, described entering the workforce with what she called an "anti-refinery" mindset early in her career - a perception shared by many in Toomey's generation. Growing up on the West Coast, she had long associated refining primarily with environmental impact rather than innovation or advancement.

That opinion shifted after a career fair and later an internship with Phillips 66. Seeing operations firsthand revealed the industry's complexity, rigorous safety culture and ongoing commitment to improving performance and reducing impact.

She was surprised to learn just how much progress Phillips 66 had already made in advancing operational excellence and enabling reliable energy delivery.

Panelists agreed that employees play a critical role as industry ambassadors, helping bridge perception gaps and demonstrating how the industry continues to evolve.

Driven by purpose

For many Gen Z engineers, impact is a deciding factor in where they work.

Garrison Allen, a coker/combo unit process engineer, was drawn to the industry's influence on everyday life through petrochemical products.

He describes his role simply, "to communicate the data clearly so operators can make the right decisions on the assets."

The emphasis on accountability, clear communication and continuous improvement is what makes Phillips 66 an industry leader in safety, and it's also why many Gen Z engineers see it as a place where values and actions align.

Across roles, the appeal is consistent for Gen Z engineering talent: the scale and significance of the problems they're asked to solve - an intentional part of how Phillips 66 develops a future-ready workforce.

"The mission of providing energy and improving lives really got me. I wanted to do meaningful work and solve complex problems, and that's exactly what I'm doing at Phillips 66."

Greyson Dudley
Engineer, integrity, midstream operations

Whether ensuring asset integrity or improving safety systems, these engineers see the results of their work in tangible, real-world ways.

Purpose reinforced by meaningful work and community

New engineers take on real responsibility early, supported by mentors and a culture of trust that reinforces Phillips 66's expectation of high performance.

"I was surprised by how much I was entrusted with early on when I felt like I didn't have the answers," said Toomey. Dudley echoed that experience, saying that being trusted to author and implement a policy early in his career helped him build confidence.

Ultimately, these engineers say what keeps them engaged at Phillips 66 is the community. Although they were raised with social media, they say they value real relationships, transparency and work that matters.

As data scientist Guy Wood put it, "I enjoy what I do and the people I do it with."

Panelists pointed to the support of groups like the New Hire Network, one of 10 Employee Resource Groups, which helps new employees find a place of belonging and connection from day one.

This combination of impact, community and purpose isn't just attracting Gen Z engineers; it's shaping how they grow their careers at Phillips 66.

Learn more about the culture and explore career opportunities at Phillips66.com.