Last updated: September 2026
Delek US is the Fortune 500 refiner that processes 302,000 barrels of crude oil per day across four inland refineries, yet still operates with the entrepreneurial energy of a company one-tenth its size. Headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee (a suburb of Nashville), Delek US Holdings (NYSE: DK) generated $16.9 billion in revenue in FY2023 and ranked #336 on the Fortune 500 in 2025. The company's refineries in Tyler, Texas; Big Spring, Texas; El Dorado, Arkansas; and Krotz Springs, Louisiana process light crude primarily from the Permian Basin. Named a TIME World's Best Company in 2024, Delek runs a paid summer internship program with mentorship, career guidance, and networking, welcoming intern classes confirmed through Summer 2025.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where to apply | jobs.delekus.com (SAP SuccessFactors ATS) |
| Application window (2027–28) | Expected October–December 2026 based on prior cycles (Summer 2025 cohort confirmed; no 2027 postings live yet) |
| Rolling? | Yes — positions fill as qualified candidates apply; no single company-wide deadline |
| Eligibility | Currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate student; chemical, mechanical, electrical, or civil engineering for refinery roles; finance/business for corporate |
| Duration | Summer program (approximately 10–12 weeks, May/June through August) |
| Compensation | Paid; Glassdoor reports engineering interns ~$35/hr, process engineer interns ~$47/hr (small samples) |
| Locations | Tyler TX, Big Spring TX, El Dorado AR, Krotz Springs LA (refineries); Brentwood TN (corporate HQ) |
| # Programs | 6+ areas: Refining/Process Engineering, Safety/EHS, Commercial/Trading, Finance/Accounting, Logistics, Reliability Engineering |
Delek's Summer 2027 intern postings are expected to appear in October to December 2026 on the SAP SuccessFactors portal. The company recruits at regional universities near its refineries. Apply within the first two weeks of a posting going live for best odds.
Externships are short, remote professional experience programs where you finish a real project with a real company. The Amazon Fulfillment Center Operational Strategy Externship and the Yinan Zhao Investing & Financial Modeling Externship build the operations and financial analysis skills a Delek application needs. Explore all Externships.
What Is a Delek US Internship?
A Delek US internship is a paid summer placement at one of America's Fortune 500 petroleum refiners, offering hands-on exposure to refinery operations, commercial trading, or corporate finance in an organization where interns can make a visible impact. The early careers page describes the program as providing mentorship, career guidance, and networking opportunities while assessing performance to inform future hiring. Delek processes 302,000 barrels per day across four refineries, operates Delek Logistics Partners (NYSE: DKL) for crude gathering and transport, and runs three biodiesel plants. The company was named a TIME World's Best Company in 2024 and received the Human Resource Standard Institute ISO DEI Award in 2023. After selling its retail assets to FEMSA in October 2024, Delek is now a pure-play downstream energy company focused on refining, logistics, and renewable fuels.
When Do Delek US Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?
Delek US does not publish exact application dates. The Summer 2025 intern class was confirmed via LinkedIn, and the early careers page describes an active annual program. Based on prior cycles, expect intern postings to appear on the SAP SuccessFactors portal between October and December 2026 for Summer 2027. The company recruits at regional universities near its refinery locations in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee. Positions fill on a rolling basis, so applying early maximizes your chances, especially for the most popular refinery locations.
Between cycles. Summer 2026 program has completed. No Summer 2027 postings are live yet. Use this window to prepare your application: study refinery operations, learn about the Permian Basin crude supply chain, and build relevant technical skills.
Summer 2027 intern postings expected on jobs.delekus.com based on prior-cycle timing. Career fairs at regional universities (Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee). Set up job alerts on the SAP SuccessFactors portal and check the Early Career-Seekers page regularly.
Phone screens and interviews on a rolling basis. Expect a phone or video screen with HR followed by a technical and behavioral interview with the department hiring manager.
Offers extended as positions fill. Engineering roles at popular refinery locations (Tyler, Big Spring) may fill earlier than corporate roles in Brentwood.
Internship program runs at assigned refinery or corporate headquarters. Hands-on work including process engineering, safety compliance, commercial analysis, or financial reporting. Mentorship and networking throughout.
How to read this page: our dates come from tracking previous recruiting cycles and daily posting data. Treat them as informed estimates based on historical patterns, not confirmed dates. The company's official careers page is always the most current source. If a role is posted there, go by that, even if this page suggests the window hasn't opened yet.
Why You Must Apply the Week Applications Open
Delek US is a Fortune 500 company that operates like a mid-cap: 302,000 barrels per day across four refineries, but only about 2,000 employees after selling its retail business. That ratio means intern work is visible to leadership in a way it would not be at ExxonMobil or Marathon Petroleum. The company's early careers page explicitly states the program is designed to "assess performance to inform future hiring," confirming a deliberate pipeline from intern to full-time. Delek recruits at regional universities near its refineries, so students at schools in Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Louisiana have a proximity advantage. When postings appear, apply within the first two weeks. The refinery locations are in smaller markets (Tyler, Big Spring, El Dorado, Krotz Springs), which means fewer applicants compete for each slot compared to Houston or Dallas-based refinery programs. Lead with process engineering knowledge, demonstrate safety awareness, and show that you understand the downstream value chain from Permian Basin crude to finished fuel products.
Which Delek US Internship Programs Should You Target?
Delek US runs a summer internship program with function-specific tracks across refining and corporate operations. The early careers page describes internships as providing mentorship, career guidance, and networking while exposing interns to various roles.
| Track | Focus | Duration | Key details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refining / Process Engineering | Process control, unit optimization, heat exchanger analysis, turnaround planning | ~10–12 weeks | Tyler TX, Big Spring TX, El Dorado AR, Krotz Springs LA; Glassdoor ~$35–$50/hr |
| Safety / EHS | Environmental, health, and safety compliance, PSM, hazard analysis, incident investigation | ~10–12 weeks | Refinery sites; Indeed intern reviews confirm Tyler TX |
| Commercial / Trading | Crude oil and refined product trading, supply chain optimization, market analysis | ~10–12 weeks | Brentwood TN HQ; commodity markets interest required |
| Finance / Accounting | Financial analysis, reporting, budgeting, capital project justification | ~10–12 weeks | Brentwood TN corporate |
| Logistics / Supply Chain | Pipeline operations, crude gathering, product distribution via Delek Logistics (DKL) | ~10–12 weeks | West Texas, Southeast US operations |
| Reliability Engineering | Equipment reliability, maintenance planning, root cause failure analysis | ~10–12 weeks | Refinery sites; Glassdoor ~$50/hr (1 report) |
Delek also offers an Early Career-Builders track for recent graduates and a rotational engineer program mentioned on Reddit alongside Phillips 66, Shell, and ExxonMobil. Monitor the Early Career-Seekers page for the full roster.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements?
Delek's internship eligibility is straightforward, with track-specific degree requirements:
• Education: currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate student at an accredited university.
• Engineering tracks: chemical, mechanical, electrical, or civil engineering majors. Process simulation experience (Aspen HYSYS, PI ProcessBook) is advantageous.
• Commercial tracks: finance, accounting, economics, supply chain, or business administration. Basic data management skills and interest in commodity markets expected.
• Safety tracks: occupational health and safety, environmental science, or industrial engineering.
• Availability: full-time (40 hours/week) during the summer program.
Does Delek US Have a Hard GPA Cutoff?
No GPA requirement is stated on the early careers page or any internship posting reviewed. Delek seeks candidates who are "hard-working, performance-driven, and share an entrepreneurial spirit." For engineering roles, relevant coursework in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and process control carries more weight than GPA alone. Work authorization requirements are not explicitly disclosed on the careers page, so international students should confirm eligibility directly. The bigger practical gate is location: refinery internships require onsite presence in small Texas, Arkansas, or Louisiana markets.
What Skills Does Delek US Look For, and How Do You Build Them?
Delek US sits at the intersection of petroleum refining and logistics, and its intern hiring reflects the downstream energy skill set: process engineering for refinery operations, safety-first culture for regulatory compliance, and financial analysis for capital project justification. Across documented JDs and program descriptions, Excel proficiency and communication skills are universal, while process simulation tools (Aspen HYSYS, PI ProcessBook) and safety certifications (OSHA 10, HAZWOPER) differentiate technical candidates.
What Delek US looks for in interns
Skills across 6 Delek US intern & analyst job descriptions · Delek US intern JDs, early careers page, and Indeed/Glassdoor intern reviews across 6 documented tracks
Method: analysis of Delek US intern postings, early careers page descriptions, and Indeed/Glassdoor intern reviews. Counts reflect tracks in which each skill appears.
How Is Demand for Petroleum & Refining Interns Moving Right Now?
Petroleum refining intern hiring right now: September 2026
Across US petroleum refining intern postings tracked this month · aggregate market data, all employers
September 2026 shows a downstream energy sector that continues to hire. Delek's position as an inland refiner with integrated Permian Basin crude supply means its operations are structurally supported by the ongoing US shale production boom.
Method: aggregate analysis of US petroleum refining intern postings, September 2026 baseline. Sample indexes under half of all US postings; figures show direction and relative level, not total market share.
Build These Skills Before You Apply
The skills above map to remote Externships that build transferable experience before the application window opens.
| Skill (from real JDs) | JD evidence | Externship that builds it |
|---|---|---|
| Operations & supply chain management | Logistics track: pipeline operations, crude gathering, product distribution via Delek Logistics | Amazon Fulfillment Center Operational Strategy |
| Financial modeling & cost analysis | Finance/Accounting track: financial analysis, budgeting, capital project justification | Yinan Zhao Investing & Financial Modeling |
| Data analytics & process optimization | Engineering track: process data historian analysis, heat exchanger performance, operational KPIs | Center for Improving Youth Justice Data Visualization |
How close is the overlap? The Amazon Ops Externship trains the supply chain and logistics thinking Delek's integrated crude-to-product value chain demands, the Yinan Zhao project covers the financial modeling and analysis the Finance track uses for capital project justification, and the CIJY work builds data visualization skills applicable to refinery process monitoring dashboards.
What Is the Delek US Application and Interview Process Like?
Delek's interview process follows a standard engineering-company format. Indeed reviews and the early careers page suggest a straightforward, behavioral-focused approach:
1. Check the Early Career-Seekers page. Visit jobs.delekus.com/content/Early-Career-Seekers or search for "internship" on the main careers portal.
2. Submit through SAP SuccessFactors. Upload your resume and complete the application through Delek's ATS.
3. Attend career fairs if your school partners with Delek. The company recruits at regional universities near its refinery locations (Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee). Connect with career services for any scheduled campus visits.
4. Phone or video screen. Initial conversation with HR covering motivation, background, and basic qualifications.
5. Hiring manager interview. Technical and behavioral interview with the department lead. For engineering roles, expect questions about process fundamentals, safety awareness, and problem-solving. STAR-format behavioral answers recommended.
6. Offer. Rolling offers as positions fill. Strong candidates can move through the process in a few weeks.
The interview emphasizes practical problem-solving and safety awareness. For engineering roles, be prepared to discuss thermodynamics, heat transfer, and process control concepts. For commercial roles, demonstrate understanding of crude oil markets and refining margins. Our HireVue question guide with a free AI mock tool covers the behavioral format.
What the Community Says
Delek US is discussed in chemical engineering and oil and gas career forums. Reddit threads offer candid perspectives on working at a smaller independent refiner.
An engineer considering a move to Delek from a larger chemical company for a 20 to 25 percent raise received mixed feedback. Two contacts described being fairly happy, while one commenter's acquaintance had nothing good to say about management and benefits. The consensus: smaller refiners involve tradeoffs, but the pay bump and faster career growth can make the move worthwhile.
In a thread about the best-paying oil and gas jobs for engineering graduates, one commenter listed Delek alongside Phillips 66, Shell, and Exxon as companies offering rotational programs with tuition reimbursement and relocation expenses covered. The thread positions Delek as competitive with major integrated companies for early-career engineers.
A poster asking about chemical engineering opportunities in Arkansas received a direct mention of Delek's El Dorado refinery as a local employer. The thread highlights Delek's role as a significant employer in smaller southern markets where competition for intern slots is lower than in Houston or Dallas.
How Do You Stand Out at a Fortune 500 Refiner That Thinks Like a Startup?
Three moves, all executable before the posting window opens. First, know the refinery footprint. Delek operates four inland refineries: Tyler and Big Spring in Texas, El Dorado in Arkansas, and Krotz Springs in Louisiana. Before your interview, understand which site you are applying to, what crude slate it processes (primarily Permian Basin light crude), and what products it produces. Showing site-specific knowledge signals genuine interest beyond a generic energy application. Second, emphasize your entrepreneurial mindset. Delek's culture values employees who are "hard-working, performance-driven, and share an entrepreneurial spirit." In interviews, share examples of taking initiative, wearing multiple hats, or driving results with limited resources. This differentiates you from candidates who only cite experience at large companies. Third, lead with safety. Every refinery conversation starts with safety. Demonstrate awareness of Process Safety Management (PSM), OSHA requirements, and behavioral safety culture. An OSHA 10-Hour certification is free or low-cost through many universities and directly signals readiness for a refinery environment.
What Other Companies Should You Consider?
Delek's peer set spans independent and integrated petroleum refiners, all competing for the same chemical and mechanical engineering intern talent.
- Marathon Petroleumlargest US independent refiner (~3M bpd capacity); large intern program across 13 refineries; Findlay, OH HQGuide →
- Phillips 66major integrated downstream company; strong rotational engineer track; Houston HQ; mentioned alongside Delek on RedditGuide →
- HF Sinclairindependent refiner (formerly HollyFrontier + Sinclair); similar scale to Delek with ~700K bpd; Dallas HQGuide →
- Valero Energyworld's largest independent refiner; 15 refineries (~3.2M bpd capacity); robust intern program; San Antonio HQCareers site
- PBF EnergyEast Coast independent refiner; ~1M bpd capacity; comparable to Delek in company size and entrepreneurial cultureCareers site
Our finance internships summer 2027 guide maps internship opportunities across energy and related industries.
FAQ
When should I apply for a Delek US Summer 2027 internship?
Begin monitoring jobs.delekus.com in October 2026. Based on the confirmed Summer 2025 intern class, Delek likely posts intern positions in the fall for the following summer. Set up job alerts on the SAP SuccessFactors portal and check the Early Career-Seekers page regularly.
How much do Delek US interns earn?
Glassdoor reports engineering interns at approximately $35 per hour, process engineer interns at approximately $47 per hour, and reliability engineer interns at approximately $50 per hour. These figures are based on very small sample sizes and may vary. Rates are competitive with larger downstream peers.
Where are Delek US internships located?
Most internships are at one of four refineries: Tyler and Big Spring in Texas, El Dorado in Arkansas, or Krotz Springs in Louisiana. Corporate internships in finance, accounting, and commercial roles are based at the Brentwood, Tennessee headquarters near Nashville.
What majors does Delek US recruit?
For engineering roles, Delek recruits chemical, mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering majors. Safety internships seek occupational health and safety or environmental science students. Commercial and finance internships target business, finance, accounting, and supply chain management majors.
Does Delek US offer housing for interns?
Housing benefits are not publicly confirmed for interns. Reddit mentions that Delek's rotational engineer program covers living and relocation expenses for remote or rural areas, but specific intern housing stipends are not documented. Contact HR when applying.
Does Delek US hire interns into full-time positions?
The early careers page states the intern program is designed to attract top talent and assess performance to inform future hiring opportunities. This confirms a deliberate pipeline. Delek also offers rotational engineer programs for recent graduates alongside the intern track.
What is it like working at a Delek refinery?
Indeed reviews describe a fast-paced, safety-focused environment. Engineers report high levels of trust and autonomy with opportunities to engage senior leadership. Challenges include rotating shift schedules and unplanned outages. The smaller company size means interns have more visibility compared to mega-refiners.
Is Delek US a good company to work for?
Opinions are mixed. Indeed reviews average 2.6 out of 5, but many negative reviews are from retail employees at convenience stores that Delek sold in October 2024. Refinery and corporate reviews tend to be more positive, citing fair pay, learning opportunities, and a strong 401(k).
Delek's four refineries process 302,000 barrels per day, and the intern postings are coming this fall. Spend the runway building proof: a remote Externship turns interest in energy operations into a finished project a fall 2026 application can point at.
About the Author
Bifei Wang has spent 17 years focused on human flow and the growth of young professionals, spanning international education, career training and coaching, and recruitment process outsourcing. Over 7 years at Extern, he has had one-on-one sessions with thousands of students exploring careers in consulting, finance, tech, marketing, and data, giving him a firsthand view of how the job market has shifted for early-career professionals and what it actually takes to break in.
