Project Engineer II

Engineering Project Manager II

U.S. Steel's Gary Works is seeking a proven project leader to drive high-impact strategic capital investments at one of North America's most iconic steel facilities. This role demands the technical depth to navigate complex engineering challenges across mechanical, electrical, civil, and process disciplines, and the project management rigor to execute in a demanding, operating heavy industrial environment where projects must be carefully coordinated around active production. Safety is our first priority; this leader sets the standard for safety culture on every project, holding project teams and contractors to the highest performance level. For an engineer who thrives on accountability, builds strong teams, and delivers technically complex projects in challenging industrial environments, this role offers the scope and visibility to make a real impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead capital and cost projects from concept through close-out, including business case development, scope definition, cost estimating, and scheduling.
• Apply front-end loading techniques and industry best practices to ensure thorough project definition prior to execution.
• Develop scopes of work, feasibility studies, and cost/benefit analyses to support funding requests and investment decisions.
• Prepare capital appropriation and cost expenditure requests for presentation to management.
• Monitor project budgets and spending schedules; identify variances early and implement corrective actions.
• Manage project risks by identifying potential technical, operational, and safety concerns early; implement mitigation strategies to protect schedule, budget, and business continuity.
• Implement change management processes to control impacts to scope, cost, and schedule.
• Leverage AI-driven tools to enhance project planning, schedule management, cost forecasting, risk monitoring, and reporting — continuously seeking ways to improve project outcomes through emerging technology.
• Engage and align stakeholders across operations, maintenance, procurement, finance, and Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) to build consensus and ensure coordinated project execution.

Engineering & Technical

• Review and validate engineering designs, technical specifications, piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), and construction drawings across relevant disciplines.
• Direct outside engineering firms in the preparation of detailed equipment and installation specifications, design drawings, and inspection services.
• Evaluate equipment supplier and contractor proposals; perform complete technical reviews and recommend selection of acceptable vendors and suppliers.
• Monitor equipment manufacture and assembly to ensure compliance with specifications and delivery schedules.
• Evaluate and select best available technology through networking with internal and external resources.
• Evaluate and incorporate AI-enabled technologies and automation solutions as part of capital project scope where they offer measurable operational, safety, or cost benefits.

Team & Resource Management

• Build and lead effective project teams, which may include contracted resources such as construction managers, project engineers, specialty consultants, and inspection personnel.
• Clearly define roles, responsibilities, and expectations for all team members; provide direction and oversight to ensure project objectives are met.
• Coordinate closely with project controls, estimating, procurement, and other shared resources to maintain alignment on schedule, cost, and scope throughout project execution.
• Foster a collaborative team environment across internal departments and external contractors, resolving conflicts and keeping all parties focused on shared project goals.

Construction & Commissioning

• Execute projects within an active, operating facility — coordinating construction activities to minimize disruption to ongoing production operations.
• Manage equipment installation and modifications; coordinate contractor activities to ensure work is executed safely and per specification.
• Plan and lead commissioning, start-up, and testing activities; provide training and startup assistance to ensure smooth handover to operations.
• May include extended hours and/or weekend work during critical project phases.

Safety, Compliance & Continuous Improvement

• Implement and execute U.S. Steel (USS) employee and contractor safety and environmental compliance programs on all assigned projects.
• Ensure all project activities comply with applicable safety standards, environmental regulations, and company policies.
• Collaborate with operations, maintenance, and other departments to identify opportunities to improve the working environment, infrastructure, and cost structure of the facility.
• Maintain accurate and current project documentation including progress reports, change orders, risk logs, and technical records.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of current technology through plant visits, continuing education, seminars, and technical exchanges.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Civil Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Minimum 5–7 years of progressive project management experience in a heavy industrial or manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing capital projects through all phases, from scoping and funding approval through construction and commissioning.
• Ability to read, interpret, and build project schedules; proficiency with scheduling tools such as Microsoft Project or Primavera P6 is a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, P&IDs, and technical specifications across multiple disciplines.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills with the ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders simultaneously.
• Knowledge of applicable safety and environmental standards for heavy industrial plant operations.
• Comfort working with AI-based tools for project planning, reporting, and analysis; ability to evaluate and integrate emerging AI capabilities into project workflows.

Preferred

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or active pursuit thereof.
• OSHA 10-Hour or 30-Hour construction safety certification.
• Experience in the steel industry or similar heavy manufacturing (metals, mining, petrochemical).
• Familiarity with Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Management (EPCM) contract structures and management.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies.
• Demonstrated use of AI tools to improve project development, scheduling, cost tracking, or reporting — specific examples of application preferred.

What We Offer

• Competitive base salary and performance-based bonus program.
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and retirement plans.
• The opportunity to lead high-impact capital projects that directly shape the future of one of North America's most storied industrial facilities.
• A collaborative engineering culture that values technical excellence, safety leadership, and continuous improvement.
• Professional growth and advancement opportunities within a dynamic and evolving capital project environment