Project Engineer

Project Engineer - Utility

The Project Engineer - Utility is responsible for planning, engineering, executing, and closing utility and infrastructure projects in a high-volume manufacturing environment. The position leads projects from problem definition and technical scope development through procurement, construction, commissioning, and final turnover. The role supports safe, reliable, code-compliant, and energy-efficient operation of the plant's utility systems while maintaining clear ownership of project cost, schedule, quality, risk, and documentation.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Project definition and planning. Evaluate operational needs, recurring failures, capacity constraints, compliance gaps, and energy-saving opportunities; develop project charters, scopes of work, budgetary estimates, schedules, risk registers, and implementation plans.
• Engineering and technical design. Prepare or review calculations, equipment selections, layouts, one-line diagrams, piping and instrumentation diagrams, control narratives, technical specifications, bid packages, and construction drawings.
• Utility systems engineering. Support projects involving medium- and low-voltage electrical distribution, compressed air, chilled and cooling water, process water and RO systems, wastewater and water-treatment systems, HVAC and dehumidification, natural gas, building controls, and related plant infrastructure.
• Capacity and reliability analysis. Analyze current and future utility demand, redundancy, equipment condition, failure history, and production impact; recommend technically and financially justified solutions.
• Cross-functional coordination. Coordinate requirements and project impacts with Production, Maintenance, Utility Operations, Facility, EHS, Quality, IT/Controls, Finance, Procurement, and other stakeholders. Communicate constraints, shutdown needs, risks, and decisions in a timely manner.
• Procurement and vendor management. Develop RFQ packages, conduct site walks, answer bidder questions, complete technical bid evaluations, support vendor selection, and verify that purchased equipment and services meet project requirements.
• Cost and change control. Track commitments, forecasts, invoices, contingency, and cost-to-complete; review contractor quotations and change orders; promptly escalate deviations from approved scope, budget, or schedule.
• Construction and contractor coordination. Coordinate field activities, access, permits, material staging, production interfaces, outages, and daily work plans. Inspect installation progress and workmanship and document deficiencies, action items, and recovery plans.
• Safety and compliance. Integrate applicable OSHA, NFPA, NEC, environmental, insurance, state, and local code requirements into project planning and execution. Coordinate LOTO, energized-work restrictions, hot work, lift plans, confined-space requirements, and other site safety controls with EHS and authorized personnel.
• Shutdown and cutover planning. Develop detailed method-of-procedure plans, outage schedules, temporary utility arrangements, contingency plans, and restoration steps to minimize production and business interruption.
• Quality assurance and commissioning. Verify submittals and installation quality; coordinate inspections, testing, FAT/SAT activities, startup, functional performance testing, punch-list closure, training, and formal acceptance.
• Project turnover and records. Deliver complete closeout packages, including approved drawings, as-built records, equipment data, O&M manuals, test reports, warranties, spare-parts recommendations, PM requirements, and asset information for the CMMS or equipment register.
• Operational and emergency support. Provide engineering troubleshooting and root-cause support for significant utility failures or project-related issues. Participate in planned shutdowns and occasional after-hours response when business needs require.
• Energy and continuous improvement. Identify and implement projects that reduce utility consumption, peak demand, operating cost, emissions, water use, and unplanned downtime; establish baselines and verify results using appropriate KPIs.
• Reporting and governance. Maintain accurate project schedules, meeting minutes, issue logs, risk registers, action lists, forecasts, status reports, and decision records. Follow applicable capital-approval and document-control processes.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
• Proven experience in project engineering or a similar role within the engineering or construction industry.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD and the ability to produce and interpret detailed shop drawings.
• Strong understanding of project management principles and experience using Microsoft Project or equivalent scheduling software.
• Demonstrated ability to perform cost estimation and manage change orders effectively.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional Engineer (PE) license or equivalent certification.
• Experience with advanced engineering design software beyond AutoCAD.
• Familiarity with industry-specific codes, standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Previous experience working on large-scale or complex engineering projects.
• Strong leadership skills with experience coordinating multidisciplinary project teams.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and review detailed engineering designs and shop drawings using AutoCAD to ensure accuracy and compliance with project specifications.
• Prepare and manage cost estimations, budgets, and change orders to maintain financial control throughout the project lifecycle.
• Coordinate project activities by liaising with internal teams, contractors, and clients to ensure seamless communication and timely delivery of milestones.
• Utilize Microsoft Project to create, update, and monitor project schedules, identifying potential risks and implementing mitigation strategies.
• Support the preparation of technical documentation, reports, and presentations to communicate project status and engineering decisions to stakeholders.

Skills:

The required skills such as AutoCAD and shop drawing expertise are essential for creating precise engineering designs and ensuring technical accuracy on a daily basis. Project engineering and design skills enable the candidate to develop innovative solutions and adapt designs to meet evolving project needs. Cost estimation and change order management are critical for maintaining budgetary control and responding to project scope adjustments efficiently. Project coordination and the use of Microsoft Project facilitate effective scheduling, resource allocation, and communication among stakeholders, ensuring projects progress smoothly. Preferred skills like advanced design software proficiency and leadership capabilities further enhance the ability to manage complex projects and lead teams toward successful outcomes.