Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

RINA is a global knowledge company where expertise travels across borders, disciplines, and industries. Every day, we collaborate on solving complex challenges that no single field could tackle alone. With a presence in more than 70 countries and 160 years of heritage, we turn individual know-how into collective progress. 

We are currently recruiting for a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to join our office in Houston, TX, Sunrise, FL or Chicago/Lisle, IL within the  Plant Engineering Division.​

Mission

The Senior Mechanical Design Engineer develops and delivers robust mechanical design solutions for industrial plants and energy systems, ensuring compliance with project requirements, international standards, and client specifications. The role leads complex design activities across project phases, provides technical guidance to engineers and designers, coordinates interfaces with other disciplines, and supports procurement, vendors, construction, and commissioning while maintaining quality, cost, and schedule objectives.

Compensation Data

$140,000 - $180,000 commensurate with education and experience

Key Accountabilities

Design Leadership & Technical Delivery

• Leads complex mechanical design activities and coordinates the preparation of specifications, datasheets, technical requisitions, calculations, drawings, and bills of materials.
• Reviews project requirements, process data, and client specifications to establish complete and reliable design inputs.
• Checks and approves routine discipline deliverables and supports the Principal Engineer in the approval of critical documents.
• Plans assigned engineering activities, monitors progress, and identifies technical or schedule risks.

Design Verification & Engineering Assurance

• Performs and verifies advanced calculations for pressure vessels, mechanical strength, thermal expansion, rotating equipment, and related systems.
• Conducts peer reviews and ensures compliance with applicable codes and standards, including ASME, EN, API, ISO, and NFPA.
• Leads technical assessments and root cause analyses and develops practical corrective actions for design issues.
• Supports HSE reviews, audits, HAZOP, IPF, and Safety Critical Element workshops.

Vendor & Client Coordination

• Prepares technical inquiry packages, performs technical bid evaluations, and provides recommendations for vendor selection.
• Reviews vendor drawings and documentation, resolves technical clarifications, and monitors post-order deliverables.
• Participates in client meetings, kick-off meetings, pre-inspection meetings, inspections, testing, and site surveys.
• Escalates critical or commercially sensitive issues to the Principal Engineer or Project Engineering Manager.

Interdisciplinary & Team Coordination

• Coordinates with process, piping, electrical, instrumentation, and civil disciplines to ensure integrated mechanical solutions.
• Guides junior engineers and designers, reviews their work, and supports their technical development.
• Leads discipline coordination meetings and contributes to design, model, constructability, and project reviews.

Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Ensures compliance with company quality, HSE, document-control, and regulatory requirements.
• Contributes to standardization of calculations, templates, tools, and design methods.
• Captures lessons learned and promotes consistent application of engineering best practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or Mechanical Studies
• Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or Mechanical Studies
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in mechanical design for industrial plants, energy systems, or complex engineering environments.
• Strong knowledge of international mechanical design codes and standards, including ASME VIII, EN 13445, API, ISO, and NFPA30.
• Advanced proficiency in engineering calculation and design software such as Mathcad, ANSYS, SolidWorks, and AutoCAD.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex design packages and coordinating multidisciplinary interfaces.
• Experience with technical bid evaluations, vendor documentation, inspections, testing, and client coordination.
• Ability to mentor junior engineers and provide clear technical guidance.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, technical writing, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Good command of English and ability to work effectively in international project teams.
• In depth knowledge of API 610, API 682, API 681, API 617, API 618, API 619, API 674, API 675, API 676, API 614, API 671, API 686, SHELL DEP Standards.
• In depth knowledge of ASME Section I & VIII (Div 1 & 2), TEMA, API 650/620, BS 5500, EN 13445 for Static Equipment design.
• Experience with preparing specifications and data sheets for Pressure vessels, storage tanks, shell-and-tube heat exchangers, process separation columns, reactors, pumps, skid packages and vendor data review in line with American codes and standards.
• Ability to perform engineering calculations, prepare CAD drawings, designs, and reports.

Additional Qualifications

• Ability to travel to project and job sites, based upon business needs.
• Valid driver’s license.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of the work being performed. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. 
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Competencies

• DOMAIN & BUSINESS ACUMEN - Applying a scientific approach and critical thinking in operations and solution development within area of expertise.
• CLIENT INTIMACY - Embrace internal and external client needs, expectations, and requirements to ensure maximum satisfaction
• ADDRESS THE WAY - Have a big picture of different situations and reinterpret it in a perspective way
• FORESIGHT & INSIGHT - Context awareness adopting a systemic perspective and informed decision making.
• INTERPERSONAL INFLUENCE - Skills and strategies we use to interact effectively with others.
• PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT - Ownership for life, work and results, striving to grow professionally and personally.​
• THINK FORWARD - Capitalise on experiences and translate them into action plans for the future
• WORKPLACE DYNAMICS - Resourcefulness in shaping progress and working efficiently.

At RINA, your growth drives our innovation. We bring together engineers, inspectors, digital minds and specialists from more than 100 nationalities, creating an environment where diverse perspectives sharpen how we think, collaborate and deliver. 

RINA North America provides a comprehensive benefits package, including the following insurance options: Medical, Dental, Vision, Medical Flexible Spending Account, Dependent Care Spending Account, Health Savings Account, Transit, Parking, Basic Life, Basic AD&D, Voluntary Life, Voluntary AD&D, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, Voluntary Accident, Voluntary Critical Illness, Identity Theft Protection, Pet Insurance, and Employee Assistance Program. Additional benefits provided include paid time off, company holidays, tuition reimbursement, nursery grant, travel resource services, and 401K plan with company discretionary match.

Flexibility and respect drive how we work. We are committed to building a workplace where every person feels valued, empowered to develop their potential, and safe from discrimination or harassment of any kind. It is the policy of RINA to provide equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disabilities, marital status, sexual orientation, genetics, military status, disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, other protected veterans (veterans who served during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a badge has been authorized), and Armed Forces service medal veteran, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. We are strongly committed to this policy and believe in the concept and spirit of the law. 

RINA does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or agencies. Any resume submitted to any employee of RINA without a prior written search agreement will be considered unsolicited and the property of RINA. Please, no phone calls or emails.