Mechanical Project Engineer - Fluid Systems / P&ID

We're working with an established custom equipment manufacturer in the Dayton area that's looking to add a Project Engineer to its growing engineering team.

This is a hands-on engineering position focused on designing the fluid-handling, piping, and instrumentation systems used in custom industrial machinery.

You'll take ownership of the P&ID and fluid-system engineering for assigned projects, from initial design and component selection through equipment build, testing, and commissioning. You'll also work closely with mechanical, electrical, controls, and manufacturing engineers to develop practical solutions for different customer applications.

The team is looking for someone with a strong mechanical or process engineering foundation who enjoys technical problem-solving, can take ownership of their designs, and is comfortable collaborating with other engineering disciplines.

What You'll Be Doing

• Develop P&IDs, piping layouts, and detailed fluid-system schematics for custom industrial equipment.
• Design systems involving compressed air, water, hydraulic fluids, refrigerants, oils, fuels, vacuum, and other process fluids.
• Select and specify pumps, valves, regulators, flow meters, filters, piping, tubing, fittings, and instrumentation.
• Perform engineering calculations involving flow rates, pressure drops, pipe sizing, pump selection, and other fluid-system requirements.
• Create bills of materials, component specifications, and supporting engineering documentation.
• Coordinate with mechanical, electrical, controls, and manufacturing teams to ensure designs integrate properly with the overall equipment.
• Participate in technical design reviews and customer discussions, helping resolve engineering questions and communicate design decisions.
• Support equipment testing, troubleshooting, and commissioning as projects move through manufacturing.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related engineering discipline.
• Experience in mechanical design, process engineering, piping systems, fluid handling, or custom industrial equipment.
• Ability to read, interpret, and develop technical engineering drawings and schematics.
• Familiarity with pumps, valves, piping, instrumentation, and related mechanical components.
• Experience with AutoCAD, AutoCAD Plant 3D, DraftSight, SolidWorks, or similar engineering software.
• Strong technical problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently while collaborating across engineering teams.
• Comfortable discussing technical designs, explaining engineering decisions, and working through solutions with colleagues and customers.

Particularly relevant experience includes:

• P&ID development and process piping design
• Pump, valve, and instrumentation selection
• Industrial fluid-handling or hydraulic systems
• Custom machinery or equipment engineering
• Manufacturing support, equipment testing, or commissioning

Direct experience with every system or component isn't required. Engineers with transferable mechanical or process design experience who are interested in learning specialized fluid-handling equipment are encouraged to apply.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

You'll be joining a well-established, profitable equipment manufacturer that's continuing to invest in its engineering capabilities.

Unlike traditional project management positions, this role is centered on technical engineering and design ownership, rather than managing schedules and budgets.

You'll have the opportunity to work on a variety of custom equipment applications, collaborate directly with other engineering disciplines, and see your designs through manufacturing and testing.

The position also offers very limited travel, a close-knit engineering environment, and opportunities to take on greater technical responsibility as the business continues to grow.