Project Engineer

Pay: $85-91/hour
Duration: 1-2 years (based on performance and business needs)
Location: North Chicago, IL - 100% onsite at the API Pilot Plant
Position Type: Contract

We are seeking a Project Engineer III to lead the planning and execution of small to medium-sized capital projects supporting API Pilot Plant and laboratory operations within a pharmaceutical research and development environment. This role is focused primarily on project management, equipment installation, process systems, and facility improvements rather than hands-on design.

The ideal candidate will have experience managing new equipment installations, capital projects, and process systems within pharmaceutical, specialty chemical, or similar manufacturing environments. Strong experience with process equipment, P&IDs, tank systems, and GMP-regulated operations is highly preferred.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead planning, execution, and delivery of small to medium capital projects, including installation of new process and laboratory equipment and facility improvements.
• Manage multiple concurrent projects while maintaining scope, cost, schedule, quality, and business objectives.
• Coordinate cross-functional project teams to establish project scope, priorities, timelines, and execution strategies.
• Manage equipment installation projects, including new process equipment implementation and facility integration.
• Develop and evaluate project plans, cost estimates, schedules, and capital expenditure requests.
• Support process equipment design, specification, sizing, and selection activities.
• Develop and review P&IDs, process systems, instrumentation, and equipment requirements.
• Collaborate with engineering, operations, quality, and external contractors to ensure successful project execution.
• Manage procurement activities, construction support, commissioning, and qualification activities.
• Ensure compliance with engineering standards, GMP requirements, safety regulations, and applicable building and fire codes.
• Perform risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies to support successful project outcomes.
• Maintain project controls, reporting, and financial tracking throughout the project lifecycle.

Required skills

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering.
• 10+ years of engineering experience preferred; candidates with slightly less experience may be considered based on relevant project experience.
• Experience managing capital projects, including scope development, cost estimation, scheduling, cost control, and construction oversight.
• Experience managing equipment installations, preferably new process equipment installations.
• Experience working with process equipment and systems including tanks, reactors, pumps, process piping, and instrumentation.
• Experience developing and interpreting P&IDs.
• Experience with process equipment specification, sizing, and selection.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage cost, schedule, quality, and stakeholder expectations.
• Experience working in pharmaceutical, specialty chemical, biotechnology, or GMP-regulated manufacturing environments.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work onsite and collaborate effectively with engineering, operations, and project teams.

Preferred skills

• Experience with solvent delivery tank farms, tank sizing, and tank farm fire protection systems.
• Experience in specialty chemical manufacturing environments.
• Experience with pharmaceutical API manufacturing, biologics, MAbs manufacturing, fermentation, or filtration processes.
• Experience with commissioning and qualification activities, including user requirement specifications and protocol execution.
• Knowledge of FDA cGMP requirements, OSHA regulations, environmental regulations, and facility safety standards.
• Experience with instrumentation and control systems.
• Experience supporting process development or pilot plant operations.
• Familiarity with capital project financial systems and fiscal controls.

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