Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer

Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer (Lead)

Worley is seeking a Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer (Lead) based in Charleston, WV. This position serves as a senior technical authority and engineering leader responsible for providing mechanical engineering leadership for the design and delivery of process and utility equipment across oil, gas, chemical, petrochemical, power, and bulk materials projects. The role is accountable for overseeing complex and high-impact engineering assignments, providing technical direction across multiple projects, and ensuring consistent application of engineering standards, best practices, regulatory requirements, and customer expectations.

The ideal candidate is a highly experienced, self-directed engineering leader with exceptional technical depth, strong stakeholder engagement capabilities, demonstrated success leading complex capital projects, and a commitment to safety, quality, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Provide mechanical engineering leadership from concept through commissioning, including equipment selection, system integration, technical direction, and overall discipline oversight.
• Lead mechanical engineering planning activities, including development of effort-hour estimates, schedules, staffing plans, and execution strategies; monitor progress, budgets, project controls, and engineering performance to ensure project objectives are achieved.
• Report engineering, design, and equipment development status to project teams and stakeholders, including periodic assessments of progress, risks, and opportunities.
• Lead the development, review, and approval of specifications, design calculations, drawings, and technical deliverables for pressure vessels, heat exchangers, storage tanks, and other mechanical equipment within the project scope.
• Ensure engineering deliverables comply with applicable regulatory requirements, industry standards, customer specifications, and Worley HSE and quality expectations.
• Contribute to studies and project execution activities by providing technical leadership, engineering input, estimates, schedules, and discipline expertise.
• Lead technical bid evaluations and procurement activities, including development of scopes of work and RFQs, vendor selection recommendations, review of vendor documentation, and coordination with suppliers to support timely project delivery.
• Maintain and apply knowledge of relevant codes, standards, best practices, and emerging technologies to support technical excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Review shop drawings and support inspections, design registrations, and professional engineering sign-off activities, as required and authorized, to ensure compliance with project requirements and applicable regulations.
• Identify, communicate, and support management of change activities impacting project scope, cost, schedule, or technical requirements.
• Coach and mentor engineers and designers, providing technical guidance, quality oversight, and professional development support.
• Represent the mechanical discipline in client engagements, regulatory interactions, design reviews, risk assessments, constructability reviews, and quality assurance activities.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary project teams, suppliers, and Worley Global Integrated Delivery (GID) counterparts across multiple offices and time zones to deliver successful project outcomes.
• Conduct site visits and field walkdowns in operating facilities and construction environments to support project execution, commissioning, troubleshooting, and inspections; occasional travel may be required.

Technical and Industry Experience

• Demonstrated ability to lead mechanical engineering activities on multidisciplinary capital projects from concept through detailed design and execution on brownfield and greenfield projects within the oil, gas, chemical, petrochemical, power, and bulk materials sectors.
• Familiarity with various project phases (Pre-FEED, FEED, Detail Design) and the scope/deliverables required
• Demonstrated expertise in the materials, design, fabrication, inspection, and testing of mechanical equipment.
• Experience with applicable industry standards for a wide range of mechanical equipment (ASME, API, etc.), and regulatory requirements.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize competing demands and deliver to tight deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively with other disciplines; understand engineering sequencing and workflows; and support customer design reviews.
• Demonstrated leadership, communication, and sound judgment, with the ability to influence outcomes in regulated, safety-critical environments.
• Commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement, with a customer-focused approach to delivery.

Education Qualifications, Accreditation, Training

Required

• Recognized bachelor's degree or master's degree in mechanical engineering from an ABET accredited college or University
• 15+ years of overall experience on capital projects from feasibility through construction
• 10+ years of applicable engineering experience, and 7+ years lead role or related experience with engineering design in oil and gas, petrochemical, and chemical industries (experience in power, battery materials, and bulk solids is a plus).
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Preferred

• Registered Professional Engineer (PE) license or eligibility for registration in the State of West Virginia.
• Advanced MS Office skills (Word, Excel, OneNote).

Moving forward together

We want our people to be energized and empowered to drive sustainable impact. So, our focus is on a values-inspired culture that unlocks brilliance through belonging, connection and innovation. We're building a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace. Creating a space where everyone feels they belong, can be themselves, and are heard.

And we're not just talking about it; we're doing it. We're reskilling our people, leveraging transferable skills, and supporting the transition of our workforce to become experts in today's low carbon energy infrastructure and technology. Whatever your ambition, there's a path for you here.

And there's no barrier to your potential career success. Join us to broaden your horizons, explore diverse opportunities, and be part of delivering sustainable change.