Lead Project Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

PROJECT ENGINEER LEAD

Seeking an experienced Project Engineering Lead to provide technical leadership and oversight of the PMC engineering organization while serving as the client's primary engineering interface within the PMC team. This role is accountable for engineering governance, technical decision-making, design integration, engineering performance management, and ensuring alignment among engineering contractors, project teams, and key stakeholders. The Project Engineering Lead ensures all engineering disciplines function as a cohesive, integrated team and that project designs support safe and effective execution, regulatory compliance, operational readiness, and long-term asset performance.

Functional job responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Be accountable to the PMC Project Manager, while providing leadership, direction, and oversight to a multidisciplinary engineering PMC team (approximately 20+ personnel) responsible for the planning, design, and procurement, construction, commissioning, and startup support of a major pharmaceutical manufacturing facility.

• Lead the integration and coordination of all engineering disciplines, including process, mechanical, piping, electrical, instrumentation & controls, automation, civil/structural, architecture, utilities, and validation, ensuring alignment with project objectives and execution strategies.

• Serve as the primary technical authority within the PMC organization, providing engineering governance, resolving complex technical issues, and driving timely decision-making to support project delivery.

• Oversee engineering activities throughout all project phases, including FEED, detailed design, procurement, construction, commissioning, qualification, and operational readiness.

• Ensure facility and utility designs comply with applicable pharmaceutical industry standards, GMP requirements, regulatory expectations, corporate engineering standards, and project specifications.

• Coordinate engineering interfaces among EPC contractors, equipment suppliers, client stakeholders, operations, quality, validation, and regulatory teams to ensure seamless project execution.

• Manage engineering scope, schedule, deliverables, and performance, ensuring timely completion of design packages while maintaining alignment with overall project milestones and objectives.

• Lead design reviews, technical risk assessments, constructability evaluations, and management of change (MOC) processes to ensure safe, compliant, and cost-effective project outcomes.

• Lead value engineering, design optimization, lifecycle cost improvement, and constructability enhancement initiatives throughout project development, driving Target Value Design concepts.

• Oversee the development, review, and approval of key engineering deliverables, including process flow diagrams (PFDs), P&IDs, equipment specifications, facility layouts, utility system designs, automation strategies, and commissioning and qualification documentation.

• Drive engineering quality assurance and design consistency across all disciplines, ensuring technical integrity, completeness, and adherence to project requirements.

• Collaborate closely with project controls, procurement, construction, and commissioning teams to optimize execution strategies, mitigate risks, and support achievement of cost and schedule targets.

• Promote and champion a strong safety culture, ensuring compliance with HSE requirements and the integration of safety, quality, and operational excellence principles throughout the project lifecycle.

Required Education, Experience, & Skills:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline.

• Minimum 15 years of engineering experience, including leadership of large capital projects in excess of $500M TIC.

• Experience successfully managing large multidisciplinary engineering interfaces across EPC organizations within regulated GMP environments.

• Strong knowledge of engineering governance, design management, and project delivery processes.

• Experience supporting commissioning, startup, and operational readiness activities.

• Demonstrated ability to lead technical decision-making and stakeholder alignment.

• Strong leadership and stakeholder management capabilities.

Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills:

• Experience supporting pharmaceutical or biotechnology facilities.

• Prior experience in an Owner's Representative or PMC role for major capital projects in excess of $1B TIC.

• Professional Engineer (PE) license and/or PMP certification.