Lead Project Engineer

Lead Project EngineerClayton Services is seeking an experienced Lead Project Engineer to join a growing engineering and manufacturing organization in Downtown Houston specializing in custom industrial equipment and engineered systems. This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced engineering professional who enjoys leading complex projects, collaborating with customers, and driving projects from concept through installation. The ideal Lead Project Engineer is a hands-on engineering leader who thrives in a collaborative environment and enjoys solving technical challenges while coordinating with customers, suppliers, manufacturing partners, and internal engineering teams. This position offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact while working on highly customized equipment designed for demanding industrial applications.Job Type: Direct Hire Pay Rate: $140,000 - $160,000+, depending on experience Benefits: Competitive benefits package, flexible paid time off, hybrid work schedule, retirement plan, professional development opportunities, and additional benefits.Lead Project Engineer Responsibilities:Lead multiple engineering projects from initial planning through manufacturing, installation, commissioning, and final customer acceptance.Serve as the primary technical contact for customers throughout the life of each project while building strong professional relationships.Develop project schedules, monitor milestones, identify potential risks, and help ensure projects remain on schedule and within budget.Coordinate engineering activities between mechanical, electrical, controls, manufacturing, procurement, and field service teams.Review customer specifications and translate technical requirements into practical engineering solutions.Provide technical direction throughout equipment design, fabrication, assembly, testing, and startup activities.Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturing partners to resolve technical issues and ensure equipment is built according to project requirements.Participate in design reviews and evaluate engineering solutions with consideration for safety, manufacturability, reliability, serviceability, and overall project objectives.Support equipment testing, factory acceptance testing, installation planning, startup activities, and field troubleshooting as necessary.Identify opportunities to improve project execution, engineering processes, documentation, and communication across multiple departments.Prepare project documentation, technical reports, engineering change documentation, and customer deliverables.Travel periodically to customer facilities, supplier locations, manufacturing partners, and project sites as required.Lead Project Engineer Skills and Abilities:Strong project leadership skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to interact effectively with customers, vendors, and cross-functional teams.Demonstrated ability to solve complex engineering problems while balancing technical requirements, budgets, and project schedules.Strong understanding of industrial manufacturing processes, engineered equipment, and mechanical systems.Ability to make sound technical decisions while working independently in a fast-paced environment.Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.Comfortable working in a collaborative environment where initiative, accountability, and adaptability are highly valued.Lead Project Engineer Education and Experience:Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline required.10+ years of project engineering, systems engineering, or project management experience within an industrial manufacturing or engineered equipment environment.Experience managing customer-driven engineering projects from concept through installation and commissioning.Experience working with custom equipment, engineered systems, industrial machinery, automation equipment, or related products.Previous experience coordinating suppliers, manufacturing partners, and cross-functional engineering teams.Working knowledge of fabrication, machining, assembly processes, and industrial manufacturing practices.Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is a plus but not required.Ability to travel as needed to support customer projects.