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PROJECT ENGINEER
Job Description | Chemical Manufacturing Environment
Department | Engineering |
Location | Cincinnati, Ohio |
Reports To | Engineering Manager |
Employment Type | Full-Time, Exempt |
Work Environment | Chemical Manufacturing / Industrial |
Position Summary
The Project Engineer is responsible for developing, coordinating, and executing capital and facility improvement projects within a chemical manufacturing environment. This position manages projects from initial concept and scope development through design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and closeout.
The Project Engineer partners closely with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, EHS, Process Safety, contractors, and other internal stakeholders to ensure projects are completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with applicable engineering standards and regulatory requirements.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Manage capital and facility improvement projects from concept through final implementation and closeout.
- Develop project scopes, technical specifications, cost estimates, schedules, and capital expenditure justifications.
- Coordinate engineering design activities involving mechanical, piping, electrical, instrumentation, controls, civil, and structural disciplines.
- Work with Operations and Maintenance teams to identify equipment, reliability, infrastructure, and process improvement needs.
- Prepare and manage project budgets, forecasts, purchase requisitions, contractor costs, and project expenditures.
- Develop bid packages, evaluate proposals, and assist with contractor and vendor selection.
- Coordinate contractors, engineering consultants, equipment suppliers, and other external resources.
- Review engineering drawings, equipment specifications, P&IDs, layouts, vendor documentation, and other technical deliverables.
- Ensure project designs comply with company engineering standards, applicable codes, environmental requirements, and safety standards.
- Participate in Management of Change (MOC), Process Hazard Analysis (PHA), Pre-Startup Safety Reviews (PSSR), and other Process Safety Management activities as applicable.
- Support OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) and EPA Risk Management Program (RMP) requirements for covered processes.
- Coordinate construction activities while minimizing disruption to ongoing manufacturing operations.
- Develop project execution plans that account for plant shutdowns, equipment outages, production schedules, and operational constraints.
- Monitor project schedules, milestones, risks, budgets, and contractor performance.
- Identify project risks and implement appropriate mitigation plans.
- Provide regular project status updates to Engineering, Operations, and site leadership.
- Coordinate equipment installation, startup, commissioning, testing, and turnover to Operations and Maintenance.
- Ensure appropriate operating procedures, maintenance documentation, drawings, equipment records, and training materials are completed before project turnover.
- Maintain accurate project documentation and ensure drawings and technical records are updated following project completion.
- Support troubleshooting and resolution of engineering and equipment issues during project implementation and startup.
- Identify opportunities to improve plant safety, reliability, efficiency, productivity, environmental performance, and operating costs.
- Perform other duties and engineering assignments as required.
Project Management Responsibilities
- Project scope and technical requirements
- Capital budgets, forecasting, and expenditures
- Project schedules and milestones
- Engineering deliverables
- Contractor and vendor performance
- Construction coordination
- Safety and regulatory compliance
- Change management
- Commissioning and startup
- Project documentation and closeout
Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or another related engineering discipline required.
- Professional Engineer (PE) certification or progress toward licensure preferred.
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or formal project management training preferred.
Experience
- 3-7 years of engineering and/or capital project management experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment preferred.
- Experience in chemical manufacturing, petrochemical, specialty chemical, refining, pharmaceutical, food processing, or other process manufacturing environments strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience managing capital projects from scope development through commissioning and closeout.
- Experience working with contractors, engineering firms, equipment manufacturers, and vendors.
- Experience coordinating projects within an operating manufacturing facility.
- Familiarity with PSM-regulated chemical manufacturing environments preferred.
Technical Knowledge and Skills
- Capital project management and project cost control
- Chemical/process manufacturing operations
- Piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs)
- Process equipment and piping systems
- Pumps, tanks, vessels, heat exchangers, and rotating equipment
- Electrical, instrumentation, controls, and automation systems
- Mechanical and equipment installation
- Construction management and contractor coordination
- Equipment specifications and technical bid evaluations
- Management of Change (MOC), Process Hazard Analysis (PHA), and Pre-Startup Safety Review (PSSR)
- OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) and environmental compliance requirements
- Applicable OSHA, NFPA, ASME, API, NEC, and other engineering codes and standards
- Microsoft Office and project management software
- AutoCAD or similar engineering drawing software preferred
- SAP or other ERP/maintenance systems preferred
Core Competencies
- Strong project management and organizational skills
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously
- Strong technical problem-solving and analytical skills
- Effective written and verbal communication
- Contractor and vendor management
- Financial and budget management
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Decision-making and accountability
- Attention to detail
- Safety and compliance mindset
- Ability to influence stakeholders without direct authority
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
Work Environment
This position operates in both an office and active chemical manufacturing environment. The Project Engineer will regularly enter operating units, construction areas, maintenance areas, and other industrial environments. The position may require the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and adherence to all site safety requirements.
The employee may occasionally be required to work outside normal business hours to support project installations, plant shutdowns, commissioning activities, equipment startups, or emergency project needs.
Physical Requirements
- Walking throughout an industrial manufacturing facility
- Climbing stairs and accessing elevated work areas
- Standing for extended periods during construction and commissioning activities
- Wearing required PPE
- Working indoors and outdoors in varying environmental conditions
- Entering operating and construction areas as required to inspect project activities
Safety Responsibilities
Safety is an essential responsibility of this position. The Project Engineer is expected to actively promote a strong safety culture and ensure projects are planned and executed in accordance with company safety policies, Process Safety Management requirements, environmental standards, and applicable regulatory requirements.
The Project Engineer has the responsibility and authority to identify unsafe conditions and stop project activities when necessary to protect employees, contractors, the facility, and the environment.
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