Engineer-Mechanical Lead

Primary Purpose:

The Lead Mechanical Engineer is responsible for providing technical leadership and oversight for mechanical engineering activities within power plant and natural gas pipeline projects. This role involves managing design, maintenance, and integrity of mechanical systems and equipment, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and coordinating multidisciplinary teams to deliver safe, efficient, and reliable projects.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

• Lead and manage mechanical engineering projects related to power plants and natural gas pipelines, including design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of mechanical equipment.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to mechanical engineers, designers, technicians and engineering firms.
• Oversee the design and specification of mechanical systems such as turbines, compressors, pumps, piping, pressure vessels, and structural supports.
• Ensure all mechanical engineering work complies with applicable codes, standards (ASME, API, ANSI), and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate with process, electrical, controls, and civil engineering teams to ensure integrated project delivery.
• Review and approve mechanical engineering drawings, calculations, specifications, and technical documentation.
• Lead mechanical integrity assessments, failure investigations, and root cause analyses to improve equipment reliability and safety.
• Support procurement activities by evaluating vendor proposals and ensuring equipment meets project requirements.
• Manage project schedules, budgets, and resources related to mechanical engineering scope.
• Participate in risk assessments, safety reviews, and environmental compliance activities.
• Facilitate communication between engineering, operations, maintenance, and contractors to resolve technical issues.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance mechanical system performance and reduce downtime.
• Support commissioning, startup, and operational troubleshooting as needed.
• Assist in emergency response and plant outage activities as needed.
• Provide leadership, guidance and mentoring to other engineers or project staff as assigned to support the process engineering efforts of major process facility projects.
• Responsible for compliance with company and project site safety policies.
• All other duties as assigned.

Minimum requirements: 

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field; advanced degree preferred.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• Yes

Experience/Specific Knowledge:

• 15 years of engineering experience. Experience in process control engineering within power generation facilities (coal, gas, combined cycle, renewable).
• Proven leadership experience managing engineering teams and complex projects.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical design, equipment specifications, and industry codes and standards (ASME, API, ANSI).
• Experience with power plant and pipeline mechanical systems including turbines, compressors, pumps, valves, and piping.
• Proficiency in engineering software such as AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or similar CAD tools.
• Excellent problem-solving, project management, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in both office and field environments, including site visits and inspections. Experience with power plant performance monitoring and optimization tools.
• Project management and vendor coordination experience.
• Familiarity with OSHA Process Safety Management ANSI/ISA-61511 Other similar industry standards 
• Safety Integrity Level (SIL) Calculations 
• Strong proficiency in MS Office applications that may include but are not limited to Excel, Word, SharePoint, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Certifications, Licenses & Registrations:

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license and a driving record satisfactory to the company and its insurers (for travel).
• Knowledge of industry's regulatory compliance issues and standards.

Competencies, Skills & Abilities:

• Ability to lead execution of work and resolve issues in a team environment.
• Strong attention to detail, facilitation, team building, collaboration, organization and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to perform quality reviews for detailed engineering documents and specifications.
• Ability to travel. accredited program.
• Ability to take on additional tasks and shift priorities on short notice.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong focus on safe work practices.
• Able to complete work assignments with moderate supervision in an acceptable timeframe.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Aptitude and interest in learning and leveraging new programs to accomplish tasks.
• Must be able to perform all essential and marginal functions of the job.
• Must be able to work with a team.
• Ability to successfully perform multiple tasks with strict deadlines.
• Ability to organize and prioritize daily work.
• The individual must possess the ability to associate and communicate with a wide variety of people with tact, courtesy, and professionalism.  

Physical Demands:

All of the physical requirements listed below are those that may be necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Sitting; standing; walking or moving throughout facility; driving; talking; seeing (specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus); hearing; feeling; bending or stooping; squatting or crouching; reaching; kneeling; pushing; pulling.
• Must be able to climb to and work from elevated platforms, ladders and walkways
• Must be able to work outdoors in adverse weather conditions, climb vertical access ladders and stairwells, carry up to 50 pounds and to see, hear, walk and talk effectively.
• Must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time.
• The employee is regularly required to use hands to type, touch, handle, or feel.  The employee is required to talk and hear.  The employee is frequently required to stand and reach with hands and arms.  The employee is occasionally required to walk and climb or balance.  The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Working Conditions:

• This is a full-time position.
• Essentially indoors but must be able to work outdoors in project & maintenance activities.
• Travel from 40% of time to engineering offices, field sites and company offices with occasional overnight stays.
• May be required to carry a cell phone and be available to respond during working and non-working hours.
• The successful candidate will be required to clear a drug screen and a complete background check, including credit report for certain positions, after an offer has been extended and prior to being employed.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• Yes

Preferred Education, Experience, Certifications, Competencies, Skills & Abilities:

Above the minimum requirements, not required but advantageous in this position: 

• Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering a plus.
• Professional Engineering License (PE) preferred.

Compensation:

• The annual salary range for this position will be $185,000-$202,400/yr.

Other responsibilities:

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed.  This position may perform other duties as assigned.