Capital Projects Engineer: Lead Start-to-Operate On Site

Actalent; Ames (IA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with company match

Disability coverage

Life insurance

4 weeks annual PTO

Tuition reimbursement

Fitness membership reimbursement

Job summary

Actalent in Ames, IA is seeking a Project Engineer to lead capital projects from concept through startup, delivering on time and within budget with hands-on technical leadership across mechanical, electrical, and controls. You will coordinate MEP, manage vendor relations, and drive field execution while mentoring teams.

The role requires 5+ years in project management within plant environments, Rockwell PLC commissioning, and Siemens PLC experience; strong communication and a polished on-site

Qualifications

• 5+ years managing projects (construction management / mechanical engineering).
• Strong project coordination and vendor/contractor direction in plant construction environments.
• Rockwell commissioning and ladder logic proficiency; experience with Siemens PLCs.
• Clear, professional communication—written and verbal—with an on-site presence.

Responsibilities

• Own capital projects from scoping and estimating through commissioning and plant acceptance—on time and on budget.
• Coordinate MEP construction and cross-functional teams (OEM technicians, contractors of all trades, plant personnel).
• Design/spec equipment & panels (OEM equipment, automation panels, hardware) and manage P&ID reviews.
• Lead installation & I/O checkout, start-up, and acceptance testing; drive field execution with clear timelines.
• Develop and maintain schedules & cost controls: WBS, scheduling reports, cost/cash-flow forecasts, change orders.
• Guide controls & automation: direction/support for PLC ladder logic and HMI applications; collaborate with corporate controls/automation on network integration and controls work.
• Mentor and elevate engineers, maintenance, and operations with practical technical leadership.

Skills

Project management

Vendor/contractor management

Rockwell PLC commissioning

Siemens PLC experience

Ladder logic

Effective communication

Education

Bachelor’s in Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

MS Project

Wonderware

Archestra System Platform

Job description

Actalent in Ames, IA is seeking a Project Engineer to lead capital projects from concept through startup, delivering on time and within budget with hands-on technical leadership across mechanical, electrical, and controls. You will coordinate MEP, manage vendor relations, and drive field execution while mentoring teams.

The role requires 5+ years in project management within plant environments, Rockwell PLC commissioning, and Siemens PLC experience; strong communication and a polished on-site