Crane Specialist

Mesabi Metallics; Iowa; On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Mesabi Metallics is seeking a senior crane systems engineer to provide technical leadership on overhead and mobile cranes across the ISP project, ensuring designs meet safety and performance requirements.

The role conducts specification, selection, procurement support, installation oversight, FAT, and commissioning, collaborating with engineering teams, vendors, and QA teams to deliver reliable crane systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Structural Engineering.
• 15–20 years in crane engineering or related roles.
• Knowledge of overhead/mobile crane systems, design, fabrication, installation, commissioning.
• Familiarity with OSHA, CMAA, AISE or equivalent crane safety standards.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting and vendor management skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership on crane systems for the Mesabi ISP Project.
• Review crane specs, design criteria, and equipment requirements with engineering teams.
• Support vendor evaluation, bids, and selection of crane manufacturers.
• Coordinate with manufacturers to evaluate crane design, capacity, and performance.
• Oversee fabrication, FAT, and QA at vendor facilities.
• Support installation planning, erection sequencing, and commissioning.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA CMAA and structural codes.
• Troubleshoot crane design, installation, and commissioning issues.
• Coordinate with structural and mechanical teams on runway design.
• Develop crane maintenance philosophies, spare parts strategies, and readiness plans.
• Prepare reports and documentation for project records.

Skills

Crane engineering

Vendor management

Troubleshooting

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Structural Engineering

Job description

Role Summary

Responsible for providing technical expertise on crane systems, including specification, selection, procurement support, installation oversight, and commissioning of overhead and mobile cranes for the Mesabi Integrated Steel Plant (ISP) Project. The role ensures cranes are designed, procured, and installed to meet operational, safety, and performance requirements across the plant.

Role Summary

Responsible for providing technical expertise on crane systems, including specification, selection, procurement support, installation oversight, and commissioning of overhead and mobile cranes for the Mesabi Integrated Steel Plant (ISP) Project. The role ensures cranes are designed, procured, and installed to meet operational, safety, and performance requirements across the plant.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership on crane systems for the Mesabi ISP Project, including overhead cranes, gantry cranes, and mobile crane requirements
• Review and develop crane technical specifications, design criteria, and equipment requirements in coordination with engineering teams
• Support vendor evaluation, technical bid analysis, and selection of crane manufacturers and suppliers
• Coordinate with leading crane manufacturers and specialists to evaluate crane design, capacity, and performance requirements
• Oversee crane fabrication, factory acceptance testing (FAT), and quality assurance activities at vendor facilities
• Support installation planning, erection sequencing, and commissioning of crane systems across plant areas
• Ensure crane systems comply with applicable safety standards, including OSHA, CMAA, and relevant structural codes
• Troubleshoot technical issues related to crane design, installation, and commissioning
• Coordinate with structural and mechanical engineering teams on crane runway design, structural interfaces, and load requirements
• Support development of crane maintenance philosophies, spare parts strategies, and operational readiness plans
• Prepare technical reports, vendor evaluation summaries, and crane system documentation for project records

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Structural Engineering, or related discipline
• 15-20 years of experience in crane engineering, specification, or technical management roles within heavy industrial or steel plant projects
• Strong technical knowledge of overhead crane systems, including design, fabrication, installation, and commissioning
• Experience with crane technical specifications, vendor evaluation, and procurement support for large capital projects
• Familiarity with applicable crane safety standards and structural codes (OSHA, CMAA, AISE, or equivalent)
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and vendor management skills

Working Conditions

• Based in the United States, dedicated full-time to the Mesabi ISP Project
• Travel to crane vendor/manufacturer facilities and project site as required, including factory acceptance testing

Preferred Experience

• Direct experience with crane systems for steel plant applications (e.g., ladle cranes, charging cranes, coil handling cranes)
• Experience supporting crane procurement and installation for greenfield industrial projects