Engineering Project Manager - Mission Critical

LJC; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary Annual Bonus

Comprehensive Benefits Package

Flexible Spending Accounts

Job summary

A prominent construction and design firm is seeking a Project Manager, Engineering – Mission Critical to lead design teams on technical projects. Candidates must have extensive experience in engineering design, particularly in Mission Critical environments, and familiarity with industry standards. This role requires strong leadership and technical communication skills. The firm offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and a collaborative work environment that values innovation and excellence.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of engineering design experience, especially on Mission Critical/Data Center projects.
• Strong knowledge of power systems and cooling technologies.
• 2+ years managing multidisciplinary design teams.
• Strong understanding of power systems, cooling technologies, and BMS integration.
• Familiarity with standards and certifications such as Uptime Institute Tier levels, NFPA 70E, ASHRAE 90.1/TC 9.9, and other regulatory frameworks.
• Experience with both greenfield and retrofit data center projects is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary teams to deliver technical engineering design.
• Collaborate with clients on operational goals and efficiency.
• Oversee project execution, ensuring quality and compliance.
• Oversee and ensure accuracy in submittal reviews, RFI responses, and onsite field verifications during construction.
• Develop and review process and MEP engineering designs tailored for data center cooling, power distribution, and systems integration.
• Present engineering solutions and updates to stakeholders, including clients, internal teams, and external partners.
• Maintain proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and utilize project management tools to track and report progress.
• Exhibit strong written and verbal technical communication skills, including report writing and leading design presentations.
• Apply knowledge of construction principles, mission critical technologies, and evolving design methodologies.
• Drive cross-functional coordination and leadership in a high-performance team environment.
• Perform jobsite walks, inspections, and technical audits including climbing ladders and accessing multi-level infrastructure.

Skills

Leadership

Technical Communication

Project Management

Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, and construction firm that safely delivers clients across North America the highest quality solutions on time, on budget, and above and beyond expectations. With $7.6 billion in revenue for 2024, Clayco specializes in the "art and science of building," providing fast track, efficient solutions for industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential related building projects.

About LJC

LJC Design & Engineering is a full-service architecture, engineering, and design firm committed to enhancing the quality of the human experience through integrated design. We are a team of high-energy professionals who share a passion for design, a collaborative approach, and a casual culture. We solve challenges by leveraging the collective expertise and ingenuity of the best and brightest minds across development, design, and construction.

The Role We Want You For

The Project Manager, Engineering – Mission Critical will lead multidisciplinary teams in delivering highly technical engineering design packages for Mission Critical and Data Center projects, supporting clients nationwide. This role requires collaboration with internal design and Construction teams, ensuring the successful execution of complex, fast-paced design or design-build projects that meet stringent uptime, scalability, and security requirements. The ideal candidate brings a deep understanding of high-performance environments and mission critical systems and will guide a team of engineers, architects, and designers through all project phases—from conceptual through final design and construction administration—while ensuring excellence in delivery.

The Specifics of the Role

• Lead engineering and design teams in executing projects that meet the rigorous demands of Tier-certified and mission critical facilities, including Uptime Institute, ASHRAE, and other industry standards.
• Manage quality and technical excellence through structured design reviews and cross-discipline coordination.
• Collaborate with clients to define functional and operational goals, including redundancy (N+1, 2N), energy efficiency (PUE), and capacity planning.
• Oversee and ensure accuracy in submittal reviews, RFI responses, and onsite field verifications during construction.
• Develop and review process and MEP engineering designs tailored for data center cooling, power distribution, and systems integration.
• Present engineering solutions and updates to stakeholders, including clients, internal teams, and external partners.
• Maintain proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and utilize project management tools to track and report progress.
• Exhibit strong written and verbal technical communication skills, including report writing and leading design presentations.
• Apply knowledge of construction principles, mission critical technologies, and evolving design methodologies.
• Drive cross-functional coordination and leadership in a high-performance team environment.
• Perform jobsite walks, inspections, and technical audits including climbing ladders and accessing multi-level infrastructure.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, or related discipline preferred).
• 10+ years of engineering design experience, with a minimum of 3 years focused on Mission Critical / Data Center environments (colocation, hyperscale, enterprise).
• 2+ years of experience managing multi-disciplinary design teams, ideally on fast-track design/build projects.
• Strong understanding of power systems, cooling technologies (e.g., CRAH, CRAC, chilled water), and BMS integration.
• Familiarity with standards and certifications such as Uptime Institute Tier levels, NFPA 70E, ASHRAE 90.1/TC 9.9, and other relevant regulatory frameworks.
• Experience with both greenfield and retrofit data center projects is a strong plus.
• Competitive nature with a proactive approach to solving complex engineering and coordination challenges.
• Effective communicator and technical leader with the ability to influence outcomes and manage client relationships.
• Detail-oriented with a commitment to delivering designs that reflect the criticality and reliability expectations of mission critical environments.

Some Things You Should Know

• No other builder can offer the collaborative design-build approach that Clayco does.
• We work on creative, complex, award-winning, high-profile jobs.
• The pace is fast!
• This position is classified as a safety-sensitive role in accordance with applicable state and federal laws. Candidates selected for this position will be subject to a comprehensive background check, which includes mandatory drug testing.

Why Clayco?

• 2025 Best Places to Work – St. Louis Business Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, and Phoenix Business Journal.
• 2025 ENR Midwest – Midwest Contractor (#1).
• 2025 ENR Top 100 Design-Build Firms – Design-Build Contractor (Top 5).
• 2025 ENR Top 25 Data Center Builders – Data Center Contractor (Top 3).
• Discretionary Annual Bonus: Subject to company and individual performance.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package Including: Medical, dental and vision plans, 401k, generous PTO and paid company holidays, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability coverage, learning & development programs and more!

Compensation

• The salary range for this position considers a wide range of factors in making compensation decisions including but not limited to: Education, qualifications, skills, training, experience, certifications, internal equity, and location. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.