Lead Project Engineer

Clayton Services; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 155,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Clayton Services, located in Downtown Houston, seeks a Lead Project Engineer to drive complex custom industrial equipment projects from concept to installation. You will lead cross-functional teams, coordinate with customers and suppliers, and ensure on-time, on-budget delivery.

The role focuses on technical leadership, problem solving, and delivering high-quality engineered solutions in a collaborative environment. Travel to sites will be required as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• 10+ years of project engineering or program management in industrial manufacturing.
• Experience leading customer-driven projects from concept through installation.
• Experience coordinating suppliers and cross-functional teams.
• PM certification is a plus but not required.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple projects from planning through installation and commissioning.
• Serve as the primary technical contact for customers and build relationships.
• Develop schedules, monitor milestones, and manage risks to keep on budget.
• Coordinate activities among mechanical, electrical, controls, and manufacturing teams.
• Translate customer specs into practical engineering solutions.
• Provide direction through design, fabrication, testing, and startup.
• Collaborate with suppliers to resolve issues and meet project requirements.
• Participate in design reviews, focusing on safety, manufacturability, and reliability.
• Support testing, factory acceptance, installation planning, and field startup.
• Identify process improvements and improve cross-department communication.
• Prepare documentation and customer deliverables; travel as required.

Skills

Project leadership

Client relations

Cross-functional coordination

Manufacturing processes

Problem solving

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

PMP certification (preferred)

Job description

Clayton Services is seeking an experienced Lead Project Engineer to join a growing engineering and manufacturing organization in Downtown Houston specializing in custom industrial equipment and engineered systems. This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced engineering professional who enjoys leading complex projects, collaborating with customers, and driving projects from concept through installation.

The ideal Lead Project Engineer is a hands-on engineering leader who thrives in a collaborative environment and enjoys solving technical challenges while coordinating with customers, suppliers, manufacturing partners, and internal engineering teams. This position offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact while working on highly customized equipment designed for demanding industrial applications.

Job Type: Direct Hire

Pay Rate: $155,000 - $190,000+, depending on experience

• Lead multiple engineering projects from initial planning through manufacturing, installation, commissioning, and final customer acceptance.
• Serve as the primary technical contact for customers throughout the life of each project while building strong professional relationships.
• Develop project schedules, monitor milestones, identify potential risks, and help ensure projects remain on schedule and within budget.
• Coordinate engineering activities between mechanical, electrical, controls, manufacturing, procurement, and field service teams.
• Review customer specifications and translate technical requirements into practical engineering solutions.
• Provide technical direction throughout equipment design, fabrication, assembly, testing, and startup activities.
• Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturing partners to resolve technical issues and ensure equipment is built according to project requirements.
• Participate in design reviews and evaluate engineering solutions with consideration for safety, manufacturability, reliability, serviceability, and overall project objectives.
• Support equipment testing, factory acceptance testing, installation planning, startup activities, and field troubleshooting as necessary.
• Identify opportunities to improve project execution, engineering processes, documentation, and communication across multiple departments.
• Prepare project documentation, technical reports, engineering change documentation, and customer deliverables.
• Travel periodically to customer facilities, supplier locations, manufacturing partners, and project sites as required.

Lead Project Engineer Skills and Abilities:

• Strong project leadership skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to interact effectively with customers, vendors, and cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex engineering problems while balancing technical requirements, budgets, and project schedules.
• Strong understanding of industrial manufacturing processes, engineered equipment, and mechanical systems.
• Ability to make sound technical decisions while working independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Comfortable working in a collaborative environment where initiative, accountability, and adaptability are highly valued.

Lead Project Engineer Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline required.
• 10+ years of project engineering, systems engineering, or project management experience within an industrial manufacturing or engineered equipment environment.
• Experience managing customer-driven engineering projects from concept through installation and commissioning.
• Experience working with custom equipment, engineered systems, industrial machinery, automation equipment, or related products.
• Previous experience coordinating suppliers, manufacturing partners, and cross-functional engineering teams.
• Working knowledge of fabrication, machining, assembly processes, and industrial manufacturing practices.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is a plus but not required.
• Ability to travel as needed to support customer projects.

Lead Project Engineer - Immediate need.