Lead Project Engineer

Culligan Water; Libertyville (IL); Hybrid; USD 106,000 - 143,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Culligan International is seeking a Lead Project Engineer to manage customer-facing water treatment projects from concept to post-installation support. You will develop 3D/2D designs, P&IDs, and BOMs, and work with Sales, Manufacturing, and Customer teams to deliver technically sound, cost-effective solutions.

This hybrid role requires four on-site days per week and travel up to 25%. It offers growth through collaboration with global accounts and continuous improvement initiatives in industrial

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Industrial Engineering or related field.
• 5–10 years of industry-specific experience in capital equipment design and project management.
• CAD proficiency with Autodesk/SolidWorks.
• Experience in hydronics or water treatment applications.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% and four days on-site.

Responsibilities

• Lead phases of customer-facing water treatment projects from concept through post-installation support.
• Develop and maintain 3D models, 2D drawings, P&IDs, BOMs, and layouts using CAD tools.
• Collaborate with Sales, Customers, Manufacturing, Procurement and PM teams to deliver cost-effective solutions.
• Coordinate cross-functional execution, monitor scope, risks, and communicate status to stakeholders.
• Monitor project costs, change orders, margins, and engineering hours; maintain records.
• Drive continuous improvement via standardization, process optimization, and AI-enabled workflows.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Teamwork

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Leadership

Organized

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Industrial Engineering

PMP/PE certification (plus)

Tools

Autodesk/SolidWorks

Job description

• Hybrid
• Salary : $125,000 USD per year
• Full-Time
• Requisition #: LEADP008377

Description

Position: Lead Project Engineer

Supervisor: Director of Global Accounts

Description: We are seeking a customer-obsessed, highly motivated Lead Project Engineer to lead customer-facing mechanical design and water treatment projects from concept development through execution and post-installation support. This role collaborates with Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, Field Service and customers to develop engineered solutions, create technical documentation, ensure design-for-manufacturing principles, and deliver successful project outcomes. The position manages project scope, schedules, costs, and cross-functional coordination while supporting continuous improvement, operational efficiency, and guarantees customer satisfaction for industrial and data center applications.

Responsibilities:

• Lead various phases of customer-facing water treatment projects from initial concept development and proposal support through detailed design, fabrication, startup, and post-installation support for strategic and global accounts.
• Develop and maintain 3D models, 2D drawings, P&IDs, general arrangement drawings, BOM’s, equipment layouts, and fabrication assembly instructions using Autodesk/SolidWorks and related engineering tools.
• Partner with Sales, Customers, Manufacturing, Procurement, and Project Management teams to deliver technically sound, cost-effective solutions while balancing schedule, quality, and commercial objectives.
• Coordinate cross-functional project execution, manage priorities, monitor scope, identify risks and dependencies, facilitate technical reviews, and communicate project status to internal and external stakeholders using MS Projects or similar tools.
• Support financial performance by monitoring project costs, change orders, margins, revenue recognition, and engineering hours while maintaining accurate documentation and project records.
• Drive continuous improvement through standardization, process optimization, training, documentation development, and implementation of new technologies, automation tools, and AI-enabled engineering workflows.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support departmental and organizational goals.

Requirements:

• Education & Background: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Industrial Engineering or related technical field. PMP, PE certification, and experience with PLC architectures is a plus.
• Experience & Technical Skills: 5-10 years of industry-specific experience in capital equipment design, project management, industrial engineering in hydronics or water treatment applications. A strong foundation in process modeling, hydraulics, and engineering fundamentals and high level of CAD proficiency. Knowledge of Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Python, or AI tools is a plus.
• Professional Capabilities: Strong EQ, highly organized, polished presentation, business acumen, analytical and problem-solving skills, effective communicator, collaborative team player, high energy and proactive mindset, strong work ethic, and integrity.
• Other Requirements: This role typically requires four (4) days per week on-site, in addition to occasional customer visits. Ability to travel up to 25% required.

Competencies: To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies in this position: Integrity, Resourcefulness, Customer Focus, Team Player, Adaptability, Excellence

As the world’s leading water experts, we are dedicated to delivering high-quality water solutions to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois, Culligan International offers technologically advanced, state of the art water filtration products, including: water softeners, water filtration systems, industrial water treatment solutions, drinking water systems and whole-house filtration systems.

We offer competitive compensation including base & benefits including: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, 401(k), Paid time off, Additional voluntary benefits

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.