Materials Science Senior Project Associate

Engineering Consulting Service; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 64,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

ECS Group of Companies in Pittsburgh is seeking a Senior Project Associate to ensure project tasks from proposal to final invoice are completed, with the project’s success as top priority. The role serves as the main client contact and may involve field work.

You will mentor junior staff, lead project meetings, manage budgets and change orders, and prepare building science reports with clear conclusions. Strong writing and leadership are essential.

Qualifications

• 5 years of related experience.
• Bachelor and/or Master of Science in Civil Engineering, Architecture (NCARB) or related field.
• Licensure, certifications, or proficiency testing may be required depending on work performed.
• Valid driver's license if driving for ECS subsidiary.
• Extensive knowledge of building science and infrastructure principles and applications.
• Extensive knowledge of building codes and construction practices.
• Extensive knowledge of structural, architectural, and building systems.
• Excellent oral & written communication skills.
• Ability to lead and build a team and manage clients.
• Must be able to lift 40 pounds, stand, walk varied terrains.

Responsibilities

• Ensure tasks on a project from proposal to final invoice are completed.
• Serve as main client contact on projects.
• Lead project meetings and provide solutions to issues.
• Market services and develop the client database.
• Manage project budgets and change orders.
• Review invoices and assist collections; mentor junior staff.
• Prepare building science reports; interpret results and recommend actions.
• Lead client meetings to discuss findings and secure sign-offs.
• Oversee staffing and project assignments; train field staff.
• Collaborate with managers on staffing decisions.

Skills

Building science

Project management

Client relations

Budget management

Leadership

Communication

Mentoring junior staff

Technical writing

Team collaboration

Scheduling

Education

B.S./M.S. Civil/Architectural Engineering (NCARB)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Responsibilities

A Senior Project Associate is responsible to ensure that all required tasks on a project from proposal to final invoice payment are completed either by themselves or by subordinates. The Senior Project Associate is primarily responsible for the completion and overall success of the project. Senior Project Associate will act as the main point of contact for the client on their projects. Field work may be required. Present a positive customer service attitude and understanding of ECS Core Values.

• Strong knowledge of building science + infrastructure related testing and consulting services
• Collaborate with staff members on a variety of projects and actively mentor junior staff and support overall development of the team
• Coordinates and leads project meetings, providing solutions to technical and administrative issues as necessary
• Markets our services and maintains and further develops the client database
• Strong ability to manage project budgets and prepare change orders
• Manages project budgets and oversees project budgets of others as assigned
• Reviews change orders and invoices, assists with collection efforts, and assists junior staff with how to communicate testing and/or budget concerns
• Strong ability to prioritize tasks and meet project deadlines.
• Possesses exceptional technical writing skills with regard to basic conventions of spelling, grammar, and professional content/tone
• Knows, understands, and uses standard industry terms and jargon
• Effectively proofreads their own written work and performs "peer reviews" of colleagues' reports focusing on mechanical considerations (grammar, spelling, etc.) and also on report content and the validity of conclusions
• Prepares building science + infrastructure reports, perform analyses, and provides recommendations with a strong ability to interpret test results, identify issues, and recommend corrective actions.
• Leads client meetings and or calls to present/discuss report findings and conclusions and oversees the preparation and review of reports from junior staff prior to Principal review; Provide final sign off where approved
• Directs project set up and implementation with junior staff and ensures that appropriately trained and experienced staff are assigned
• Oversees several building science + infrastructure projects being performed simultaneously and assists junior staff with resolution of issues and training of field staff
• Oversees the preparation and review of proposals and change orders
• Performs peer/senior review of deliverables prior to submission for Principal review and provide final sign off where approved
• Hosts or attends project discussions with clients to follow up on reports to determine if there are questions
• Scheduling and training of junior staff members
• Collaborates with other managers to make staffing decisions and maintain appropriate staff levels
• Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• 5 years of related experience
• Bachelor and/or Master of Science in Civil Engineering Architecture (NCARB), Civil (Structural) Engineering, Architectural Engineering, or other degree relevant to the practice of Building Science + Infrastructure
• Licensure, certifications, or proficiency testing may be required depending on the type of work performed
• If driving for, or on behalf of, any ECS subsidiary, a valid driver's license is required
• Extensive knowledge of building science + infrastructure principles and applications
• Extensive knowledge of building and materials codes and construction practices
• Extensive knowledge of structural, architectural, and building systems, design, and/or analysis
• Excellent oral & written communication skills
• Dependable, self-motivated, responsible and detail-oriented
• Ability to work effectively with clients, peers, and supervisors as well as independently with the ability to build and manage a team
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent project management and consulting skills
• Must be able to lift a minimum of 40 pounds a number of times each day, stand for extended periods, walk on uneven ground through various terrains, and perform work at heights
• Strong ability to use sound judgment and critical thinking to analyze situations, solve problems, and make informed decisions
• Strong decision making and leadership skills
• Excellent ability to manage and develop new clients
• Experience delegating/assigning projects and tasks to other staff while also managing other projects independently

The expected pay range for this role and location is $64k - $85k/year. The final agreed-upon compensation will be determined based on specific location and other individual qualifications.

About Us

ECS Group of Companies (ECS) was founded in 1988 with the goal to raise the standards of professional engineering consulting. Today, we are a leader in geotechnical, construction materials, environmental and building science + infrastructure consulting services. We are employee-owned with more than 3,00 employees in 100+ offices and testing facilities coast to coast. ECS is currently ranked #60 in Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms (April 2026), #148 in Engineering News-Record’s Top 200 Environmental Firms (October 2025) and #38 in Zweig Group’s Hot Firm List (June 2026). For additional information about ECS, visit: www.ecslimited.com.

ECS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.