Mechanical Engineer

Essenti Talent; Johnstown (Cambria County); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Essenti Talent is seeking a seasoned Mechanical Engineer to support heavy steel operations, focusing on reliability, upgrades, and capital projects that improve safety, performance, and uptime. The role combines hands-on troubleshooting on the plant floor with developing specifications, managing contractors, and leading projects from concept through completion.

Experience in melting equipment, furnaces, baghouse or environmental systems is highly desirable, along with 10+ years in a heavy

Qualifications

• 10+ years of mechanical engineering experience, preferably within steelmaking or heavy industrial environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• Strong knowledge of industrial mechanical equipment, hydraulics, and plant systems.
• Experience with melting equipment, furnaces, or steelmaking operations is a strong plus.
• Experience managing capital projects, equipment installations, budgets, and schedules.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot, improve, and optimize mechanical and hydraulic systems across the facility.
• Lead reliability and continuous improvement initiatives to increase uptime.
• Support melting and steelmaking equipment upgrades, installations, and troubleshooting.
• Provide engineering support for large baghouse and environmental systems.
• Manage capital and facility improvement projects from concept through completion.
• Develop project scopes, specifications, bid packages, cost estimates, and schedules.
• Evaluate suppliers, review proposals, negotiate contracts, and oversee outside resources.
• Coordinate with internal teams to keep projects moving forward.
• Ensure safety compliance with company policies and regulations.
• Travel locally and internationally as needed.
• Assist the Director of Steelmaking Technology on special projects.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Project management

Root cause analysis

Stakeholder collaboration

Mechanical design

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Mechanical Engineer – Heavy Industrial / Steel Operations

Are you a hands-on Mechanical Engineer who enjoys solving complex equipment challenges and seeing your work make an immediate impact on plant performance?

Our client is seeking an experienced Mechanical Engineer to take a key role in supporting and improving mechanical systems within a demanding steel/heavy industrial environment. This is an opportunity to work on significant equipment installations, facility upgrades, reliability improvements, and capital projects that directly impact safety, productivity, efficiency, and uptime.

We’re looking for someone who is just as comfortable out on the plant floor troubleshooting equipment as they are developing specifications, managing contractors, and leading major projects from concept through completion.

Experience with steelmaking, melting equipment, furnaces, or similar heavy industrial equipment is highly desirable.

What You’ll Do

• Partner closely with Maintenance and Operations to troubleshoot, improve, and optimize mechanical and hydraulic systems throughout the facility.
• Identify equipment issues and lead reliability and continuous improvement initiatives designed to increase uptime, performance, and efficiency.
• Support and manage melting and steelmaking equipment, including upgrades, modifications, installations, and troubleshooting.
• Provide engineering expertise for large industrial baghouse and environmental systems, helping ensure reliable operation and regulatory compliance.
• Lead capital and facility improvement projects from initial concept and engineering through installation, commissioning, and completion.
• Develop detailed project scopes, specifications, bid packages, cost estimates, and schedules.
• Evaluate equipment suppliers and contractors, review proposals, negotiate contracts, and oversee outside resources.
• Coordinate with contractors, vendors, Maintenance, Operations, Engineering, and other internal teams to keep projects moving forward.
• Manage projects to established budgets, schedules, safety requirements, and performance expectations.
• Assist the Director of Steelmaking Technology with specialized engineering projects and strategic initiatives.
• Provide hands‑on technical support during equipment installations, shutdowns, troubleshooting, and plant improvement projects.
• Travel locally and internationally as needed to support projects, equipment evaluations, and installations.
• Maintain a strong commitment to safety, ensuring projects and engineering activities comply with all company policies and regulatory requirements.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• 10+ years of mechanical engineering experience, preferably within steelmaking, metals, foundry, manufacturing, or another heavy industrial environment.
• Strong knowledge of industrial mechanical equipment, hydraulics, material handling, and plant systems.
• Experience with melting equipment, furnaces, or steelmaking operations is a strong plus.
• Experience with large baghouse, dust collection, or environmental systems is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience managing capital projects, equipment installations, contractors, budgets, and schedules.
• Strong troubleshooting skills with the ability to identify root causes and develop practical, long-term solutions.
• Ability to work effectively with everyone from skilled trades and maintenance personnel to vendors, contractors, plant leadership, and senior management.

Why This Opportunity?

This isn't a desk‑only engineering position. It's an opportunity to get into the operation, solve real problems, lead meaningful projects, and see the results of your work firsthand.

For an experienced Mechanical Engineer who enjoys heavy industry, complex equipment, and the challenge of making a plant run safer, smarter, and more reliably, this is an opportunity to make a significant impact.