Mechanical Project Engineer

Wacker Group; Calvert City (KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance

Flexible hybrid work

Paid Time Off

Parental leave

401(k) with company match

Education assistance

Career development

Community involvement

Job summary

WACKER in Calvert City, KY seeks a Mechanical Project Engineer to drive capital projects from concept to execution. You will manage process and mechanical engineering tasks, coordinate cross-functional teams, and ensure safety, cost and schedule targets are met.

The role requires a Bachelor’s in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering (Master’s or PE preferred), 8+ years in related fields, and strong leadership with PSM knowledge. Flexible hybrid work and a competitive rewards package are offered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering; Master’s or PE preferred.
• 8+ years in project management, project engineering, or plant/maintenance engineering.
• 2+ years of supervisory experience mentoring junior engineers.
• Chemical/Oil & Gas experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and prioritize project execution plans to meet scope, schedule, and budget objectives.
• Coordinate work processes with departments, external contractors, and resources.
• Estimate and review the effects of future projects on business objectives.
• Assess technical results and ensure compliance with regulations and guidelines.
• Implement legal, safety, environmental standards and codes.
• Lead pre-engineering concepts, studies, and strategies.
• Evaluate process optimization, simulations, and risk assessments.
• Oversee schedule, cost, and scope with interdisciplinary teams and vendors.

Skills

Project management

Process safety management

PFD & P&ID knowledge

ASME 31.3 piping design

API 520/521 relief design

Cross-functional collaboration

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering

Master’s degree or PE License preferred

Job description

Job Location (Short): Calvert City, KY, USA, 42029

Posting Start Date: 9/28/26

Do you want to take responsibility and make a difference with your work? With your expertise, we can achieve great goals together. We are WACKER - Reliable. Determined. Ambitious. As one of the world's most research-intensive chemical companies, we've been making countless products that are an integral part of your everyday life possible for over 100 years. From vegan food to resource-efficient buildings to solar cells, we develop sustainable solutions that change the future.

To strengthen our team in Calvert City,

we are looking for you as a(n) Mechanical Project Engineer.

This is Us:

You know us. You just didn’t know it. WACKER is a global chemical manufacture that prides itself on “Creating Tomorrow’s Solutions”. WACKER materials are so versatile and adaptable, they have virtually unlimited applications just about anywhere imaginable, making WACKER an integral part of daily life. Whether it’s protecting buildings from the elements, a tube of toothpaste, a cell phone, airbags, or cosmetics, people from all over the world come into contact each day with our products and achievements. We are looking for capable, innovative, and enthusiastic achievers to join our team and grow with us. We are currently seeking a Project Engineer – Process & Mechanical for our site in Calvert City, KY.

What you will do:

The Process & Mechanical Project Engineer will provide project engineering and project management services in the field of chemical, process, and mechanical engineering related to capital investment projects at Polymers WACKER site in Calvert City, KY. This role offers the opportunity to lead high-impact projects that directly contribute to operational excellence and sustainability goals. It also requires working in a multi-discipline team with multiple interfaces to internal customers, other engineering discipline Project Engineers and external suppliers and contractors to manage Capital Projects.

• Develop and prioritize project execution plans to meet scope, schedule, and budget objectives
• Coordination of work processes, interface with other departments, external contractors, and resources such as project team members
• Estimate, review, and edit the effects of future projects in terms of business objectives
• Conduct assessments of technical results and compliance with legal, internal guidelines, and regulations
• Processing and implementing all legal, economic, safety, and environmental regulations, standards, and codes
• Execution of pre-engineering concepts, studies, alternatives, and strategies
• Evaluate process optimization, simulations, and risk assessments
• Conduct overall engineering and project management tasks such as process and system planning; designs; specifications; calculation of cost estimates; expenditure planning; project appropriation requests; scheduling, permit or regulatory planning; safety, quality, and regulatory reviews; and subcontractor and construction management

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering. Master’s degree or PE License, preferred.
• 8+ years of combined professional experience in the field of project management, project engineering, plant/production engineering & maintenance
• 2+ years of relevant engineering supervisory experience mentoring junior engineers.
• Chemical industry / Oil & Gas experience in operations and/or maintenance environment a plus

Core Skills and Expertise Required:

• Thorough understanding engineering principles, relevant codes, and construction practices to effectively manage projects and to apply efficient and innovative solutions to technical and organizational challenges
• Thorough understanding of OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) of highly hazardous chemicals; especially regarding process hazard analysis (PHA), management of change (MOC), process safety information (PSI), recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices (RAGAGEP), and pre-startup safety review (PSSR) processes
• Ability to develop and maintain process flow diagrams (PFD), process and instrumentation diagrams (P&ID), energy and mass balances of chemical plants
• Ability to create equipment datasheets and specifications for tanks, heat exchangers, pumps, compressors, reactors, filters, etc. according to applicable ASME and API codes / standards
• Ability to design piping systems according to ASME 31.3 including stress analysis, hydraulic calculations, use of 3D model, and creation of piping isometrics
• Experience with -pressure relief device design according to API 520 and API 521
• Ability to create a scope of work (SOW) package for engineering and construction services to be provided by an external vendor
• Developing a cost estimate for a project including a detailed breakdown by each discipline for engineering design and construction services. Understanding different techniques used based on level of accuracy needed
• Building and overseeing a schedule for each project stage gate (FEL 1-3 and Execution) with a critical path
• Strong project engineering and project management skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Able to perform and succeed in an environment of schedule and cost pressure
• Ability to work in interdisciplinary and intercultural teams, efficient coordination of different stakeholders
• Strong multitasking capability
• Leadership skills combined with team player attitude
• Objective judgement and fact-based decision-making approach
• Capable of professionally dealing with changing priorities and scope requirement

What do we offer?

WACKER strives to reward its employees in a fair and equitable manner. Our Total Rewards Package considers employee wellbeing and is comprised of compensation, benefits, work-life balance, performance & recognition, and career development.

• Compensation and Incentive plans
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance effective day 1
• Paid Time Off in addition to personal days and holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Flexible hybrid work arrangements
• 401(k) with company match
• Education Assistance Program
• Career development and advancement opportunities
• Support for Community Involvement

The information contained herein is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job, nor are they intended to be an all-inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to do the job. A minimum requirement for this US-based position is the ability to work legally in the United States on a permanent unrestricted basis. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position, including any type of US permanent residency (e.g., for a green card).

Wacker is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We actively promote the equality of opportunity for all who are qualified and bring the requisite experience, talent, skill and potential, without regard to age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristics. We welcome all applications from a wide range of candidates. Selection for roles will be based on individual merit alone.