Mechanical Project Engineer

Poolcorp; United States; On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with match

PTO & holidays

Life insurance

Long-term disability

Parental leave

Tuition assistance

Employee stock purchase plan

Career development

Job summary

Pinch A Penny, a POOLCORP Company, is seeking a Mechanical Project Engineer to plan and execute capital, maintenance, and reliability projects within its Clearwater manufacturing facility. You will work with Operations, EHS, Facilities, and contractors to improve equipment reliability, safety, and efficiency while supporting day-to-day plant operations.

The role emphasizes hands-on leadership, data-driven decisions, and growth into broader operational responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechanical, Chemical Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• 2-5 years of engineering experience in manufacturing or related industries.
• Experience managing maintenance, reliability, or capital projects.
• Experience working with contractors and equipment vendors.
• Green Belt certification is a plus.
• Strong mechanical aptitude with process equipment, VFDs, airflow, scrubbers, and related interfaces.
• Strong technical communication to translate data into action.

Responsibilities

• Leads and manages minor capital projects from concept to commissioning.
• Develops project scopes, schedules, budgets, and resource plans.
• Coordinates contractors, vendors, and internal stakeholders.
• Collaborates with production, maintenance, safety, quality, and purchasing to address issues and implement corrective actions.
• Sources and installs equipment upgrades with ROI and maintainability in mind.
• Tracks project costs and ensures expenditures stay within budgets.
• Provides regular project updates to site leadership.
• Produces technical specifications, drawings, and work packages.
• Supports installation, startup, and commissioning activities.
• Maintains and optimizes process and production-support systems (airflow, VFDs, scrubbers).
• Ensures compliance with codes, standards, and engineering practices.
• Supports RCA and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Maintains the Vorne production-tracking system across departments.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Project management

Data analysis

Technical communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Lean/continuous improvement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

Vorne production tracking system

PLC/Controls understanding

Job description

Location: Pinch A Penny Suncoast Chemicals Plant; 15400 62nd St North. Clearwater, FL. 33760

You want Benefits? You’ve got it! Our generous benefits package includes: Medical, Dental, Vision, and Prescription Drug coverage with Flexible Spending Accounts and Wellness Programs 401 (k) with generous company match Eligible for Paid Time Off and 8 paid holidays (NOTE: PTO increases with tenure!) 100% employer paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Insurance Paid Parental Leave Fully Funded Tuition Education Programs Employee Stock Purchase Plan Excellent career advancement and training opportunities to support your career growth Employee Discounts and much more!

What to Expect?

The Mechanical Project Engineer is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing small to medium-sized capital, maintenance, reliability, and continuous improvement projects within the manufacturing facility. This role works closely with Operations, EHS, Facilities and contractors to ensure projects are completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with company standards. The Mechanical Project Engineer identifies opportunities to improve equipment reliability, capacity, safety, and operational efficiency while supporting day-to-day plant operations. This hands‑on role supports production‑critical systems and related infrastructure that directly impact safe and efficient operations, including airflow, temperature‑sensitive process conditions, wet air scrubbers, VFDs, suction/vacuum systems, and related mechanical, electrical, and control interfaces. This position requires a driven, data‑minded leader who challenges the status quo, listens to the team, uses facts to guide decisions, and is motivated to grow into broader operational responsibility. On a daily basis our Mechanical Project Engineer:

• Leads and manages minor capital projects from concept through commissioning.
• Develops project scopes, schedules, budgets, and resource plans.
• Coordinates contractors, vendors, and internal stakeholders.
• Works cross‑functionally with production, maintenance, safety, quality, and purchasing teams to identify equipment or process issues, determine root cause, and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Sizes, specifies, justifies, sources, purchases, installs, and commissions equipment upgrades for production departments, ensuring safety, feasibility, ROI, operational readiness, and long‑term maintainability.
• Tracks project costs and ensuring expenditures remain within approved budgets.
• Provides regular project status updates to site leadership.
• Creates and reviews technical specifications, drawings, and work packages.
• Supports installation, startup, and commissioning activities.
• Understands, troubleshoots, and optimizes process and production‑support systems including wet air scrubbers, VFDs, suction/vacuum systems, airflow controls, temperature‑sensitive process conditions, and related mechanical/electrical interfaces.
• Ensures compliance with applicable codes, standards, and company engineering practices.
• Identifies opportunities to improve equipment reliability and reduce downtime.
• Supports root cause failure investigations and corrective actions.
• Participates in preventive and predictive maintenance initiatives.
• Drives continuous improvement projects focused on safety, productivity, quality, and cost reduction.
• Sustains the production tracking system (Vorne) across applicable departments, production lines, and equipment to monitor efficiency, OEE, downtime, standards, and daily performance.
• Supports Management of Change (MOC) processes as applicable.
• Participates in risk assessments, job hazard analyses, and project safety reviews.
• Maintains project documentation, drawings, specifications, and engineering records.
• Takes initiative in reviewing production data with department leaders and supervisors; convert findings into action plans that improve throughput, reduce downtime, improve labor utilization, reduce cost, and strengthen operating performance.
• Reviews and improves process flow, equipment layout, material movement, staffing methods, changeovers, and operating practices to reduce waste and increase efficiency.
• Finalizes, implements, audits, and sustains the 5S program, including visual standards, ownership expectations, corrective actions, and management routines.
• Develops and maintains SOPs, work instructions, standard work, training materials, technical documentation, and operating standards that support safe and repeatable processes.
• Supports Lean and continuous improvement activities including root cause analysis (RCA), Kaizen events, value stream or process mapping, cycle time reduction, waste reduction, and standard work.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned to support operational goals.

What You Will Need:

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechanical, Chemical Engineering, or equivalent relevant experience. 1-5 years of engineering experience in manufacturing, industrial, pharmaceutical, food, chemical, or related industries. Experience managing maintenance, reliability, or capital projects. Experience working with contractors and equipment vendors. Green Belt certification is a plus. Strong mechanical aptitude and working knowledge of process equipment, VFDs, vacuum/suction systems, airflow systems, scrubbers, controls, and production‑support infrastructure. Strong technical communication skills with the ability to translate data, observations, and engineering recommendations into clear actions for production teams. Extremely well organized with an ability to prioritize work, manage multiple projects, follow through on commitments, and maintain a keen eye for detail. Bias for action, high ownership, and the desire to challenge the status quo while growing into broader operational responsibility over time.

Looking to work for the best in the industry?

Since opening its first store in 1975, Pinch A Penny, A POOLCORP Company, has become the largest franchised retail pool, patio and spa company. This first store evolved into a full‑time, full‑service retail pool supply store offering everything needed to operate and enjoy a swimming pool or spa. With our rapid growth we have been able to hire over 300 employees from Marketing directors, sales associates to machine operators and maintenance mechanics. We are proud to serve our community and be an employer of choice. We believe in recognizing our employees for their hard work and encourage work‑life balance.

We believe in recognizing our employees for their hard work and encourage work‑life balance.

Why join PINCH A PENNY?

Pinch A Penny, a POOLCORP Company is the premier destination for all your swimming pool and backyard needs. With over 300 stores and expanding, we are the nation's largest swimming pool retail, service, and repair franchise. Our relentless dedication to excellence drives us to bring people together through the joy of pools, spas, and the backyard experience. Join us on this exciting journey as we continue to grow, innovate, and set new standards in the swimming pool industry. Bilingual, Military, Military Spouses and Veteran applicants are strongly encouraged to apply! We understand the uniqueness of hiring military personnel and veterans and will support him/her in the time of duty or with the transition into new civilian professions. All offers to external candidates for employment are contingent upon the successful completion of pre‑employment drug testing and background verifications before employment is finalized. This position is considered “safety‑sensitive” and includes tasks or duties which could affect the safety and health of the employee performing the tasks or others. POOLCORP, including all its subsidiaries, is a drug‑free company and Equal Opportunity Employer – By Choice. The Company understands, respects, and values diversity – unique styles, experiences, identities, ideas, and opinions – while striving to be inclusive of all people. This commitment is critical to our success as a global company as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. Hiring and promotional decisions are based solely on the qualifications required for the job to be filled.

Equal Opportunity Staffing

POOLCORP is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, age, pregnancy, genetic information, creed, citizenship status, marital status or any other consideration prohibited by law or contract.