Pressure Vessel Design Engineer

R-V Industries, Inc.; Honey Brook (Chester County); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

R-V Industries, Inc. is a design and build manufacturer of custom industrial process equipment.

The Pressure Vessel Design Engineer will design ASME Section VIII pressure vessels, perform code calculations, and prepare complete documentation for fabrication, inspection, and shipment. This hands-on engineering role seeks a candidate with a solid foundation and the desire to master pressure vessel design, with potential to grow into a technical and people leader on the team.

Qualifications

• Degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent.
• 3+ years of progressive design engineering experience.
• Experience with pressure vessel code calculations is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design ASME Section VIII vessels and related components per codes and specs.
• Perform and document code calculations using Compress and other tools.
• Grow into a technical leader, mentor others, and ensure quality.
• Prepare drawings, BOMs, weld maps, and DDD packages for inspection.
• Coordinate with sales, project managers, and manufacturing on issues.
• Communicate with customers on vessel design and code requirements.

Skills

Pressure vessel design

Technical leadership

Code interpretation

Communication

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Inventor

AutoCAD

Compress

PV Elite

Nozzle Pro

Codeware tools

Job description

R-V Industries is a design and build manufacturer of custom industrial process equipment, including a wide range of ASME Section VIII pressure vessels engineered and fabricated in our own shops. The Pressure Vessel Design Engineer is responsible for the mechanical design, code calculations, and detailed documentation of pressure vessels and related components built to ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII. This is a hands‑on engineering role with a clear growth path: we are looking for someone who brings strong fundamentals, the desire to master pressure vessel design, and the character to grow into a technical and people leader on our team. We are open to training the right candidate from an adjacent field — process equipment, structural, piping, or heat exchanger design — who is ready to specialize in code vessel work.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design ASME Section VIII pressure vessels and related components in a manner that supports job specifications, applicable codes, customer requirements, and good engineering practice.
• Perform and document code calculations using Compress (or equivalent pressure vessel software) — including shell and head sizing, nozzle reinforcement, flange design, supports, and external pressure analysis.
• Grow into a technical leader on the team — own the engineering quality of the work you touch, set the example for thoroughness in calculations and documentation, mentor less‑experienced engineers and designers through design reviews and one‑on‑one coaching, raise concerns early and constructively, and represent R-V's technical position with confidence in front of customers, Authorized Inspectors, and internal stakeholders.
• Own the PO and specification review and all pertinent technical documentation required to build, inspect, test, and ship the vessel. This includes drawings, component specifications, bills of materials, weld maps, and code documentation packages.
• Prepare and maintain the calculation set and U-1 Manufacturer's Data Report package for Authorized Inspector review and registration with the National Board.
• Assist Sales, Project Managers, Purchasing, Quality, Manufacturing, and Testing with all issues related to the contract, including material selection, fabrication sequencing, NDE requirements, and hydrostatic/pneumatic testing.
• Communicate with customers' technical personnel on all matters related to vessel design, code interpretation, and pertinent technical requirements.

SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS

Required Skills:

• Minimum of 3 years of progressive design engineering experience, including some or all of the following:
• Shell, head, nozzle, and flange code calculations
• Material selection for code construction (carbon steel, stainless, nickel alloys)
• Experience with Compress is preferred; experience with other pressure vessel software (PV Elite, Nozzle Pro, Codeware tools, or equivalent) will also be considered.
• Demonstrated desire and character to grow into a leadership role at R-V. We expect a future technical leader to show:
• Sound technical judgment — knowing when to follow the code letter‑for‑letter, when to ask for guidance, and when to push back on a customer or vendor.
• Ownership mentality — taking responsibility for the full lifecycle of a vessel from design through hydro test, and following through on commitments without being chased.
• Mentorship instinct — willingness to teach calculation methods, code interpretation, and drafting standards to less‑experienced engineers and designers.
• Clear, respectful communication — able to explain technical decisions to non‑engineers, write documentation others can follow, and disagree without making it personal.
• Commitment to continuous improvement — actively learning new codes, materials, and software, and proposing better ways to the work.
• 3+ years of experience with SolidWorks, Inventor, or AutoCAD for fabrication drawings
• Sizing components and creating calculation packages
• Creating complete vessel designs, including general arrangement and detailed drawings
• Writing specifications for buyout components
• Creating Bills of Materials for purchasing and production
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills, positive team player, passion for continuous learning and improvement.

Willing to Train the Right Candidate:

• ASME Section VIII code experience (we will train a strong adjacent‑field engineer)
• Compress software
• AWS welding symbol understanding and geometric tolerancing
• Support in obtaining PE License (or EIT)

EDUCATIONAL/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent
• Must be able to perform all essential functions of the job with or without accommodation

R-V INDUSTRIES, INC. IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER