Project Director-ENG

Zachry Group; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 183,000 - 266,340; Full time

Job summary

Zachry Group is seeking an EPC Project Director – Engineering for Combined Cycle Power Generation projects. You will lead engineering leadership, integration, and management from award to commissioning, ensuring technical excellence, schedule adherence, and cost optimization.

As primary engineering authority, you will coordinate across internal disciplines, OEMs, licensors, contractors, suppliers, construction teams, and clients, overseeing plant island, BOP, electrical, I&C, civil & structural,

Qualifications

• 20+ years of engineering experience in power generation

Responsibilities

• Engineering Leadership: Lead all engineering activities for Combined Cycle Power Plant projects, develop and implement engineering execution plans, procedures, and project strategies, establish engineering organization structure and resource plans, provide technical direction throughout project lifecycle, manage multidisciplinary engineering teams across multiple global locations, ensure engineering deliverables support project schedule and construction requirements.
• Technical Governance: Serve as the senior technical authority for the EPC project, approve major design decisions and project technical solutions, lead design reviews, HAZOPs, constructability reviews, risk assessments, and drive engineering standardization and best practices.
• Plant Systems Engineering Oversight: Provide engineering oversight for Power Island, Balance of Plant (BOP), Electrical Systems, Instrumentation & Controls, Civil & Structural, Engineering Schedule Management, Interface and Coordination Management; work to resolve technical interface issues impacting cost or schedule and lead interface management programs and design integration efforts.
• Procurement Support: Support preparation of technical requisitions and specifications, participate in supplier qualification and bid evaluations, review vendor documents and technical submittals, manage engineering support for major equipment procurement, ensure supplier designs comply with project requirements.
• Construction & Commissioning Support: Provide engineering support during construction, lead resolution of field engineering issues, manage engineering change orders and technical deviations, support commissioning planning and turnover activities, participate in startup, testing, and performance verification programs, and ensure design intent is achieved during plant operation.
• Risk Management: Identify technical risks and opportunities, lead design risk assessments, develop mitigation strategies for engineering challenges, manage technical claims and change management, and monitor emerging risks affecting project objectives.
• Financial Responsibility: Manage engineering budgets and resource allocations, support project cost control efforts, evaluate value engineering opportunities, optimize project CAPEX through engineering solutions, support project margin improvement initiatives.
• Client and Executive Engagement: Act as primary engineering contact with clients, present engineering progress and technical status to management, lead major design review meetings, support commercial discussions involving technical matters, build long‑term client relationships through engineering excellence.

Skills

Power Generation

Engineering Leadership

Project Management

Risk Management

Vendor & Procurement Coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Chemical, or Power Engineering

Master’s Degree preferred

Tools

HAZOP

Job description

ZEC EPC Project Director – Engineering

Combined Cycle Power Generation (CCGT/CCPP)

Job Description

The EPC Project Director – Engineering is responsible for the overall engineering leadership, integration, and management of utility‑scale Combined Cycle Power Generation projects executed under EPC contracts. The role directs all engineering activities from project award through commissioning and commercial operation, ensuring technical excellence, schedule adherence, cost optimization, quality compliance, and successful integration of all plant systems.

The position serves as the primary engineering authority for the project and coordinates engineering execution across internal disciplines, OEMs, licensors, contractors, suppliers, construction teams, and clients.

Responsibilities

• Engineering Leadership: Lead all engineering activities for Combined Cycle Power Plant projects, develop and implement engineering execution plans, procedures, and project strategies, establish engineering organization structure and resource plans, provide technical direction throughout project lifecycle, manage multidisciplinary engineering teams across multiple global locations, ensure engineering deliverables support project schedule and construction requirements.
• Technical Governance: Serve as the senior technical authority for the EPC project, approve major design decisions and project technical solutions, lead design reviews, HAZOPs, constructability reviews, risk assessments, and drive engineering standardization and best practices.
• Plant Systems Engineering Oversight: Provide engineering oversight for Power Island, Balance of Plant (BOP), Electrical Systems, Instrumentation & Controls, Civil & Structural, Engineering Schedule Management, Interface and Coordination Management; work to resolve technical interface issues impacting cost or schedule and lead interface management programs and design integration efforts.
• Procurement Support: Support preparation of technical requisitions and specifications, participate in supplier qualification and bid evaluations, review vendor documents and technical submittals, manage engineering support for major equipment procurement, ensure supplier designs comply with project requirements.
• Construction & Commissioning Support: Provide engineering support during construction, lead resolution of field engineering issues, manage engineering change orders and technical deviations, support commissioning planning and turnover activities, participate in startup, testing, and performance verification programs, and ensure design intent is achieved during plant operation.
• Risk Management: Identify technical risks and opportunities, lead design risk assessments, develop mitigation strategies for engineering challenges, manage technical claims and change management, and monitor emerging risks affecting project objectives.
• Financial Responsibility: Manage engineering budgets and resource allocations, support project cost control efforts, evaluate value engineering opportunities, optimize project CAPEX through engineering solutions, support project margin improvement initiatives.
• Client and Executive Engagement: Act as primary engineering contact with clients, present engineering progress and technical status to management, lead major design review meetings, support commercial discussions involving technical matters, build long‑term client relationships through engineering excellence.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Chemical, or Power Engineering; Master’s Degree preferred.

Professional Experience:

• 20+ years of engineering experience in power generation, 10+ years in engineering leadership of EPC projects, delivering multiple Combined Cycle Power Plants, experience delivering projects ranging from 500 MW to 2,500 MW.

Technical Expertise: Power Generation Technologies, Leadership Competencies.

Reporting To: Business Unit Director.

In accordance with Illinois Equal Pay Act, the expected salary range for this Illinois position, Project Director, is between $183,000 and $266,340. Actual pay will be adjusted based on experience, geographic location, and other job‑related factors as permitted by law.