Project Engineer

School of the Art Institute of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

The Project Engineer at School of the Art Institute of Chicago partners with project managers, architects, engineers, and campus teams to oversee construction and facilities projects from planning through closeout. You’ll ensure safety, schedule adherence, and budget compliance while maintaining rigorous documentation and quality control.

You will coordinate with internal stakeholders, manage RFIs, submittals, and change orders, and support procurement and reporting, ensuring minimal disruption

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, architecture, facilities management, or a related field.
• 1–3 years of experience in construction, project engineering, facilities, architecture, engineering, or related field. Internship or co-op may be considered.
• Experience with construction drawings, specifications, budgets, contracts and schedules.
• Strong organizational, coordination, and communication skills.
• Experience with Procore or related construction management systems preferred.

Responsibilities

• Supports Project Managers in planning and executing construction, renovation, infrastructure, and facility projects across campus and may manage smaller capital projects.
• Monitors project schedules, tracks progress, and coordinates resolutions to minimize operational impacts.
• Reviews drawings, specs, and contractor submissions for compliance with standards; assists with interpretations.
• Manages and tracks RFIs, submittals, change orders, and punch lists; maintains project documentation.
• Supports procurement activities and acts as liaison between project managers and stakeholders.

Skills

Project coordination

Construction management

Budget tracking

Communication

Schedule management

Education

Bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, architecture, facilities management, or related field

Tools

Procore

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Job description

About SAIC

For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world’s most influential artists, designers and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program consistently ranking among the top four graduate fine arts programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago Museum, on-campus galleries and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC’s undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world—as seen through notable alumni and faculty such as Michelle Grabner, David Sedaris, Elizabeth Murray, Richard Hunt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Cynthia Rowley, Nick Cave, and LeRoy Neiman.

About SAIC

For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world’s most influential artists, designers and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program consistently ranking among the top four graduate fine arts programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago Museum, on-campus galleries and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC’s undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world—as seen through notable alumni and faculty such as Michelle Grabner, David Sedaris, Elizabeth Murray, Richard Hunt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Cynthia Rowley, Nick Cave, and LeRoy Neiman.

About The Department

The Department of Instructional Resources and Facilities Management consists of five divisions: Campus Security, Media and Instructional Resources, Facilities Engineering and Construction, Facilities Services, and Instructional Fabrication. Our primary responsibilities include ensuring campus safety and security, managing facility operations, and overseeing key academic resources, including Media Centers, Instructional Shops, and specialized academic facilities. We are dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the built environment of the campus. Collectively, these functions create a cohesive team focused on the effective planning, operation, and delivery of essential support services within our specialized educational institution. The Department employs approximately 100 full-time staff, 110 contracted staff, and 300 student employees. We serve a 1.3 million-square-foot campus across nine buildings.

Position Summary

The Project Engineer supports the planning, coordination, and execution of construction and facilities projects from initial planning through completion. Working closely with Project Managers, architects, engineers, contractors, and campus stakeholders, the Project Engineer helps ensure that projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with institutional standards. The position is responsible for day-to-day project coordination, documentation, cost tracking, schedule management, submittals, RFIs, change orders, inspections, quality control, and closeout activities. The Project Engineer will manage smaller projects independently and provide technical and administrative support on larger capital projects.

Responsibilities

• Supports Project Managers in planning and executing construction, renovation, infrastructure, and facility projects across campus, and manage smaller capital projects independently from pre-construction through contract closeout under the supervision of the Executive Director.
• Monitors project schedules, tracks progress, identifies potential delays, and coordinates resolutions to minimize impacts on operations, including coordinating site access, utility shutdowns, building inspections, and material deliveries.
• Reviews construction drawings, specifications, contractor submissions, and shop drawings to verify compliance with institutional engineering standards, and assists with the interpretation of construction drawings and technical specifications for project team members and contractors.
• Manages and tracks technical project documentation, including Requests for Information (RFIs), submittals, Architect's Supplemental Instructions (ASIs), change orders, and punch lists.
• Participates in site observations and field inspections to monitor workmanship quality and ensure alignment with contract documents.
• Manages annual building envelope reporting programs covering campus facades, roofs, structural vaults, and architectural ironwork; analyze engineering inspection data to identify structural vulnerabilities and draft recommendations for future maintenance projects.
• Organizes detailed contract documentation and scope packages for specialized envelope remediation contractors with leadership support.
• Assists with the development, maintenance, and forecasting of comprehensive project budgets; track commitments, invoices, allowances, contingencies, and change orders; and review contractor payment applications and supporting documentation to verify completed work against expenditures.
• Supports procurement activities, including bidding, scope reviews, and contractor selection.
• Serves as a technical liaison between project managers, internal academic stakeholders, operations teams, and external engineering consultants; communicate disruptions, shutdowns, and schedule changes to affected departments.
• Promotes safe construction practices and enforce compliance with building codes, regulations, and campus safety requirements, partnering with Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) and security teams when projects involve hazardous materials, specialized equipment, or unusual construction conditions.
• Maintains organized, complete, and auditable records within the institution's project and document management systems; prepare regular project status reports; and oversee project closeout, including the collection of contracts, insurance certificates, permits, meeting minutes, official correspondence, warranties, operation and maintenance manuals, as-built drawings, and final inspection certificates.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, architecture, facilities management, or a related field. Equivalent professional experience may be considered.
• One to three years of experience in construction, project engineering, facilities, architecture, engineering, or a related field. Relevant internship or co-op experience may be considered.
• Experience working with construction drawings, specifications, schedules, budgets, and contracts.
• Strong organizational and project coordination skills, including the ability to organize work, establish priorities, track progress, and follow projects through completion.
• Ability to interpret architectural, engineering, and construction documents and understand building systems and construction practices.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with contractors, consultants, staff, faculty, and administrators.
• Ability to identify problems early and work collaboratively to develop practical solutions.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to maintain accurate project documentation, budgets, schedules, and records.
• Accountability for assigned responsibilities and the ability to follow through on commitments.
• Ability to work effectively across departments and with external project partners.
• Sound judgment and the ability to understand when issues can be resolved independently and when they require escalation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel), Google Workspace, or similar productivity tools, and the ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Experience with institutional, higher-education, commercial, or complex renovation projects and experience working in occupied buildings and environments with ongoing operations are preferred.
• Experience with Procore or other construction management, project management, or Facility Management systems is preferred.
• Knowledge of building systems, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and building envelope systems, is preferred.
• Experience with estimating, scheduling, change orders, and construction administration, and familiarity with applicable building codes, accessibility requirements, and construction regulations, are preferred.
• LEED, OSHA, PMP, CCM, EIT, or other relevant certification is preferred

Physical Requirements

The position requires regular movement between office and active construction environments. The employee may be required to access mechanical rooms, construction areas, rooftops, basements, and other areas of campus that may involve uneven surfaces, noise, dust, temperature variations, and other construction-related conditions

Compensation & Benefits

• Hiring Range: $70,000 - $85,698 annually.
• Benefits
• PTO Overview
• Job Classification: Exempt
• Employment Category: Full time
• Grade Level: 8

Union

This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Council 31.

Accessibility

If You Are a Job Seeker With a Disability And Require a Reasonable Accommodation To Apply For One Of Our Jobs, You Will Find The Contact Information To Request The Appropriate Accommodation By Visiting The Following Page Accessibility Accommodation for Applicants

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals compliant with federal and state laws. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at [e-mail].