Project Engineer – Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Construction
Location: Lowell, MA
Job Type: Full-Time
Industry: Pharmaceutical / Life Sciences / Manufacturing Construction
About the Role
We are seeking a mid-level Project Engineer to join the project team supporting the construction of a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Lowell, Massachusetts.
The Project Engineer will work closely with the Project Manager, Construction Manager, engineers, contractors, vendors, commissioning/validation teams, and client stakeholders to support the successful execution of a complex pharmaceutical facility project.
This is an excellent opportunity for a Project Engineer, Construction Engineer, or Assistant Project Manager with approximately 3–7 years of experience who wants to take on greater responsibility within a highly technical, regulated construction environment.
The ideal candidate has experience supporting pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, industrial, or other complex capital projects and understands the coordination required between engineering, construction, commissioning, and facility operations.
What You'll Do
- Support the Project Manager and project leadership team with day-to-day project execution.
- Coordinate engineering activities across mechanical, electrical, architectural, structural, process, controls, and specialty engineering disciplines.
- Review and coordinate drawings, specifications, RFIs, submittals, equipment documentation, and technical deliverables.
- Identify design conflicts, constructability issues, and potential impacts to schedule, cost, quality, and safety.
- Provide technical support to field construction teams and assist with resolution of construction-related engineering issues.
- Participate in site walks, field inspections, coordination meetings, and construction progress reviews.
- Coordinate with general contractors, subcontractors, design consultants, equipment vendors, and client representatives.
- Track open technical issues and drive them through resolution.
Project Controls & Coordination
- Support project schedule development, updates, and milestone tracking.
- Track RFIs, submittals, engineering deliverables, procurement activities, long-lead equipment, and construction milestones.
- Assist with change management and evaluation of technical and scope changes.
- Support project cost tracking and forecasting.
- Prepare meeting minutes, action-item logs, project reports, and status updates.
- Maintain accurate project records and documentation.
Pharmaceutical / Life Sciences Systems
Support construction and installation of complex pharmaceutical manufacturing and facility systems, including:
- Cleanrooms and controlled environments
- HVAC and environmental control systems
- Process piping and process equipment
- Purified Water / WFI systems
- Clean and process steam
- Compressed air and process gases
- Electrical distribution and power systems
- Building Management Systems (BMS)
- Process controls and instrumentation
- Equipment installation and utility connections
- Fire protection and life-safety systems
- Support commissioning, qualification, validation, and startup activities.
- Coordinate construction completion activities with commissioning and validation teams.
- Assist with system turnover, pre-functional testing, functional testing, and deficiency resolution.
- Track construction punch lists and commissioning deficiencies.
- Support collection and review of as-built drawings, O&M manuals, test documentation, and turnover packages.
- Help ensure systems are ready for commissioning and operational use.
Safety, Quality & Compliance
- Promote a strong project safety culture and support site EHS requirements.
- Ensure work is executed in accordance with approved drawings, specifications, codes, and project standards.
- Support quality assurance / quality control activities.
- Work within pharmaceutical GMP requirements and applicable regulatory standards.
- Participate in safety walks, quality inspections, readiness reviews, and project audits.
- Identify and escalation technical, quality, safety, and schedule risks.
What We're Looking For
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technical discipline.
- 3–7 years of experience in project engineering, construction engineering, or project management.
- Experience supporting complex construction or capital projects.
- Strong understanding of construction processes and engineering coordination.
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, P&IDs, equipment layouts, and construction documents.
- Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively with contractors, engineers, vendors, and client stakeholders.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, or GMP-regulated facilities.
- Experience with pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, cleanrooms, process utilities, or process equipment.
- Understanding of GMP, FDA, OSHA, and applicable building/mechanical/electrical codes.
- Experience supporting commissioning, qualification, and validation (CQV).
- Familiarity with Good Engineering Practice (GEP).
- Experience with equipment procurement, vendor coordination, and equipment installation.
- Familiarity with Procore, Autodesk Construction Cloud, Primavera P6, Navisworks, Revit, or similar project/construction software.
- EIT, PE, PMP, or other relevant certification is a plus.