Project Engineer | CO Plant

Engineers and Constructors International Inc.; Waggaman (LA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

ECI Group is seeking a Project Engineer for the CO Plant in Waggaman, Louisiana. This onsite contract role spans 12–24 months, focused on delivering SMR and VPSA units on time and within budget.

You will collaborate with operations, maintenance, engineering and quality teams to optimize asset performance and reliability. The ideal candidate has 15–20+ years in Petrochem/Chemicals/Refinery construction or PM, with strong leadership and budgeting skills, and familiarity with project management

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering required.
• 15–20+ years in Petrochem/Chemicals/Refinery construction or PM.
• Experience with manufacturing and utilities environments.
• Knowledge of SMR and VPSA technologies is a plus.
• US citizenship or permanent residency required.

Responsibilities

• Oversee CO Plant equipment selection, delivery, startup and commissioning for SMR and VPSA units.
• Lead projects through permitting, construction, commissioning, and closeout.
• Develop and manage budgets, identify variances, report status.
• Create detailed schedules, manage dependencies and resources.
• Select consultants, manage subcontractors, and handle change orders.
• Ensure safety, design integrity, and regulatory compliance.
• Engage stakeholders and report project performance and risks.
• Support spare parts optimization and inventory management.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Negotiation

Problem-solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Data analysis

Team coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering

PMP certification

LEED certification (advantageous)

Tools

Project management software

Budgeting tools

Data modeling & reporting

Job description

Join the ECI Group's Professional Technical Services Network as a Project Engineer | CO Plant. This is an onsite contract role with an anticipated 12- 24-month duration at our client's manufacturing facility. Note: You must be a US Citizen or Permanent US Resident to qualify for this position.

About our Client

Our client is developing and operating a major chemical manufacturing facility in Waggaman, Louisiana, producing Dimethyl Carbonate (DMC) and Ethyl Methyl Carbonate (EMC) for the battery supply chain. The site is a petrochemical/chemical manufacturing operation requiring engineering support for construction, commissioning, startup, reliability, maintenance, and operations activities

Job Summary

The Project Engineer |CO Plant is responsible for ensuring that both the Steam Methane Reforming [SMR] and Vapor Purification Swing Adsorption [VPSA] Unitsaredelivered on time, within budget, meet the highest quality standards, while also managing equipment startup and commissioning activities. This role works closely with operations, maintenance, engineering, and quality teams to reduce downtime, optimize asset performance, and support operational excellence.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

• CO Plant Oversight: Manage the portfolio of Carbon Monoxide Plant equipment selection, delivery construction, startup and commissioning at the Waggaman facility. Review equipment designs for reliability and maintainability considerations for the SMR and VPSA units. Participate in capital projects and equipment commissioning activities. Support installation, startup, and performance testing of CO plant equipment. Assist with spare parts optimization and inventory management.
• Project Lifecycle Management: Lead projects from equipment selection, permitting, construction, commissioning, and closeout, coordinating across multiple project phases.
• Budget & Cost Control: Develop, monitor, and control project budgets; identify cost variances and implement corrective actions; prepare and present budget and status reports.
• Scheduling & Planning: Create detailed project schedules, track progress, and ensure adherence to timelines; manage dependencies and resource allocation.
• Contract & Procurement Support: Consultant selection, and subcontractor management; negotiate rates, manage change orders, and resolve disputes.
• Quality & Compliance: Ensure projects meet design, safety, and regulatory standards; conduct quality reviews and compliance checks.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Serve as the primary point of contact for high-profile owners; communicate project status, risks, and opportunities.
• Data & Reporting: Prepare performance reports, financial models, and presentations to executive leadership and stakeholders.

Skills and Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, advanced degrees or certifications (PMP, LEED, etc.) are advantageous.

Experience: 15 - 20+ years in Petrochem/Chemicals/Refinery construction, or project management, with experience in manufacturing and utilities.

Technical Skills: Basic process and operations knowledge of both the Steam Methane Reforming [SMR] and Vapor Purification Swing Adsorption [VPSA] technology.

Project Management Skills: Proficiency in project management software, budgeting tools, and data analysis; ability to use modeling and reporting to support decision-making

Soft Skills: Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, and problem-solving abilities; ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams.

FLSA Status: Full-Time, Exempt

Please Note: The ECI Group uses AI-assisted tools in the early stages of application review, with all decisions guided by human oversight and fully compliant with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and ECI Group's applicable data protection policies and Privacy Notice.