Senior Mechanical Engineer

Hargrove Engineers + Constructors; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Hargrove Engineers + Constructors is seeking an experienced Owner's Engineer Lead to direct mechanical design efforts for complex industrial projects. You will oversee third-party firms, review technical deliverables, and coordinate with Owner's team across scope, cost, and schedule to ensure safe, reliable plant operations.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in mechanical engineering, PE registration preferred, and hands-on experience with retrofit projects in chemical/oil & gas environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor or Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited university is required. Registration: Professional Engineering registration is highly preferred.
• 10+ years of relevant industrial experience in mechanical engineering.
• Experience with retrofit projects in existing manufacturing plants and with rotating and static equipment.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and oversight of the Third-Party Engineering Firm and its subcontractors throughout all phases of engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and startup.
• Coordinate with the Owner's project team, operations, and the Third-Party Engineering Firm to ensure timely communication and alignment of technical, scope, cost, schedule, and project execution activities.
• Perform comprehensive technical reviews of mechanical and piping engineering deliverables to ensure compliance with project requirements, codes, and owner practices.
• Review and approve equipment vendor documentation, calculations, and submittals for design intent and reliability.
• Evaluate existing systems to integrate new equipment while maintaining safe plant operations.
• Ensure compliance with industry codes and Texas/Louisiana licensing and stamping requirements.

Skills

Technical leadership

Coordination

Review & oversight

Travel readiness

Project controls

Education

Bachelor or Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Professional Engineering registration (PE) preferred

Job description

What You'll Be Doing

Job Scope: This position serves as seconded Owner's Engineer Lead, generally responsible for performing all aspects for a complete design of complex mechanical engineering assignments. Work at this level requires extensive progressive experience in mechanical engineering and involves applying advanced engineering techniques and analysis. This work will be performed under general supervision. Primary responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

• Provide technical leadership and oversight of the Third-Party Engineering Firm and its subcontractors throughout all phases of engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and startup
• Coordinate with the Owner's project team, operations, and the Third-Party Engineering Firm to ensure timely communication and alignment of technical, scope, cost, schedule, and project execution activities
• Perform comprehensive technical reviews of mechanical and piping engineering deliverables, including but not limited to drawings, 3D models, specifications, calculations, datasheets, and engineering reports, to ensure compliance with project requirements, applicable codes and standards, and Owner's engineering practices
• Review and approve equipment vendor documentation, calculations, fabrication drawings, and technical submittals to verify compliance with project specifications, design intent, operability, maintainability, and long-term reliability
• Evaluate existing mechanical systems, utilities, and infrastructure to ensure seamless integration of new equipment and facilities while maintaining safe, reliable, and uninterrupted plant operations
• Verify compliance with applicable industry codes, standards, and regulations, and ensure engineering deliverables satisfy Louisiana and Texas Professional Engineering licensing and stamping requirements
• Provide technical direction and challenge the engineering contractor to optimize designs by identifying opportunities to eliminate over-design, correct under-design, improve constructability, reduce capital cost, and enhance long-term operability, maintainability, and reliability
• Review engineering packages for completeness, technical accuracy, interdisciplinary coordination, and readiness prior to procurement, bid issuance, and construction
• Participate in constructability, operability, maintainability, and value engineering reviews, providing recommendations to improve safety, project execution, lifecycle performance, and overall project value
• Evaluate technical risks, engineering changes, and design deviations, assessing impacts to scope, cost, schedule, quality, safety, and plant operations while recommending appropriate mitigation strategies
• Provide technical support during procurement, construction, equipment installation, commissioning, startup, and project closeout by resolving field engineering issues and coordinating technical interfaces between disciplines
• Actively participate in Process Safety Management (PSM) activities, including Management of Change (MOC), Process Hazard Analysis (PHA), Pre-Startup Safety Reviews (PSSR), and resolution of associated action items

Ideal Background Education

Bachelor or Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited university is required. Registration: Professional Engineering registration is highly preferred.

Experience

This position requires 10+ years of relevant industrial experience in mechanical engineering.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Experience with retrofit projects in existing manufacturing plants
• Experience with equipment in a hard asset manufacturing environment, chemical, oil & gas, cement, paper, etc. is preferred
• Experience with both rotating equipment (fans, blowers, high speed mills, compressors), and static equipment (storage tanks, and silos) is required
• Experience with construction and equipment installation in chemical/oil & gas/cement/paper manufacturing plants is desired
• Experience with solids handling (metering, storage, conveying) and solids handling equipment is highly desired
• Experience with piping design and materials specification for high temperature is preferred
• Experience collaborating with Process, Instrumentation & Controls, Civil/Structural/Architectural and Electrical disciplines
• Ability to travel to the Project sites (Texas & Louisiana), and Third-Party Engineering Firm office in Houston
• High level of proficiency with project controls (cost and schedule) program

Physical Requirements

Ability to sit, stand, or walk for long periods of time.

Hargrove Culture

We work to create an environment founded on trust, personal integrity, and a “team mentality” so that each person understands the value of their contributions both on a project and company-wide level. We know that each person on our team contributes to the success of our company by pairing expertise and passion to meet and exceed the needs of the clients we serve across the globe. Our safety culture protects and promotes the well-being of every person who works with us and every person touched by our work. As a 100% Teammate owned company, we proudly offer a comprehensive benefits package including, paid holidays, personal paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, 401(k), and other benefits to eligible Teammates.

We work to create an environment founded on trust, personal integrity, and a “team mentality” so that each person understands the value of their contributions both on a project and company-wide level. The Hargrove Foundation is the vehicle for making a true difference in the lives of others. Hargrove has consistently been ranked one of the “Best Firms to Work For” by organizations such as ZweigWhite and Business Alabama. We pair expertise and passion to meet and exceed the needs of the clients we serve across the globe. Our teammates strive to expand their knowledge and contribute to the success of the organization.

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement

Hargrove is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex (including gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, sexual identity, marital or family status), disability, military service or obligations, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Hargrove is a drug-free workplace. The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.

Hargrove is passionate about serving our clients within our industry and the local economy, and we recognize that our impact goes beyond building great projects. Our extraordinary teammates serve the community with their time, talent, and generosity. The Hargrove team is a family whose volunteerism makes a huge impact on our communities, and The Hargrove Foundation is the vehicle for making a true difference in the lives of others. We work to create an environment founded on trust, personal integrity, and a “team mentality” so that each person understands the value of their contributions both on a project and company-wide level. Hargrove has consistently been ranked one of the “Best Firms to Work For” by organizations such as ZweigWhite and Business Alabama. We pair expertise and passion to meet and exceed the needs of the clients we serve across the globe. Our teammates strive to expand their knowledge and contribute to the success of the organization. Stay informed about new opportunities that are relevant to your profile.