Senior Project Engineer

Our client is an industrial portfolio company of a global firm focused on the decarbonization of the industrial economy. A fantastic opportunity exists for a Senior Project Engineer to assist delivery of a $50M capital project. Position will be based out of our clients' offices in The Woodlands, Texas with travel as required to the project site in California.

The Senior Project Engineer is accountable for providing senior technical leadership and governance across all engineering and process activities for the project. The role ensures that the design basis, engineering execution, and commissioning strategy are technically sound, commercially defensible, safe, and aligned with project objectives, while maintaining separation from day-to-day detailed engineering execution.

• Technical authority for engineering and process integrity across the project lifecycle
• Oversight of EPC and engineering partners’ performance and compliance with scope, quality and standards
• Assurance that engineering decisions optimize CAPEX, OPEX, operability, maintainability, and reliability
• Executive-level escalation and resolution of technical, process, and interface risks
• Readiness for commissioning, startup, and performance testing

• Establish and maintain the engineering strategy, standards, and engineering execution framework for the project
• Build, develop and lead a multi-disciplinary engineering team to achieve project objectives. This includes hiring, training, and performance management of team members.
• Manage, lead and mentor a team of Engineers with varying levels of experience.
• Serves as technical and design authority for future developments and drives structured lessons-learned capture to inform continuous improvement.
• Endorse the process design basis, operating philosophy, and major equipment selections
• Provide technical oversight and approval of engineering and model reviews
• Oversee multi-disciplinary engineering activities (process, mechanical, electrical, I&C, civil/structural)
• Establish and govern the Engineering Document Management System (EDMS)
• Lead and support HAZID, HAZOP, and other safety-in-design and risk assessment activities
• Interface with EPC contractors and engineering partners, including support to commercial negotiations and scope definition
• Ensure engineering deliverables meet stage-gate maturity requirements prior to EPC contract establishment and FID
• Govern Management of Change (MoC) for technical changes impacting scope, cost, or schedule
• Provide executive guidance during construction on technical issues, deviations, and field changes
• Lead engineering input to commissioning, startup, and performance testing strategies
• Support post-startup optimization and performance improvement initiatives
• Oversee the completeness, accuracy, and acceptance of final engineering documentation

• Authority to endorse or withhold concurrence on engineering deliverables and design freezes
• Authority to approve technical standards, specifications, and deviations within approved governance
• Escalation authority for material technical risks to the Project Manager, Project Sponsor or Steering Committee
• Advisory authority on change orders and risk allocation from a technical perspective

• Project Sponsor and Steering Committee
• Owner’s Project Manager and Project Controls
• EPC / General Contractor executive and engineering leadership
• Process licensors, equipment vendors, and specialty consultants
• HSSE, Quality, Operations, and Commissioning leadership

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, or Industrial); advanced degree preferred
• Minimum 10–15 years of experience in industrial or process facilities, including leadership roles
• Demonstrated experience managing EPC partners and large-scale capital projects
• Proven track record in commissioning, startup, and post-startup optimization
• Strong understanding of EPC and hybrid contracting models
• High level of financial, risk, and commercial acumen
• Strong leadership presence, judgment, and stakeholder management skills