Project Engineer - Turnkey Chiller Plant Program

About the role

Position Summary

The Project Engineer will support the turnkey design, supply, installation, commissioning, and turnover of a 42,000-ton central chiller plant in Central Texas. This role works closely with the Project Manager, design partners, vendors, and field teams to coordinate all phases of execution under a single-point-of-responsibility contract. The Project Engineer plays a key role in integrating engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning to deliver a fully operational chilled water plant that meets performance, schedule, cost, and safety requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Turnkey Project Coordination

• Support execution of the project from concept design through final acceptance
• Coordinate across engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and owner interfaces
• Maintain alignment between design intent, vendor requirements, and field installation
• Track scope, schedule, and deliverables under a fixed-scope or GMP turnkey contract

Engineering & Design Support

• Assist with coordination of design development and IFC documents
• Review mechanical, electrical, structural, and controls drawings for constructability and integration
• Support RFI generation, tracking, and resolution across all disciplines
• Participate in design reviews and value engineering efforts to optimize cost, schedule, and performance
• Assist with equipment sizing confirmation and system integration reviews

Procurement & Vendor Management

• Support procurement of long-lead equipment including chillers, cooling towers, pumps, piping systems, electrical gear, and BAS
• Track fabrication, factory testing, shipping, and delivery milestones
• Coordinate vendor installation requirements, field support, and startup services
• Review vendor submittals, drawings, and technical data for compliance with contract requirements

Construction & Field Integration

• Support field execution by coordinating work between mechanical, electrical, controls, and civil trades
• Assist with installation sequencing to maintain schedule and minimize rework
• Participate in site walks, inspections, and quality control checks
• Support safety planning and compliance in accordance with OSHA and site-specific requirements

Commissioning & Performance Validation

• Support pre-functional and functional testing of chilled water systems
• Coordinate with commissioning agents and vendors during startup and performance testing
• Assist with integrated systems testing to verify plant capacity, redundancy, and efficiency
• Support resolution of deficiencies identified during commissioning

Turnover & Closeout

• Assist with development of complete turnover packages, including as-builts, O&M manuals, training materials, and warranties
• Support owner training and transition to operations
• Assist with final acceptance, contract closeout, and lessons-learned documentation

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Construction Engineering, or related field
• 2–7+ years of experience supporting design-build or turnkey mechanical infrastructure projects
• Experience with central chiller plants, chilled water systems, or large HVAC infrastructure
• Understanding of design-build workflows, procurement sequencing, and construction coordination
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and technical specifications
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and project management platforms (Procore, Primavera P6, MS Project, or similar)
• Strong communication, documentation, and coordination skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience on district cooling, data centers, campuses, or utility-scale plants
• Familiarity with commissioning processes and performance-based acceptance criteria
• Knowledge of ASHRAE standards, Texas codes, and industry best practices
• EIT certification or progress toward Professional Engineer (PE) licensure

Physical & Work Environment

• On-site role within an active construction environment
• Ability to walk large job sites, access mechanical rooms, and climb ladders/stairs
• Occasional extended hours during equipment delivery, tie-ins, and commissioning phases