Conceptual Design Chief Engineer

Utility Global•Houston, TX

About The Position

The Conceptual Design Chief Engineer leads Utility Global’s conceptual and early-stage engineering function through hands-on technical work and functional ownership. The role develops commercially competitive process solutions for proposals and FEL 1 studies, and drives continuous improvement in H2Gen system performance and market competitiveness by developing, evaluating, and implementing new process concepts. The Chief Engineer personally develops process simulations, performs engineering calculations and quantitative technical and economic trade-off analyses, and prepares process designs and engineering deliverables. The role owns concept development and selection, balancing customer requirements, performance, capital and operating costs, reliability, safety, and technology readiness. Reporting to the Vice President, Engineering, the Chief Engineer sets priorities and directs assigned personnel, study teams, and external engineering partners as needed. The role independently executes complex engineering work and is accountable for the quality and timeliness of individual contributions and overall study delivery.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science, or a related discipline; Chemical Engineering or equivalent process engineering expertise is preferred.
Typically 15 or more years of relevant process engineering experience in industrial gases, syngas processing, LNG, or process technology.
At least 5 years leading engineering teams or multidisciplinary studies.
Experience developing customer-focused process concepts and adapting technology to project requirements.
Strong proficiency in process simulation software such as ProMax, Aspen HYSYS, or Aspen Plus, supported by sound thermodynamic and engineering fundamentals.
Experience developing capital and operating cost models, financial assessments, and quantified trade-offs among cost, performance, and reliability.
Demonstrated people management experience, including hiring, coaching, performance management, and team development.
Ability to direct concurrent studies and lead execution when required, manage resources and budgets, oversee engineering partners, and communicate technical and commercial recommendations to customers and senior leadership.
Strong quantitative analysis, technical writing, presentation, and decision-making skills.
Practical knowledge of process safety and engineering quality controls.

Nice To Haves

Chemical Engineering or equivalent process engineering expertise.
Hydrogen, syngas, gas production, refining, and technology commercialization experience.

Responsibilities

Assist the proposal team by providing process concepts tailored to customer needs.
Develop and update process simulations; conduct quantitative technical and economic trade-off analyses; evaluate design options; and prepare engineering deliverables, including work to improve the cost of produced hydrogen.
Set the direction for conceptual, FEL 1, and technology-package engineering across commercial opportunities; work with Business Development, proposal development, and customers to define objectives, requirements, feed and product specifications, battery limits, assumptions, and acceptance criteria.
Drive continuous improvement in H2Gen process performance by developing and leading study execution plans that define evaluation cases, quantify potential benefits, and validate recommended improvements.
Own Utility Global’s process simulation models and modelling practices, maintaining controlled, current models that incorporate validated test and operating data, new technical information, and industry best practices.
Provide technical oversight of heat and material balances, process flow diagrams, utility summaries, preliminary equipment sizing, and design-basis development; integrate multidisciplinary inputs and resolve significant technical issues.
Own, maintain, and improve the CAPEX model embedded within the process simulation; keep cost correlations, assumptions, and estimating inputs current and validated; integrate operating cost inputs and work with Commercial and Finance to assess business cases, quantify sensitivities, and rank options by customer economics and lifecycle cost.
Lead design-to-cost and value engineering studies; quantify capital cost, operating cost, and reliability trade-offs; and incorporate lifecycle cost considerations into equipment selection, procurement, and subcontract scope recommendations.
Establish and enforce technical review requirements for Business Development proposals and supporting CAPEX estimates. Ensure proposed performance, utility consumption, scope, costs, and assumptions are supported by engineering evidence; distinguish demonstrated capability, validated model predictions, and development targets; and escalate unsubstantiated technical commitments to the Vice President Engineering before proposal inputs are issued.
Lead and manage assigned personnel, including recruitment, onboarding, goal setting, delegation, coaching, performance reviews, and development planning. Set ownership and delivery expectations, address performance gaps, and build team capability.
Establish and enforce engineering quality controls, including independent checking of critical calculations and proposal inputs. Maintain traceable assumptions, revisions, decisions, and technical review records, and improve study methods, templates, and estimating practices.
Oversee recommendations and handover packages for FEL 2 or execution, including the selected concept, design basis, estimate maturity, operational readiness and maintenance requirements, exclusions, and open actions.
Deliver assigned studies and engineering inputs to proposals and FEL 1 within agreed scope, schedules, and budgets; prioritize work and escalate constraints early.
Coordinate technical contributions across functions and ensure transfer of the design basis, decisions, and outstanding risks to subsequent engineering phases.