Construction Engineer

ZAP Engineering • Lakewood, CO

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

ZAP Engineering and Construction Services, Inc. is seeking a Construction Engineer for an office-based support role within the Construction Department. This role is crucial for project controls, scheduling, estimating, reporting, and technical coordination, ensuring projects stay on track from start to finish. The Construction Engineer will collaborate daily with Project Managers, field supervision, estimators, engineers, and clients, utilizing analytical skills and communication abilities to manage complexity and contribute to project success. The company specializes in complex industrial projects across oil & gas, petrochemical, power generation, and industrial sectors, emphasizing technical expertise, safety, and quality.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Civil, Mechanical, or Construction Engineering from an accredited institution.
• Proficiency in Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, or equivalent scheduling software.
• Competency in estimating and cost management.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) and project management platforms.
• Familiarity with construction document management systems (Procore, Aconex, or similar).
• Working knowledge of construction contracts (lump sum, unit rate, reimbursable), RFI processes, submittents, and change order procedures.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, P&IDs, civil/structural plans, and specifications.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills — written and verbal.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in oil & gas, petrochemical, power generation, or industrial plant construction.
• OSHA 10-Hour Construction Safety certification.
• Experience with Earned Value Management (EVM) and integrated cost/schedule reporting.
• Experience with take-off software is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support preconstruction planning, including scope development, constructability reviews, and project kick-off coordination.
• Collaborate with PMs, estimators, and clients to define requirements, milestones, and deliverables before mobilization.
• Develop project execution plans, work breakdown structures (WBS), and construction sequencing strategies.
• Review drawings, specifications, geotechnical reports, and P&IDs to identify risks and inform cost and schedule planning.
• Build, maintain, and update project schedules in Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project, including critical path, float analysis, look-ahead schedules, and recovery plans.
• Coordinate with field supervision to ensure schedule accuracy and alignment with actual progress.
• Identify, communicate, and drive mitigation of schedule risks and delays.
• Prepare detailed quantity take-offs, cost estimates, and bid packages for new projects, change orders, and scope additions.
• Maintain project budgets; track committed costs, actuals, and forecast-to-complete throughout the project lifecycle.
• Monitor spend rates against budget; flag variances early and support corrective action planning.
• Support bid preparation, subcontractor scoping, and vendor negotiations.
• Track and report project KPIs, including Schedule Performance Index (SPI), Cost Performance Index (CPI), earned value, safety, and quality metrics.
• Prepare clear, concise project status reports and dashboards for leadership and client consumption.
• Analyze project data to surface trends, inefficiencies, and improvement opportunities.
• Review, prepare, and coordinate timely RFI responses across field crews, subcontractors, and clients.
• Coordinate with engineering design teams to resolve technical questions, design discrepancies, and constructability issues.
• Support development and review of method statements, work plans, and technical submittents.
• Serve as an internal resource for planning, technical, and operational matters across the Construction Department.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of department processes, templates, and standard operating procedures.
• Support subcontractor pre-qualification, selection, and performance management.
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior project staff.

Benefits

• Real responsibility, visibility, and opportunity to grow.
• Investment in people and promotion from within.
• Careers built alongside delivered projects.
• Opportunity to work on complex industrial projects where engineering judgment makes a difference.
• Culture of accountability with high standards.
• Direct path to senior project engineer, project manager, and construction leadership roles.
• Commitment to safety, embedded in all planning, design, and construction.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees