Director Transport Engineering

. Crane Worldwide Logistics . • Houston, TX

15d

About The Position

This position supports the Crane Worldwide Global Industrial Projects division by providing in-house technical engineering capability for heavy transport and heavy lift logistics solutions. The role is intended to strengthen the organization’s ability to technically evaluate, challenge, and refine transport and lifting methodologies proposed by carriers, subcontractors, and engineering partners. The Heavy Lift Engineer will work across Industrial Project Logistics and specialized trucking scopes (housed within Crane Solutions), supporting both divisions through shared technical expertise. The role will focus on route and transport feasibility, cargo securement, rigging review, lifting and transport risk assessment, and other engineering analyses required to support safe and commercially sound execution. This position will also help elevate the technical competency of the broader team through practical guidance, standards development, and engineering review processes

Requirements

• Demonstrated technical understanding of heavy haul, heavy lift, and specialized transport operations in industrial, energy, infrastructure, mining, or other capital-intensive environments.
• Ability to review, interpret, and challenge technical proposals, engineering drawings, route studies, rigging plans, lift plans, and method statements prepared by carriers, haulers, rigging providers, and third-party engineers.
• Strong working knowledge of transport engineering principles, including load distribution, cargo securement, center of gravity, axle loading, turning radius, swept path, grade, friction, clearance analysis, and ground bearing considerations.
• Familiarity with crane and rigging fundamentals, including lift planning, rigging geometry, sling angles, load charts, lift points, and critical lift risk factors.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD and ability to read, mark up, and develop technical transport or lifting drawings to support operational planning and solution review.
• Sound understanding of multimodal logistics execution, including heavy haul trucking, barge, ocean breakbulk, RoRo, port handling, transloading, and final-mile delivery of oversized or high-value cargo.
• Working knowledge of applicable engineering, safety, and transport regulations, including permit-driven movement constraints, route restrictions, and jurisdiction-specific operating requirements.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability, with the ability to assess technical risk, identify gaps in proposed solutions, and recommend practical, execution-oriented alternatives.
• Effective communicator with the ability to translate technical issues into clear operational and commercial implications for internal stakeholders, clients, and service partners.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent technical reviews, project deadlines, and field support requirements in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative mindset and ability to work effectively across project management, operations, commercial, procurement, chartering, and specialized transport teams.
• Demonstrated sound judgment, attention to detail, and willingness to challenge assumptions where technical, safety, or execution risk is not adequately addressed.
• Proficiency in standard business software and engineering support tools, including Microsoft Office applications and other technical modeling, drawing, or project management platforms as applicable.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally to support site surveys, vendor meetings, pre-job planning sessions, load-outs, and critical transport or lifting operations.
• Talking, hearing and using hands to operate a computer keyboard, mouse and other computer components
• Sitting for extended periods of time
• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus
• Job will require punctual attendance and regular presence on-site at the assigned work location
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Transport Engineering, or related field preferred.
• Minimum 7–10 years of relevant experience in heavy haul, heavy lift, rigging, transport engineering, or specialized project cargo operations.
• Proven experience reviewing or developing transport drawings, route studies, rigging plans, lift plans, load distribution analyses, and cargo securement calculations.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD required

Nice To Haves

• Equivalent practical experience in heavy lift, heavy haul, or transport engineering may be considered in lieu of a formal degree.
• Familiarity with transport engineering or route analysis software preferred.
• Experience working with carriers, heavy haul providers, crane or rigging companies, and third-party engineering firms, including field execution and site survey exposure, strongly preferred.
• Professional Engineer (P.E.) license preferred but not required.
• Relevant heavy lift, rigging, crane, or transport engineering certifications preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide engineering support for heavy haul, heavy lift, and specialized transport solutions across Industrial Project Logistics scopes.
• Review, validate or prepare technical proposals, method statements, rigging plans, lift plans, transport drawings, and route studies submitted by carriers, haulers, and engineering vendors.
• Assess transport feasibility with consideration to cargo dimensions, weight distribution, axle loading, center of gravity, turning radius, road geometry, bridge and pavement limitations, grade, friction, and site constraints.
• Perform and/or validate calculations related to cargo securement, lashing, load distribution, stability, and transport configuration.
• Support the review of crane lift plans and rigging arrangements, including load charts, rigging geometry, lift points, ground bearing pressures, and critical lift considerations.
• Evaluate transport routes for heavy haul movements, including swept path analysis, turning radii, overhead and side clearances, ground conditions, and temporary infrastructure requirements.
• Work closely with project, operations, chartering, and specialized trucking teams to develop safe, practical, and commercially viable technical solutions.
• Participate in the planning and review of port handling, load-out, discharge, transloading, and final mile delivery operations involving heavy or oversized cargo.
• Develop technical review standards, checklists, and minimum engineering requirements for use across the Industrial Projects and specialized trucking teams.
• Support risk identification and mitigation by highlighting technical exposure early in solution design and execution planning.
• Provide technical input during client discussions, supplier reviews, and internal solution development meetings as needed.
• Assist in incident review, lessons learned, and continuous improvement efforts related to engineering, lifting, and transport execution.
• Maintain organized engineering records, drawings, calculations, and technical evaluations in line with internal governance requirements.
• Travel as required to attend site surveys, pre-job meetings, vendor reviews, load-outs, and critical operations.
• Other duties as assigned

Benefits

• Quarterly Incentive Plan
• 136 hours of Paid Time Off which equals 17 days for the year, that can be used for Sick Time or for Personal Use
• Excellent Medical, Dental and Vision benefits
• Tuition Reimbursement for education related to your job
• Employee Referral Bonuses
• Employee Recognition and Rewards Program
• Paid Volunteer Time to support a cause that is close to your heart and contributes to our communities
• Employee Discounts
• Wellness Incentives that can go up to $100 per year for completing challenges, in addition to a discount on contribution rates

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees