Lead Project Engineer

Culligan•Libertyville, IL

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a customer-obsessed, highly motivated Lead Project Engineer to lead customer-facing mechanical design and water treatment projects from concept development through execution and post-installation support. This role collaborates with Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, Field Service and customers to develop engineered solutions, create technical documentation, ensure design-for-manufacturing principles, and deliver successful project outcomes. The position manages project scope, schedules, costs, and cross-functional coordination while supporting continuous improvement, operational efficiency, and guarantees customer satisfaction for industrial and data center applications.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Industrial Engineering or related technical field.
5-10 years of industry-specific experience in capital equipment design, project management, industrial engineering in hydronics or water treatment applications.
A strong foundation in process modeling, hydraulics, and engineering fundamentals and high level of CAD proficiency.
Strong EQ, highly organized, polished presentation, business acumen, analytical and problem-solving skills, effective communicator, collaborative team player, high energy and proactive mindset, strong work ethic, and integrity.
This role typically requires four (4) days per week on-site, in addition to occasional customer visits.
Ability to travel up to 25% required.

Nice To Haves

PMP, PE certification, and experience with PLC architectures is a plus.
Knowledge of Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Python, or AI tools is a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead various phases of customer-facing water treatment projects from initial concept development and proposal support through detailed design, fabrication, startup, and post-installation support for strategic and global accounts.
Develop and maintain 3D models, 2D drawings, P&IDs, general arrangement drawings, BOM’s, equipment layouts, and fabrication assembly instructions using Autodesk/SolidWorks and related engineering tools.
Partner with Sales, Customers, Manufacturing, Procurement, and Project Management teams to deliver technically sound, cost-effective solutions while balancing schedule, quality, and commercial objectives.
Coordinate cross-functional project execution, manage priorities, monitor scope, identify risks and dependencies, facilitate technical reviews, and communicate project status to internal and external stakeholders using MS Projects or similar tools.
Support financial performance by monitoring project costs, change orders, margins, revenue recognition, and engineering hours while maintaining accurate documentation and project records.
Drive continuous improvement through standardization, process optimization, training, documentation development, and implementation of new technologies, automation tools, and AI-enabled engineering workflows.
Perform other duties as assigned to support departmental and organizational goals.