Principal Designer

CECO Environmental•Houston, TX

5d•Onsite

About The Position

CECO Environmental is a global leader in providing sustainable solutions for industrial air, water, and energy transition. Since 1966, we’ve been addressing the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. Our mission is to protect people, the environment, and industrial equipment, making a tangible impact across industries like renewable energy, semiconductor manufacturing, power generation, and water treatment. As a purpose-driven company, we foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and integrity, ensuring that every project we undertake creates lasting positive change. At CECO, you’ll be part of a growing, dynamic team committed to a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable future. We are proud to share that CECO was named one of Newsweek’s America’s Greatest Companies for 2025 and that Forbes recognized CECO as one of America’s Most Successful Small‑Cap Companies for 2026, marking our third consecutive year on the Forbes list. CECO Environmental is a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ under the ticker CECO, reflecting our strong growth, financial performance, and commitment to delivering value to shareholders. As part of the CECO Environmental family of brands, Emtrol-Buell plays a critical role in delivering specialized energy transition solutions that protect both people and the environment. By joining our team, you’ll contribute to our shared mission of protecting global industrial operations and shaping the future of environmental stewardship. Emtrol-Buell is seeking a highly experienced and strategic Principal Designer to lead the design and development of complex mechanical equipment and systems. This role is responsible for driving design excellence across projects, establishing standards, improving processes, and delivering high-quality solutions for FCC, vessel, and related process units in both refining and petrochemical industries. The ideal candidate is a technical expert with strong leadership capability, deep experience in 2D/3D design platforms, and the ability to influence both project execution and long-term engineering innovation.

Requirements

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in engineering, design, or related technical field (or equivalent experience)
15+ years of experience in mechanical design, with a strong focus on FCC unit, pressure vessels, or process equipment
Proven experience in a senior or principal-level design role
Advanced proficiency in: AutoDesk AutoCAD and Inventor, SolidWorks, Microsoft Office Suite
Strong understanding of mechanical systems, fabrication processes, and industrial equipment design
Microsoft Office Suite; ERP systems, ADP, Epicor and/or D365 is beneficial. Familiarity with EPM tools (e.g., Hyperion, TM1, etc.) preferred.
Customer and Personal Service (intercultural skills, service minded) — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Administration and Management – knowledge of business and management principles involved in P&L management, human resources staffing and evaluation, leadership technique and coordination of people and resources.
Engineering and Technology — Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
English Language-Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar.
Critical thinking - Uses logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Management of Personnel Resources - Leading, motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Well-developed ability to multi-task and prioritize with strong attention to details.
Oral Comprehension-The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Written Comprehension-The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Organization and prioritization-The ability to prioritize and organize workload with strong attention to details.
Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Nice To Haves

Experience designing critical static equipment such as cyclones for refining, petrochemical, or energy industries
Familiarity with carbon capture, plastics recycling, or ethylene unit design
Hands-on experience with site inspections and fabrication oversight
API 936 – Refractory Inspector
API 510 – Pressure Vessel Inspector
ASME Level 2 Inspector
Level 2 qualifications in NDE, RT, PT, UT
IWWE (International Welding Engineer).

Responsibilities

Serve as the principal designer for the development of mechanical drawings and models using 2D and 3D design tools
Design proprietary and non-proprietary equipment for FCC units, pressure vessels, and process systems in both refining and petrochemical applications
Lead complex, large-scale design projects from concept through completion while meeting budget and schedule requirements
Reviews drawings from other drafters to ensure alignment with scoping and corporate drafting standards
Assists with the preparation of standard engineering documents and calculations.
Develop, implement, and maintain design standards, policies, and procedures
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, reduce errors, and optimize manhours
Automate and streamline workflows to improve overall team productivity
Provide technical guidance, training, and mentorship to design team members
Promote best practices in modeling, documentation, and design execution
Support performance improvement and skill development across the team
Collaborate closely with engineering, manufacturing, and project management teams to establish essential functions and deadlines necessary to successfully execute projects
Engage with project stakeholders to understand requirements, provide updates, and ensure expectations are met
Deliver clear technical presentations and communicate complex design concepts effectively
Participate in and lead project reviews, design approvals, and presentations
Conduct site visits to verify installation, performance, and compliance of equipment
Ensure designs align with fabrication capabilities and operational requirements
Oversee inspection activities, coordinating with third-party inspectors and inspection agencies to ensure compliance with standards
Support troubleshooting and resolution of field issues
Perform equipment inspections at refineries or during pre-turnaround assembly. Monitor and ensure clear rework/repair instructions are implemented to meet customer and compliance requirements, if needed
Lead and contribute to research and development initiatives
Support innovation in areas such as process improvement, sustainability, and advanced technologies