Senior Project Engineer, Steel Structures
About The Position
Pacific Fusion is seeking an experienced and versatile Senior Project Engineer to lead procurement, contract management, installation, and commissioning of steel structures, including tanks, equipment platforms, and structural steel components used to hold, lift, move, and position critical equipment. The role combines engineering expertise with fabrication and construction experience to deliver and install systems that enable the company’s fusion technology. The engineer will own execution of heavy fabrication and steel structure scopes across suppliers, internal teams, and build sites. Responsibilities span translating design intent into executable work, coordinating vendors and cross-functional stakeholders, and managing execution from engineering and procurement through fabrication, inspection, shipment, installation, and closeout. The position supports work in San Leandro, California, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and supplier locations, with travel up to 50 percent as needed. Work must meet required safety, quality, cost, and schedule standards. Pacific Fusion is developing a pulser-driven inertial fusion system and key components for commercial fusion systems, with a mission to provide abundant, affordable, clean energy.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, civil engineering, construction engineering, or a related technical field.
- At least 5 years of experience in project engineering, fabrication, manufacturing, industrial construction, or related technical execution roles.
- Experience managing complex vendor-built scopes involving welded assemblies, structural steel, machined components, or industrial systems.
- Working knowledge of welding, fabrication, inspection, and manufacturing documentation.
- Familiarity with AWS D1.1, AWS D1.6, or ASME B31.3 and associated industry standards and practices.
- Ability to read engineering drawings, specifications, requests for quotation, inspection plans, and construction or fabrication scopes.
- Strong schedule management and cross-functional coordination skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to drive clarity across technical and non-technical teams.
- Willingness to travel up to 50 percent between San Leandro, vendors, and Albuquerque build sites.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in fusion, aerospace, energy, shipbuilding, heavy industrial, or other first-of-a-kind hardware environments.
- Experience owning supplier scopes from request for quotation through fabrication, delivery, and field installation.
- Familiarity with field fit-up, weld inspection, nonconformance resolution, and installation sequencing.
- Hands-on familiarity with welding, fabrication, and construction means and methods.
- Experience with large stainless steel structures, vacuum hardware, pressure systems, or custom tooling.
- Experience working in fast-paced environments with evolving designs and aggressive schedules.
Responsibilities
- Own execution of heavy fabrication and steel structures scopes across suppliers, internal stakeholders, and build sites.
- Convert design intent into executable work by driving requests for quotation, scope alignment, technical bid review, purchase order readiness, and fabrication kickoff.
- Build and maintain execution plans covering engineering deliverables, procurement, fabrication, inspection, shipment, site readiness, installation, and closeout.
- Coordinate with design, supply chain, quality, construction, finance, and leadership to keep critical-path scopes moving.
- Manage vendor engagement from pre-award through delivery, including schedule tracking, technical clarification, progress reviews, risk identification, and recovery planning.
- Develop and manage fabrication work packages, inspection documentation, nonconformance tracking, and turnover packages.
- Support fabrication and installation planning across San Leandro, CA, Albuquerque, NM, and supplier locations, with travel up to 50 percent as needed.
- Ensure work is executed to required safety, quality, cost, and schedule standards.
- Identify blockers, escalate clearly, and drive practical solutions to maintain program momentum.
Benefits
- Industry-competitive salary.
- Equity plan.
- 6% employer 401k matching.
- Generous paid time off, including sick leave, vacation, and paid family leave.
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
