Sr Lead Mechanical-Piping Designer - QDC

Quanta Infrastructure Solutions Group, LLC•Houston, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Lead Mechanical-Piping Designer is a senior member of the QDC Engineering team responsible for the layout, arrangement, completeness and buildability of mechanical and piping scope on fast-track, advanced technology projects. Working across the client, Quanta engineering and construction OpCos, equipment vendors and third parties, this position makes sure the mechanical-piping scope is complete, constructable, procurable and compatible with the rest of the project scope before it is issued for construction (IFC). The Senior Lead Mechanical-Piping Designer reports to the (Sr) Engineering Project Manager, QDC, supports all projects in the division, and serves as a mechanical-piping design point of contact between Engineering, Procurement, Field Operations and the client from proposal and early engineering through detail design, construction, startup and commissioning. As the QDC Engineering team grows, this position is expected to serve as lead designer for mechanical-piping scope, planning, assigning and checking the work of QDC and OpCo designers and drafters.

Requirements

Candidates from industrial and EPC plant piping backgrounds (petrochemical, power, utilities, process) with strong utility-systems and equipment layout experience are encouraged to apply; data center experience is preferred but not required.
High school diploma or equivalent required; Associate degree or technical certificate in Drafting & Design, Mechanical Design Technology, Engineering Technology or a related field preferred
Minimum 10 years of mechanical and piping design experience on large commercial, industrial, mission critical or EPC projects, including at least 5 years in a senior or lead designer role
Demonstrated experience developing 3D mechanical equipment layouts, general arrangements and piping designs with minimal supervision, and coordinating those designs across multiple disciplines and entities
Proficiency in AutoCAD and in at least one 3D design and coordination platform used for mechanical-piping layout, including clash detection and isometric or spool extraction; Autodesk Revit (MEP) with Navisworks is preferred, and AutoCAD Plant 3D, CADWorx, SP3D/E3D or an equivalent plant piping platform is acceptable
Working knowledge of the codes and standards that govern mechanical-piping layout (for example the ASME B31 series, ASHRAE, IMC/UMC, NFPA and IBC) and the ability to apply them to equipment arrangements and piping designs
Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, flow diagrams, equipment and vendor drawings, specifications, data sheets, and civil, structural and electrical drawings
Practical understanding of how mechanical and piping systems are fabricated, shipped, rigged, installed, tested and maintained
A builder's mindset: motivated to help establish a new team and its standards, comfortable working without a fully defined playbook, and eager to create processes rather than only follow them
Experience supporting construction RFIs, redlines, field verification and as-builts in a fast-paced environment
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Bluebeam or similar markup tools, and project document management systems
Excellent verbal and written communication skills; comfortable collaborating with multiple disciplines and companies and explaining and defending layouts to engineers, field leadership and the client in design reviews and coordination meetings
Detail-oriented and organized; able to deal with ambiguity, work independently, manage multiple projects and set priorities in a complex, multi-party environment

Nice To Haves

Data center or other mission critical facility experience (hyperscale, colocation or enterprise), including chilled water plants, CRAH/CDU distribution, liquid cooling and fuel oil systems
Experience on multi-company, design-build or EPC projects where scope was split among several contractors and engineering firms
Experience with Autodesk Construction Cloud/BIM 360, Procore, and BIM coordination workflows (LOD 300-400 models, shop drawing and spool coordination)
Working proficiency in both Revit/Navisworks and a plant piping platform (AutoCAD Plant 3D, CADWorx, SP3D/E3D or equivalent)
Familiarity with pipe stress and support design inputs (e.g., CAESAR II results, anchor and guide locations, expansion loops and joints)
Field or trade background (pipefitting, mechanical contracting, BIM coordination or field engineering) on large industrial or commercial projects
Experience developing drafting standards, standard details, design checklists and lessons learned programs

Responsibilities

Develop and review 2D and 3D mechanical equipment layouts, general arrangements, plot plans and piping routings for advanced technology facility mechanical systems, including chilled water and condenser water plants, CRAH/CRAC and in-row cooling, liquid cooling distribution (CDUs and technology cooling loops), cooling towers and dry coolers, fuel oil systems, generator exhaust, HVAC ductwork and associated underground utilities
Produce and check design deliverables such as equipment location plans, piping plans and sections, isometrics, pipe support and hanger details, penetration and sleeve drawings, tie-in details and bills of material
Develop layouts that maintain code and manufacturer clearances, maintenance corridors, rigging and pull paths, and access for operations; design in capacity for change, growth and unknowns where the added cost is low (space, dirt, concrete and steel) to protect the schedule from late equipment changes
Lead interference and clash detection in the 3D model; resolve or escalate clashes before they reach the field
Review vendor and equipment drawings for nozzle locations, connection sizes, anchor points, weights, clearances and service access, and incorporate vendor data into the model and drawings
Apply applicable codes and standards (ASME B31.1/B31.3/B31.9, ASHRAE, IMC/UMC, NFPA, IBC) and client design criteria to layouts and piping arrangements; flag deviations and requirements versus preferences
Review OpCo and third-party deliverables for scope completeness, constructability and procure-ability; identify missing, conflicting or unbuildable scope and drive it to resolution
Confirm scope compatibility with other advanced technology scope, systems and stakeholders. Raise questions early, discuss and explore alternatives with engineers, the client and the field
Participate in and help lead constructability, model (30/60/90 percent) and IFC readiness reviews; document review comments and verify their incorporation
Support procurement with material take-offs, requisition inputs, long-lead equipment identification, bid evaluation inputs and vendor drawing review; flag long-lead equipment whose lead times conflict with the construction sequence
Perform quality reviews of drawings and models for inaccuracies, omissions, code compliance and adherence to QDC and client standards, and provide recommendations
Facilitate communication, coordination and document flow for mechanical-piping scope among the client, Quanta engineering OpCos, field execution teams and third parties
Identify and remedy gaps between Engineering and Construction and between Engineering and Procurement; remove hurdles and resolve issues
Coordinate equipment locations, spacing, routing, cable and pipe rack sharing, and underground conflicts with electrical, civil-structural and instrumentation disciplines and with the field
Collaborate with the Senior Lead Mechanical Engineer, other discipline engineers, and other discipline designers on technical completeness and compatibility, providing designer input on how the scope will actually be built
Support the Engineering Project Manager with proposal inputs, early engineering, scope definition, deliverable lists and schedules for mechanical-piping scope
Review and respond to construction RFIs, field change requests and redlines for mechanical-piping scope as assigned by the project team; implement redlines with precision and confirm accuracy before drawings are finalized
Provide design input on the layout, equipment, material and schedule impacts of proposed changes so the project team can run them through the formal QDC change process rather than by informal agreement
Keep mechanical-piping design documentation current in the project document management system (e.g., Procore), including drawing and model revision control, as-built records and inputs to the project issue, RFI and decision logs
Document assumptions, decisions and handoffs in writing so alignment is created by documentation rather than by meetings alone
Serve as lead designer for mechanical-piping scope as the QDC Engineering team grows: plan and assign design work, check drawings and models, and be accountable for the quality and schedule of the mechanical-piping design package
Mentor designers and drafters (QDC or OpCo), review their work, and help build the QDC design standards as the team grows
Capture lessons learned during the project; contribute to root-cause reviews of RFIs, rework and design gaps and record the methods that saved time or money
Contribute to developing and refining QDC mechanical-piping best practices, standard details, design criteria, checklists, templates and drafting standards, and help roll them out to OpCos and project teams
Identify scope, design, procurement and change risks early and raise them to the Engineering Project Manager with proposed mitigations, in support of the Project Risk Wheel and project risk register
Travel to project sites to walk down installations, verify field conditions and dimensions, resolve interferences, interpret drawings and support installation, startup and commissioning
Present layouts, alternatives and recommendations in front of the client, OpCos and field leadership; represent QDC professionally in design reviews, coordination meetings and site meetings
Be willing to speak up and ask questions; bring potential project-related problems and possible solutions to the attention of the responsible party
Take personal responsibility for the quality and accuracy of his or her work; perform other duties as assigned

Benefits

Competitive Compensation
Comprehensive Health Coverage - Multiple Medical, dental & vision plans with 100% preventive care
24/7 telehealth (Teladoc)
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Company-funded HSA and pre-tax savings options
401(k) Retirement Plan
No-cost Short- and Long-term Disability
Employer-paid basic Life & AD&D Insurance
Paid Time off (PTO) and 10 Paid Holidays
Paid Parental leave
Education Reimbursement and Professional Development
Employee discount program and optional insurance offerings: Identity Theft Protection, Accident Insurance, Voluntary Life (spouse and child), Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Pet Insurance