Job Title: Project EngineerJob DescriptionThe Project Engineer serves as the leader of project teams responsible for designing products and systems for commercial, institutional, and industrial water treatment projects. This role oversees projects from proposal through design handover and completion, ensuring alignment with client specifications and internal standards. The Project Engineer collaborates closely with Sales, Procurement, Manufacturing, suppliers, and clients, and works in a hybrid capacity that combines project engineering, design coordination, and elements of project management for more complex projects.
Responsibilities
- Lead assigned project teams in the design of products and systems for commercial, institutional, and industrial water treatment applications in accordance with proposals and client specifications.
- Read and interpret complex customer specifications and requirement documentation to ensure accurate and compliant designs.
- Produce process and instrumentation diagrams (P&ID) and equipment and instrumentation schedules in line with internal standard practices and established industry standards.
- For complex projects, create detailed project schedules, prepare accurate and complete handover packages for the design team, and lead the team through to successful completion.
- Self-manage the design process to meet project milestones, including reviewing drawings and bills of materials for accuracy and design for manufacturing.
- Ensure that designs meet applicable regulatory requirements and considerations.
- Interact independently with customers and vendors to clarify scope, resolve technical issues, and support successful project execution.
- Actively contribute to documentation of intrinsic knowledge by developing design guides, standard operating procedures, and other reference materials.
- Support product development projects and perform other engineering duties as assigned.
- Collaborate with Sales to review proposals, confirm project scope, and ensure alignment between specifications, proposals, and final designs.
- Coordinate with designers by providing clear handovers, answering design questions, and verifying that drawings meet specifications, including pipe sizing, valve placement, and pump selection.
- Develop and maintain detailed project manuals, particularly for complex, custom projects, ensuring documentation is complete and tailored to each job.
- Support Sales by answering technical questions related to quotes and project scope.
- Visit the shop floor to check on jobs, verify that drawings are accurate and practical, and help shop employees understand design intent when documentation is unclear.
- Manage multiple projects simultaneously, often working on four to five projects in a day, including preparing manuals, checking equipment, and participating in calls with customers and Sales to clarify scope or resolve field issues.
- Schedule each job using an ERP system, setting deadlines for key milestones such as drawing completion, design release, manufacturing start, and manual completion.
- Estimate the effort required for various project tasks, such as determining whether drawings or handovers will take hours or weeks, and adjust schedules accordingly.
- Perform hybrid responsibilities that blend project engineering, design coordination, and project management, especially on complex projects where direct customer interaction is required.
- Ensure that all project deliverables are verified against specifications, proposals, and internal standards before completion.
Essential Skills
- Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, with Mechanical Engineering preferred; other engineering disciplines considered based on relevant experience.
- Minimum of 5+ years of industrial design engineering experience involving medium and large capital projects.
- Ability to perform typical design hand calculations, including pump sizing and flow velocity calculations.
- Demonstrated project engineering experience with pump design, valve selection, and piping design.
- Strong ability to lead people, motivate team members, and resolve conflict effectively.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills for interaction with internal teams, clients, and vendors.
- Experience working with a wide variety of industries and applications is preferred, such as food and beverage, chemical, and healthcare.
- 3D modeling experience with tools such as Inventor, SolidWorks, or CREO is preferred.
- Prior experience with commercial and industrial water treatment equipment, including water softening, media filtration, membrane technology, and specialty ion exchange technologies, is a plus.
- Competency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
- Experience working with CAD software in a design and engineering environment.
- Experience using ERP systems for project scheduling and coordination.
- Valid drivers license and clean driving record.
- Ability to manage and prioritize multiple concurrent projects.
- Comfort working directly with customers, Sales, Procurement, Manufacturing, and shop personnel to coordinate project activities.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Ability to grow from handling smaller projects to leading more complex, multi-faceted projects over time.
- Experience in project engineering for water treatment systems, including integration of pumps, valves, and piping.
- Strong collaboration skills to work effectively with designers and cross-functional teams.
- Capability to develop and maintain detailed, project-specific manuals and documentation.
- Experience supporting Sales teams with technical questions related to quotes and project scope.
- Skill in interpreting and reconciling complex specifications, proposals, and field conditions.
- Attention to detail in verifying drawings, bills of materials, and equipment specifications against client requirements.
- Ability to estimate task durations and resource needs for drawings, handovers, and documentation.
- Comfort working in a hybrid role that blends project engineering, design coordination, and aspects of project management.
- Occasional willingness to travel, typically once or twice a year, depending on project needs.
Work EnvironmentThe role is based primarily in a quiet office environment, with regular interaction on the manufacturing floor where moderate noise levels are present. Work involves extensive use of engineering and CAD software, ERP systems for scheduling, and standard office productivity tools. The Project Engineer collaborates frequently with Sales, Procurement, Manufacturing, and shop personnel, and may occasionally visit client sites or vendor facilities depending on project requirements. The position offers an attractive benefits package, including a competitive base compensation structure, quarterly profit sharing plan, retirement plan with company contribution, medical and dental insurance, flexible spending plan, life insurance policy, and a paid vacation plan upon conversion. Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract to Hire position based out of Racine, WI. Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $36.05 - $57.69/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:
Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract to Hire position based out of Racine, WI. Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Nov 17, 2026. Workplace TypeThis is a fully onsite position in Racine,WI.About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.