Mechanical Project Engineer
Pernix Group, Inc.
Location: Lombard, Illinois
Salary Range: $85,000–$110,000
Position Summary
Pernix Group is seeking a Mechanical Project Engineer to support the planning and execution of mechanical construction projects from design coordination through procurement, fabrication, and field installation.
This position plays a critical role in ensuring mechanical materials, equipment, submittals, and technical information are accurately identified, coordinated, approved, purchased, and available in accordance with project schedules.
Working closely with Project Management, Engineering, Estimating, Procurement, vendors, and field personnel, the Mechanical Project Engineer will perform quantity takeoffs, support mechanical buyout, manage submittals, coordinate material requirements, and proactively identify design or constructability issues before they affect cost, schedule, fabrication, or installation.
The ideal candidate is highly organized, technically strong, and proactive - someone who can identify potential problems early, coordinate the right stakeholders, and maintain ownership of issues through resolution.
Key Responsibilities
Mechanical Material Coordination
Manage and coordinate mechanical material requirements from initial identification through procurement and delivery.
• Review project drawings, specifications, schedules, and scope requirements.
• Develop and maintain material procurement schedules aligned with project milestones.
• Coordinate material requirements with Project Management, Engineering, Procurement, vendors, and field teams.
• Identify long-lead materials and equipment early in the project lifecycle.
• Track required-on-site dates against procurement and fabrication lead times.
• Verify material quantities and technical requirements prior to procurement.
• Prepare and submit material requisitions and purchasing documentation.
• Obtain vendor technical information, pricing, lead times, and availability.
• Monitor material status and proactively identify potential schedule impacts.
• Escalate material risks before they become project delays.
Quantity Takeoffs
Perform detailed mechanical material and equipment takeoffs to support procurement and project execution.
• Develop accurate quantity takeoffs from mechanical drawings, specifications, and design documents.
• Review drawings for completeness, consistency, and potential discrepancies.
• Compare takeoff quantities against project estimates, budgets, and procurement requirements.
• Update takeoffs as designs develop and drawing revisions are issued.
• Identify quantity and cost impacts resulting from design changes.
• Support Estimating, Procurement, and Project Management with quantity verification.
Takeoffs should provide a reliable basis for material procurement, forecasting, and buyout.
Procurement & Mechanical Buyout
Support the procurement and buyout of assigned mechanical materials and equipment.
• Develop material and equipment buyout packages.
• Identify and coordinate with qualified vendors and suppliers.
• Solicit, organize, and review vendor quotations.
• Perform bid and quote comparisons to verify scope and identify exclusions, gaps, or discrepancies.
• Confirm quantities, specifications, delivery requirements, and commercial considerations prior to purchase.
• Coordinate technical questions with Engineering and Project Management.
• Partner with Procurement and Project Management to complete material buyout.
• Track outstanding buyout items and required decision dates.
• Identify potential cost savings, material alternatives, and procurement efficiencies when appropriate.
Submittal Management
Manage the development, submission, review, and approval process for mechanical submittals.
• Review drawings and specifications to identify required submittals.
• Develop and maintain the project submittal register.
• Obtain product data, shop drawings, certifications, and technical documentation from vendors.
• Review vendor documentation for completeness and specification compliance prior to submission.
• Assemble and generate complete submittal packages.
• Coordinate technical reviews with Engineering and Project Management.
• Track submittals through review and approval.
• Manage comments, revisions, and resubmissions.
• Verify that approved submittals align with materials and equipment being purchased.
• Identify approvals that could affect procurement, fabrication, or project milestones.
Design Coordination & Issue Resolution
Proactively review project design information to identify issues before they affect procurement, fabrication, installation, cost, or schedule.
• Review drawings, specifications, vendor information, and design revisions.
• Identify missing information, discrepancies, conflicts, and constructability concerns.
• Coordinate design issues with Engineering and Project Management.
• Assist with the development and tracking of Requests for Information (RFIs).
• Maintain ownership of design questions and coordination items through resolution.
• Review drawing revisions and determine their impact on materials already taken off, submitted, purchased, or fabricated.
• Communicate relevant design changes to affected project stakeholders.
• Identify potential cost and schedule impacts associated with design changes.
• Escalate unresolved issues that could threaten project milestones.
Project Coordination
Work closely with the Project Manager and Project Executive to maintain visibility across critical mechanical project activities, including:
• Material requirements and requisitions
• Quantity takeoffs
• Procurement and buyout status
• Submittal status and approvals
• Long-lead materials and equipment
• Engineering requirements
• Open RFIs
• Design and constructability issues
• Drawing revisions
• Vendor information
• Fabrication requirements
• Required material delivery dates
The Mechanical Project Engineer is expected to communicate upcoming requirements, outstanding decisions, and potential risks before they affect project execution.
Key Working Relationships
This position works closely with:
• Project Managers and Project Executives
• Engineering
• Estimating
• Procurement
• Safety and Quality Control
• Superintendents and field personnel
• Vendors and suppliers
What Success Looks Like
Successful performance in this role includes:
• Accurate and timely mechanical material and equipment takeoffs.
• Mechanical buyout completed in alignment with project schedules and requirements.
• Early identification of long-lead equipment and material risks.
• Complete, accurate, and timely submittals.
• Strong visibility into submittal, procurement, and approval status.
• Design and constructability issues identified before they affect field installation.
• RFIs and coordination issues tracked through resolution.
• Accurate and current material and procurement information.
• Strong coordination between Engineering, Procurement, Project Management, vendors, and field teams.
• Consistent anticipation of project needs rather than reacting to problems after they occur.
• Achievement of established project milestones, deliverables, and deadlines.
Qualifications
Required
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• 3–5+ years of experience in mechanical construction, mechanical procurement, material buyout, project engineering, or a closely related function.
• Demonstrated experience supporting mechanical material/equipment buyout and procurement.
• Strong understanding of mechanical construction drawings, specifications, materials, equipment, and systems.
• Experience performing detailed mechanical material and equipment takeoffs.
• Ability to read and interpret construction plans, specifications, schedules, and technical documents.
• Understanding of the relationship between design, procurement, fabrication, and field installation.
• Working knowledge of construction procurement and material buyout processes.
• Strong organizational, documentation, and project-tracking skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong attention to detail and follow-through.
• Ability to identify potential problems, coordinate stakeholders, and drive issues through resolution.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to clearly communicate technical information, project requirements, risks, and required actions.
• Ability to effectively coordinate with Project Managers, Engineers, Procurement personnel, vendors, suppliers, and field teams.
Technology
• Microsoft Excel: Ability to develop and maintain material logs, quantity takeoffs, procurement trackers, and project-related spreadsheets.
• Bluebeam Revu: Proficiency with drawing review, quantity takeoffs, markups, document comparison, and design coordination.
• Procore: Working knowledge of project documentation, submittals, RFIs, procurement/material tracking, and project coordination.
• Primavera P6: Familiarity is preferred, particularly the ability to review schedules and understand how engineering, submittals, procurement, fabrication, and material deliveries affect project milestones.
Compensation
Salary Range: $85,000–$110,000 annually
Compensation will be based on relevant experience, technical qualifications, and overall alignment with the requirements of the position.
