Senior Piping Engineer

JOB SUMMARY:

The Senior Piping Engineer provides technical leadership and engineering expertise for piping systems on multidisciplinary industrial projects. This position leads piping engineering activities from conceptual design through detailed engineering, construction support, and project closeout. The Senior Piping Engineer establishes design criteria, evaluates technical requirements, develops and reviews engineering deliverables, ensures compliance with applicable codes and standards, and provides technical direction to piping engineers and designers. The position works closely with clients, project managers, process and mechanical engineers, designers, construction personnel, and other disciplines to develop safe, efficient, constructible, maintainable, and cost-effective piping systems.

JOB DUTIES:

• Lead piping engineering activities for assigned projects, including development of design criteria, engineering deliverables, technical decisions, and piping system requirements.
• Develop mechanical piping scopes of work, technical approaches, and level-of-effort estimates for select engineering proposals, project changes, and active projects.
• Prepare, review, and approve piping engineering deliverables, including piping layouts, general arrangements, plans, sections, isometrics, line lists, specifications, and related documentation.
• Serve as Piping Lead when assigned, providing technical direction and coordinating piping engineering and design activities with project management and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Establish piping design criteria based on process conditions, equipment requirements, applicable codes and standards, client specifications, constructability, maintainability, and project objectives.
• Perform and/or oversee piping engineering calculations and evaluations, including pressure, temperature, flow, material compatibility, thermal growth, flexibility, vibration, equipment connections, and constructability considerations.
• Apply and interpret applicable piping codes, standards, and project specifications, including ASME B31.3, hygienic piping practices, client standards, and other requirements applicable to the project.
• Develop piping layouts that consider cleanability, CIP/SIP requirements, maintenance access, thermal growth, equipment operation, installation sequencing, and long-term reliability.
• Coordinate piping engineering and design with mechanical equipment including boilers, ammonia refrigeration systems, cooling towers, pumps, and packaged process equipment.
• Coordinate piping systems with process, mechanical, structural, electrical, controls, architectural, and other disciplines to resolve technical interfaces, constructability issues, and model conflicts.
• Develop and review conceptual pipe support strategies and coordinate support requirements with structural engineering.
• Perform and/or oversee piping flexibility and stress analysis, evaluate analysis results, establish appropriate design modifications, and ensure recommendations are incorporated into piping layouts, supports, and engineering deliverables.
• Develop and review piping material specifications, line classes, and technical requirements for pipes, valves, fittings, and associated components.
• Evaluate process conditions and service requirements to select appropriate materials of construction (MoC) for piping systems, valves, fittings, and associated components, and provide technical recommendations to clients and project teams.
• Review piping models, drawings, isometrics, calculations, and engineering documents prepared by other engineers and designers for technical accuracy, quality, constructability, and compliance with project requirements.
• Identify technical risks, design constraints, and potential project impacts; develop practical engineering solutions and communicate recommendations to project leadership and clients.
• Coordinate with owners, operators, design-build contractors, vendors, and construction personnel to gather requirements, resolve technical issues, and support successful project execution.
• Provide engineering support during procurement, fabrication, construction, commissioning, and startup, including responses to RFIs, technical questions, field changes, and design clarifications.
• Prepare and/or support client presentations and technical discussions, clearly explaining piping engineering solutions, recommendations, assumptions, and design decisions.
• Track piping engineering progress, productivity, technical deliverables, and resource requirements for assigned work and communicate status to project management.
• Provide technical guidance, coaching, and mentorship to piping engineers and designers and contribute to the development of technical capabilities within the Mexico office.
• Lead the development and maintenance of corporate piping engineering standards, templates, specifications, design tools, and best practices.
• Promote proactive multidisciplinary coordination and integrated project delivery throughout the project lifecycle.
• Comply with Vestal Corporation's Quality Control and Project Management procedures and support a culture of accountability, quality, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Promote a positive and professional working environment consistent with Vestal Corporation's core values.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is primarily performed in a BIEC office, with periodic travel to construction sites, manufacturing plants, client offices, and project locations as required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and operating a computer and other office equipment.
• Ability to move throughout the office and access office equipment and other buildings within the Vestal office complex.
• Ability to visit construction sites and industrial facilities as required, including compliance with applicable site safety and PPE requirements.
• This position frequently communicates with others and must be able to exchange accurate information.

KNOWLEDGE / SKILL / ABILITY / EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE:

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline is required.
• Professional engineering registration/licensure is preferred, where applicable.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive piping engineering experience is required, preferably in industrial, manufacturing, food and beverage, consumer products, chemical, or other process-driven environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading piping engineering activities on multidisciplinary projects.
• Strong knowledge and practical application of applicable piping codes, standards, client specifications, and industry practices, including ASME B31.3 and hygienic/process piping.
• Ability to independently evaluate and resolve complex piping engineering, design, constructability, and coordination issues.
• Demonstrated experience with piping flexibility and stress analysis and the ability to interpret results and implement appropriate design changes.
• Strong understanding of piping materials, valves, fittings, supports, equipment connections, materials of construction, and piping system requirements.
• Experience developing and reviewing piping specifications, line classes, calculations, layouts, isometrics, and other engineering deliverables.
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite, AutoCAD Plant 3D, Revit, Navisworks, Bluebeam, WINEST, and other applicable engineering/design software.
• Proven ability to read, interpret, and coordinate both 2D and 3D engineering drawings and models.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, facilitation, collaboration, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Effective time management, project prioritization, personal accountability, and change-management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical information to clients, project teams, vendors, and construction personnel.
• Ability to effectively interact with coworkers, clients, vendors, contractors, and other business contacts.
• Ability to present and explain piping engineering designs, recommendations, and technical decisions to clients.
• Fluency in Spanish and English is required.
• Willingness and ability to travel to construction sites, plants, client offices, and project locations as required.
• Must comply with Vestal Corporation's core values for the safe and efficient operation of the business and for maintaining sound relationships among and with employees.
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to mentor and develop engineers and designers.

TOOLS:

• AutoCAD Plant 3D
• Revit
• Navisworks
• Bluebeam
• Microsoft Office Suite
• WINEST
• Various other mechanical engineering and design applications