Project Engineer – Commercial Plumbing

At JH Kelly, we’re looking for a driven, detail-oriented Project Engineer to join our mechanical construction team in Boise, supporting semiconductor, data center, and commercial projects in the area. This is a field-focused role for someone who thrives in the details of technical coordination, layout validation, and translating design intent into real-world installation plans — especially on complex, high-performance projects.

Celebrating over a century of excellence, JH Kelly is a fourth-generation, family-owned construction powerhouse known for tackling complex commercial and heavy industrial projects. With offices in Vancouver, Longview, Seattle, Bellingham, WA, and Milwaukie, OR, we’re an industry leader fueled by an award-winning team committed to safety, quality, and a dynamic, tight-knit culture. Learn more about our story at...

A self-starter who likes getting their hands dirty (even in digital tools), and you know how to build trust with foremen and PMs alike, this is the right seat. We’re seeking a driven, detail-oriented Project Engineer who enjoys owning plumbing coordination down to the last coupling. Comfortable reading plumbing drawings, specs, isometrics, and fixture schedules — and confident spotting conflicts and gaps.

Proficient in Idaho plumbing code and able to identify noncompliant or missing requirements during layout planning and RFIs. Trusted by field leaders for your clarity, responsiveness, and ability to “speak the same language.”

• Design Interpretation & RFI Management

• Review models, specs, Idaho plumbing code, and contract drawings to spot conflicts or missing details.

• Draft precise, solution-focused RFIs for issues like routing constraints, cleanout access, or fixture discrepancies.

• Coordinate with BIM and Engineer of Record (EOR) teams to ensure plumbing documentation is accurate and field-ready.

• Work Package Development

• Strategize with Craft Supervision to maximize off-site prefabrication, accelerating project schedules.

• Develop phased plumbing work packages for sleeves/penetrations, in-wall rough-in, risers, and final fixture sets.

• Use tools like Autodesk Construction Cloud, Revizto, Stratus, and Bluebeam to organize and communicate the scope clearly.

• Sequence packages based on pull plan milestones and align resources with project schedules.

• Field Engineering Support

• Act as the primary technical liaison for plumbing field supervisors and foremen.

• Support layout and pre-assembly efforts, translating designs into actionable installation steps.

• Provide hands‑on support for construction convenience items, access resolutions, and clash avoidance.

• Quality Assurance & Turnover

• Verify installed work meets specifications and design through field inspections.

• Track punch lists and corrective actions to ensure timely completion.

• Ensure systems are turned over clean, compliant, and fully documented.

• Team Collaboration & Culture

• Build strong relationships with foremen, field leadership, project engineers, and PMs.

• Mentor interns or junior engineers and foster a positive, high-trust project culture.

• Show up as a calm, consistent, and capable technical partner on‑site.

• Experience:
  
  5+ years in mechanical construction, with direct support of plumbing scopes on commercial or semiconductor projects.

• Skills:

• Deep knowledge of Idaho plumbing code and experience enforcing it in design and layout planning.

• Functional understanding of orbitally butt‑welded systems, including components and QA requirements.

• Proficiency (or rapid learnability) with Bluebeam, Revizto, and Autodesk Construction Cloud.

• Strong ability to read plumbing drawings, specs, isometrics, and fixture schedules, spotting conflicts and gaps.

• Clear, respectful communication with field teams and a knack for problem‑solving.

• Mindset:
  Detail‑driven, field‑first, with a passion for quality and independent problem‑solving.

• Education:
  
  Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or industrial engineering, construction management, or equivalent hands‑on experience in plumbing installation or field engineering.

• Preferred Qualities:

• Experience in high‑tech or semiconductor construction.

• Background with union craft is a…