Project Engineer, Process Engineer

Project Engineer

The Project Engineer is responsible for managing capital and plant improvement projects from scope development through design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and turnover to operations. This is a plant-based project role, not a desk-only design position or a pure project management role.

Projects will typically range from $10,000 to $1,000,000, with an annual project portfolio of approximately $2 million to $5 million. The Project Engineer will have access to senior technical resources for design support, but must be able to independently develop scopes, perform basic engineering checks, manage contractors, and drive projects to completion.

Key responsibilities and accountabilities include managing assigned projects from concept through closeout, developing practical engineering scopes for process equipment, performing screening-level engineering calculations, coordinating with internal senior engineers, vendors, and outside engineering resources on design reviews, technical troubleshooting, process safety input, and higher-risk or specialty equipment designs, overseeing contractors across civil/structural, electrical, mechanical, instrumentation, insulation, coatings, rigging, and general construction disciplines, and coordinating field work with production, maintenance, safety, quality, and operations to minimize downtime, manage project risk, and support safe execution.

Essential skills and experience include a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline, 5+ years of engineering or project execution experience preferred in a chemical plant, refinery, industrial manufacturing facility, or similar process environment, working knowledge of common chemical plant equipment, ability to perform plant-level engineering checks without relying entirely on vendors or senior engineers, experience coordinating contractors in an active industrial facility, ability to read and interpret P&IDs, equipment drawings, piping layouts, electrical drawings, instrument details, structural drawings, vendor data sheets, and construction documents, experience with batch chemical manufacturing, specialty chemical production, PSM-covered processes, MOC, PHAs, PSSRs, or mechanical integrity preferred, and familiarity with OSHA PSM, ASME, API, NFPA, NEC, RAGAGEP, and other applicable codes or standards preferred.

This is a plant-based role with regular time in operating areas and construction zones. Planned off-hours support may be required for outages, tie-ins, commissioning, shutdowns, or other scheduled project work. Routine work is primarily during normal business hours.

Colonial Chemical is a manufacturer of specialty chemicals and surfactants, with an emphasis on environmentally friendly products. Our chemicals go into personal care, household and industrial cleaning, vehicle care, metalworking, and many other industries.