JOB TITLE: Mechanical Engineer (Rotating Equipment)
LOCATION: Houston / Corpus Christi region, TX
DURATION: 3-6+ Month Contract to Hire or Direct Hire
RATE RANGE: $60-70/hour
TOP 3 SKILLS:
- 7+ years of rotating equipment engineering (pumps, compressors, blowers, fans) on heavy industrial or chemical facilities
- Working knowledge of API 610 pumps and API 682 mechanical seal plans, including reviewing vendor packages, performance curves and datasheets
- Field support for installation and commissioning: grouting, laser alignment, flushing, and FAT/SAT (factory and site acceptance test) review
POSITION SUMMARY:
Our client is looking for a Mechanical Engineer to own rotating equipment on a large industrial construction program, from vendor document review through installation, commissioning and early operation. The equipment includes pumps, compressors, blowers, fans and packaged rotating systems. This person makes sure equipment meets specifications, can be built and maintained, and is installed correctly. They resolve field issues and work with piping, electrical and instrumentation teams on equipment interfaces. The role is field-heavy and needs a practical problem solver who brings recommended solutions and gets equipment turned over without avoidable rework.
RESPONSIBILITIES:- Own rotating equipment from vendor document review through installation and commissioning support. This covers pumps, compressors, blowers, fans and packaged rotating systems.
- Review vendor packages against scope and specifications, including datasheets, general arrangement and sectional drawings, performance curves, seal plans, nozzle-load tables, inspection and test plans, and driver details. Accept, comment on or reject them with a written reason.
- Make sure equipment can be built and maintained: foundation and anchor layouts, coupling and guard details, nozzle-load interfaces with piping, maintenance access, and scope boundaries with packaged vendors.
- Resolve field issues, RFIs and non-conformances on rotating equipment, bringing a recommended path, not an open-ended list of questions.
- Support installation quality, including grouting, soft-foot checks, laser alignment, cleanliness and flushing, lubrication systems, and mechanical completion walks.
- Witness or review FAT, SAT and string-test results, and decide how to handle capacity, vibration and performance deviations from the purchase specification.
- Coordinate with piping, electrical, civil, I&C (instrumentation and controls), construction and vendors on motor and VFD (variable frequency drive) interfaces, lube-oil systems, instrumentation and hazardous-area requirements.
- Support pre-startup reviews, initial run-in, and early reliability issues like seals, vibration and lubrication, so equipment can be turned over without avoidable rework.
QUALIFICATIONS:- 7+ years of rotating equipment engineering on heavy industrial, chemical or similarly complex facilities.
- Working knowledge of API 610 pumps and API 682 mechanical seal plans, including reviewing performance curves, NPSH (net positive suction head) margin, minimum-flow protection and datasheet completeness.
- Experience reviewing vendor rotating-equipment packages and holding incomplete or out-of-scope documents before fabrication or release.
- Field experience with installation, grouting, alignment, flushing and commissioning of pumps and/or compressors.
- Able to read P&IDs, equipment general arrangements, piping isometrics, motor/VFD data and foundation drawings.
- Familiar with rotating equipment in hazardous process service, including seal systems, drivers and area-classification interfaces.
- Proven ability to find field and technical issues, develop practical solutions and close them under aggressive timelines.
- Excellent written and verbal communication; works well in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
- Willing to spend a high share of time in the field and work directly with construction teams and vendors.
TECHNICAL SKILLS:- Bluebeam
- Navisworks or similar; able to work from 3D models and vendor PDFs
- API 610 (pumps) and API 682 (mechanical seals)
- P&IDs, general arrangements, piping isometrics and foundation drawings
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:- Professional Engineer (PE) license or EIT (Engineer in Training) certification
- Experience with API 617 (centrifugal), API 618 (reciprocating) or API 672 (packaged air) compressors, and/or API 670 machinery protection systems
- Experience on $200M+ industrial programs, with exposure to both owner and contractor organizations
- Vibration analysis or reliability engineering experience (ISO 10816/20816 or similar)
- Experience on greenfield chemical or high-hazard manufacturing construction
EDUCATION:- Bachelor s degree in Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent experience
BENEFITS SUMMARY:
Individual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate or annual salary only, unless otherwise stated. In addition to base compensation, full-time roles are eligible for Medical, Dental, Vision, Commuter and 401K benefits with company matching.
FAIR CHANCE POLICY:
Pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, qualified applicants will be considered for assignment with arrest and conviction records. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness, meet client expectations, standards, and accompanying requirements, and safeguard business operations and company reputation.