Project Engineer, Facilities and Utilities

Role summary

• Manages assigned electrical, HVAC, utility, backup-power, capacity-expansion, and building technical systems infrastructure projects from definition through testing, startup, and turnover.

• The role converts operational needs and existing-condition data into coordinated engineering packages and executable outage, tie-in, energization, and cutover plans.

• Supports reliable and resilient facility operations while minimizing disruption to active manufacturing.

• Verify existing field conditions and assess the accuracy, completeness, and limitations of available utility information.

• Develop design criteria, user needs, system requirements, system boundaries, and engineering work packages.

• Coordinate capacity, demand, reliability, redundancy, maintainability, resilience, and lifecycle assessments.

• Identify utility constraints, enabling work, temporary-service needs, third-party dependencies, and operational impacts.

• Integrate electrical, HVAC, utility, controls, automation, maintenance, and building technical systems interfaces.

• Prepare and manage technical specifications, bid-scope documents, design reviews, and technical bid evaluations.

• Coordinate designers, consultants, vendors, utility providers, contractors, and Owner stakeholders.

• Develop shutdown, tie-in, energization, cutover, contingency, communication, restoration, and temporary-utility strategies.

• Support submittal review, field issue resolution, testing, commissioning, startup, and turnover.

• Update utility capacity-planning records, system documentation, and final closeout records.

• Existing conditions, source data, field limitations, and unresolved gaps are documented before design decisions rely on them.

• Capacity conclusions are traceable to loads, assumptions, calculations, and source information.

• Approved design criteria and interface documents align affected disciplines and active operations.

• Shutdown and cutover plans define prerequisites, sequence, roles, risks, contingency actions, communications, and restoration steps.

• Testing and commissioning requirements are completed, and final records accurately reflect the installed condition and remaining constraints.

• The role recommends and coordinates technical solutions; outages, cutovers, and changes affecting active operations require authorized Owner approval.

• Specialized testing, destructive investigation, and utility-provider services are managed when assigned but are not assumed to be self-performed.

• Regular onsite field verification and presence during construction, testing, outages, tie-ins, energizations, and cutovers.

• Potential work around energized equipment, mechanical rooms, rooftops, utility yards, and active industrial areas, subject to permits and PPE.

• Travel may be required for vendor inspections or factory testing.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, facilities, or related engineering, or equivalent technical education and progressively responsible experience.

• Typically 7+ years managing facility and utility capital projects in operating industrial environments.

• Documented experience supporting construction projects with total installed cost exceeding $30 million is required.

• Experience with energized systems, operational cutovers, and regulated or mission-critical facilities is required.

• Required skills or knowledge

• Utility load and capacity assessment; design criteria development; electrical distribution and/or HVAC/central utility systems; reliability and redundancy concepts; shutdown and cutover planning; commissioning readiness; technical specifications; contractor and utility-provider coordination; and structured risk management.

• Required licenses or certifications, if applicable

• Professional Engineer license is preferred and may be required for responsible-charge duties.

• Required electrical-safety, lockout/tagout, arc-flash awareness, site safety, and GMP training must be current for assigned activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with backup generation, medium-voltage distribution, controls integration, chilled water, compressed air, or other critical utilities.

• PMP, CEM, PE, or commissioning credential.

• Experience developing utilities master plans and supporting capacity-expansion programs.

• Experience executing shutdowns and cutovers in continuously operating pharmaceutical or biotechnology facilities.

• Key working relationships

• Facilities, Utilities, Maintenance, Operations, Engineering, Automation, EHS, Quality, and Security, for requirements and operational continuity.

• Design consultants, OEMs, contractors, commissioning providers, and utility companies, for technical delivery and testing.

• Procurement and project controls, for package strategy, schedule, cost, and risk alignment.

Benefits:

Healthcare Insurance: Synectics offers eligible employees and their dependents healthcare coverage through BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois. Eligibility begins on the 1st day of the calendar month following 60 days of continuous full time employment with Synectics. Premiums are subsidized by Synectics.

Dental Insurance: Synectics offers eligible employees and their dependents a dental plan through MetLife. Eligibility begins on the 1st day of the calendar month following 60 days of continuous full time employment with Synectics.

Vision Insurance: Synectics offers eligible employees vision insurance through VSP. Eligibility begins on the 1st day of the calendar month following 60 days of continuous full time employment with Synectics.

401(k) Plan: The Synectics Inc. Investment Savings Retirement Plan. Synectics offers all employees who are 21 years of age or older the opportunity to invest in the 401(k) Plan on the first of the month following at least 1 calendar year after employment begins.

Synectics is an equal opportunity employer.

Synectics is a leading staffing and workforce solutions company dedicated to connecting exceptional talent with top organizations. We specialize in IT, engineering, finance, healthcare, and professional services recruitment, offering both contract and permanent staffing solutions. With a people-first approach, we focus on understanding the unique needs of our clients and candidates to create long-term, successful matches. Our mission is to empower businesses with the right talent while helping professionals achieve rewarding career opportunities