Project Development Engineer

New Opportunity!! Project Development Engineer - Direct Hire

NES Fircroft is actively seeking an experienced Project Development Engineer for our client based in Augusta, Georgia. This will be a full-time direct hire position with our client, who is seeking an experienced Project Engineer with a passion for the developmental stages of Capital Projects including Front-End Loading and Detailed Design work.

This position is open to candidates coming from a background in Chemical, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.

All interested candidates are encouraged to send their resume files to [email protected] along with their availability.

Project Development Engineer

Location: Augusta, Georgia

Position Type: Full-Time

Reports To: Capital Projects Manager / Site Engineering Manager

Position Summary
Our Client is seeking a highly motivated and technically strong Project Development Engineer to support capital project development and execution activities at the Augusta, Georgia facility. This role is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and developing capital projects that improve safety, reliability, operational efficiency, environmental performance, and business profitability.
The Project Development Engineer will work closely with Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, Process Engineering, Environmental, and Project Execution teams to advance projects from concept through commissioning. The successful candidate will provide technical leadership, develop project scopes and business cases, manage engineering activities, and ensure successful delivery of capital investments aligned with our client’s strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Capital Project Development

• Identify and develop capital project opportunities supporting plant operations and business objectives.
• Lead project development activities from conceptual design through Front-End Loading (FEL) and authorization stages.
• Develop project scopes, design criteria, economic analyses, and funding requests.
• Prepare and present business cases to site and corporate leadership.
• Evaluate technical alternatives and recommend optimal solutions.

Engineering and Technical Leadership

• Coordinate multidisciplinary engineering efforts including:
  • Mechanical
  • Electrical
  • Instrumentation & Controls
  • Civil/Structural
  • Process Engineering
• Review engineering deliverables for quality, completeness, and compliance with company standards.
• Support process optimization and debottlenecking initiatives.
• Participate in design reviews, HAZOPs, Process Hazard Reviews, and Management of Change processes.
• Develop equipment specifications and support vendor selection activities.

Project Execution

• Manage project scope, schedule, budget, and risk throughout project lifecycle.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and external engineering firms, contractors, and suppliers.
• Monitor project progress and resolve technical and execution challenges.
• Support procurement activities, contractor management, and construction planning.
• Ensure project deliverables meet cost, schedule, and performance objectives.

Construction, Startup, and Commissioning

• Provide engineering support during construction and installation activities.
• Participate in commissioning, startup, and performance testing activities.
• Verify project objectives and design intent are achieved.
• Support turnover to operations and maintenance organizations.

Safety and Compliance

• Promote and demonstrate a strong commitment to site safety culture.
• Ensure projects comply with:
  • OSHA regulations
  • Process Safety Management (PSM) requirements
  • Environmental regulations
  • Applicable industry codes and standards
• Participate in safety reviews and risk assessments.
• Support incident investigations and implementation of corrective actions.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in:
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Metallurgical Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Related engineering discipline
• Minimum 5-10 years of engineering experience in a manufacturing, chemical processing, mining, fertilizer, metals, pulp and paper, or heavy industrial environment.
• Experience supporting capital projects from concept through implementation.
• Knowledge of project development, engineering design, and construction processes.
• Strong understanding of safety, reliability, and operational excellence principles.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Experience in:
  • Fertilizer manufacturing
  • Chemical processing
  • Sulfuric acid or phosphate operations
  • Mining and minerals processing
  • Industrial manufacturing facilities
• Experience with:
  • SAP
  • Primavera P6
  • Microsoft Project
  • AutoCAD
• Familiarity with:
  • API
  • ASME
  • ISA
  • NFPA standards

Technical Competencies

• Capital Project Management
• Front-End Engineering Design (FEED)
• Cost Estimating and Business Case Development
• Process Improvement and Debottlenecking
• Equipment Selection and Specification
• Reliability Engineering
• Risk Assessment and Mitigation
• Construction Support
• Commissioning and Startup
• Contractor Management

Leadership Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to influence without direct authority.
• Results-oriented with strong execution capabilities.
• Strategic thinker with a continuous improvement mindset.

Success Measures
The successful candidate will:

• Develop and execute capital projects that improve site safety, reliability, and productivity.
• Deliver projects within approved scope, schedule, and budget.
• Successfully advance projects through capital approval process.
• Build strong partnerships across operations, maintenance, engineering, and leadership teams.
• Contribute to the long-term growth and operational success of the Augusta facility.

Ideal Candidate Profile
An engineer with a strong industrial manufacturing background who enjoys turning ideas into executable projects. Candidates with experience in fertilizer, chemical, mining, metals processing, pulp and paper, or similar continuous-process industries will be particularly successful. A combination of technical expertise, business acumen, and project leadership skills is essential.

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.