Description
Position:
Lead Project Engineer
Supervisor: Director of Global Accounts
Location:
Libertyville, IL - Hybrid
Description:
We are seeking a customer-obsessed, highly motivated Lead Project Engineer to lead customer-facing mechanical design and water treatment projects from concept development through execution and post-installation support. This role collaborates with Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, Field Service and customers to develop engineered solutions, create technical documentation, ensure design-for-manufacturing principles, and deliver successful project outcomes. The position manages project scope, schedules, costs, and cross-functional coordination while supporting continuous improvement, operational efficiency, and guarantees customer satisfaction for industrial and data center applications.
Responsibilities:
Lead various phases of customer-facing water treatment projects from initial concept development and proposal support through detailed design, fabrication, startup, and post-installation support for strategic and global accounts.
Develop and maintain 3D models, 2D drawings, P&IDs, general arrangement drawings, BOM’s, equipment layouts, and fabrication assembly instructions using Autodesk/SolidWorks and related engineering tools.
Partner with Sales, Customers, Manufacturing, Procurement, and Project Management teams to deliver technically sound, cost-effective solutions while balancing schedule, quality, and commercial objectives.
Coordinate cross-functional project execution, manage priorities, monitor scope, identify risks and dependencies, facilitate technical reviews, and communicate project status to internal and external stakeholders using MS Projects or similar tools.
Support financial performance by monitoring project costs, change orders, margins, revenue recognition, and engineering hours while maintaining accurate documentation and project records.
Drive continuous improvement through standardization, process optimization, training, documentation development, and implementation of new technologies, automation tools, and AI-enabled engineering workflows.
Perform other duties as assigned to support departmental and organizational goals.
Requirements:
Education & Background: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Industrial Engineering or related technical field. PMP, PE certification, and experience with PLC architectures is a plus.
Experience & Technical Skills: 5-10 years of industry-specific experience in capital equipment design, project management, industrial engineering in hydronics or water treatment applications. A strong foundation in process modeling, hydraulics, and engineering fundamentals and high level of CAD proficiency. Knowledge of Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Python, or AI tools is a plus.
Professional Capabilities: Strong EQ, highly organized, polished presentation, business acumen, analytical and problem-solving skills, effective communicator, collaborative team player, high energy and proactive mindset, strong work ethic, and integrity.
Other Requirements: This role typically requires four (4) days per week on-site, in addition to occasional customer visits. Ability to travel up to 25% required.
Competencies:
To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies in this position:
Integrity, Resourcefulness, Customer Focus, Team Player, Adaptability, Excellence
As the world’s leading water experts, we are dedicated to delivering high-quality water solutions to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois, Culligan International offers technologically advanced, state of the art water filtration products, including: water softeners, water filtration systems, industrial water treatment solutions, drinking water systems and whole-house filtration systems.
We offer competitive compensation including base & benefits including: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, 401(k), Paid time off, Additional voluntary benefits