Head of Process Engineering

General Matter

$170K — $240K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
  • 10+ years of experience in industrial plant design, mechanical systems engineering, or related roles.
  • 5+ years of leadership experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams.
  • Strong understanding of piping systems, plant layout principles, and industrial design standards.
  • Proven ability to develop and implement design processes and documentation frameworks.
  • Excellent communication and organizational skills, with experience interfacing at executive and stakeholder levels.

Responsibilities

  • Provide strategic leadership for a multidisciplinary engineering team aligned with project goals.
  • Establish and enforce design processes and documentation standards for quality assurance.
  • Drive integration between various engineering disciplines, construction teams, and processes.
  • Oversee the development of plant systems and layouts, ensuring compliance with safety standards.
  • Implement design review frameworks to resolve technical and schedule risks promptly.
  • Guide equipment selection and procurement for plant processes.
  • Serve as the primary interface for stakeholders, updating them on design progress and challenges.
  • Develop resource plans and performance management systems for the design team.
  • Champion initiatives for workflow optimization and best practices in industrial design.

Benefits

  • Medical, vision, and dental coverage.
  • Access to a 401(k) retirement plan.
  • Eligibility for long-term incentive programs like stock options.
Full Job Description
About This Role

We are seeking a Head of Engineering Design to build and lead the organization responsible for designing the mechanical systems and plant layout for our next-generation nuclear enrichment facility. This role blends technical leadership with organizational building, driving the development of multidisciplinary teams, engineering processes, and design standards that enable rapid execution without compromising quality. The ideal candidate thrives in highly collaborative environments, enjoys solving complex cross-functional challenges, and knows how to scale engineering organizations from concept through construction.

Responsibilities
  • Provide strategic leadership for a team of Nuclear, Chemical, Process and Mechanical Engineers, Designers, and Supply Chain Specialists, ensuring alignment with overall project goals.
  • Establish and enforce design processes, documentation standards, and configuration management practices to maintain quality and traceability across all deliverables.
  • Drive cross-disciplinary integration between process engineering, mechanical design, facilities and construction teams.
  • Oversee the development of plant systems, layouts, detailed routing and analysis, ensuring compliance with safety, regulatory, and performance requirements.
  • Implement design review frameworks and ensure timely resolution of technical and schedule risks.
  • Oversee and guide the selection and procurement of plant process equipment
  • Serve as the primary interface with senior leadership, project management, and external stakeholders, providing visibility into design progress and challenges.
  • Develop and maintain resource plans, staffing strategies, and performance management systems for the design organization.
  • Champion continuous improvement initiatives, including workflow optimization, tool integration, and best practices for large-scale industrial design.
  • Ensure risk identification and mitigation related to design readiness, procurement timelines, and construction sequencing.


Basic Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
  • 10+ years of experience in industrial plant design, mechanical systems engineering, or related roles.
  • 5+ years of leadership experience, including managing multidisciplinary engineering teams.
  • Strong understanding of piping systems, plant layout principles, and industrial design standards.
  • Proven ability to develop and implement design processes and documentation frameworks.
  • Excellent communication and organizational skills, with experience interfacing at executive and stakeholder levels.


Preferred Skills and Experience
  • Experience in nuclear, chemical, petrochemical, or other high-complexity industrial projects.
  • Familiarity with CAD tools and plant design software (e.g., AVEVA E3D, SmartPlant 3D, AutoCAD Plant 3D).
  • Knowledge of procurement processes and long-lead equipment management.
  • Demonstrated success in building high-performing teams and scaling engineering organizations.
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment, balancing technical rigor with schedule and cost constraints.

Additional Requirements:
  • Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary.

Compensation and Benefits

The base salary range for this role is $170,000-$240,000 annually.

Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. Please note that the stated salary range is an estimate and may be adjusted based on market conditions, business needs, or other factors. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.

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