Purpose
We are currently seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer – Heat Transfer Equipment to provide senior technical leadership and subject matter expertise across complex greenfield and brownfield projects. This role is a senior technical authority within the Mechanical discipline, specializing in heat transfer equipment including shell-and-tube heat exchangers, air coolers, plate heat exchangers, fired heaters (interface), reboilers, condensers, and related thermal systems.
The Principal Mechanical Engineer – Heat Transfer Equipment is accountable for the technical excellence, safety, quality, and delivery of heat transfer equipment engineering across projects. This individual plays a key role in mentoring engineers, supporting discipline leadership, and providing expert input into design, procurement, vendor engagement, and site execution. The position operates at a high level of autonomy and technical influence, supporting project delivery teams, clients, and internal stakeholders across a diverse portfolio of energy, resources, and industrial projects.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as a senior technical authority and subject matter expert for heat transfer equipment across projects, providing technical leadership and oversight.
- Deliver safe, sustainable, and technically sound engineering solutions for heat exchangers and thermal equipment in both greenfield and brownfield facilities.
- Lead and/or perform complex engineering activities including equipment selection, thermal design review, specifications, datasheets, technical bid evaluations, and vendor technical clarifications.
- Provide expert technical review and approval of heat transfer equipment deliverables produced by project teams and global execution centres.
- Serve as a technical escalation point for complex thermal performance issues, mechanical design challenges, fouling, vibration, thermal stress, and non-conformance resolution.
- Support and advise Mechanical Leads and Project Engineering Managers on heat transfer equipment strategies, execution planning, constructability, and technical risk management.
- Interface with vendors and OEMs as a technical authority, including participation in technical alignment meetings, shop inspections, factory acceptance tests (FATs), and site support activities.
- Provide mentorship, technical coaching, and professional development support to intermediate and senior mechanical engineers within the Mechanical discipline.
- Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of discipline standards, specifications, tools, templates, and best practices related to heat exchangers and thermal equipment.
- Support workshare execution with global delivery centres, ensuring technical consistency, quality, and adherence to project and company standards.
- Participate in HAZOPs, constructability reviews, 3D model reviews, and site visits as required.
- Contribute to project planning, effort estimation, resourcing strategies, and execution approaches for heat transfer equipment scope.
- Support proposal development, technical risk reviews, value engineering initiatives, and client presentations related to heat exchanger and thermal systems engineering.
- Act as the Mechanical heat transfer equipment representative within multidisciplinary project teams and in client technical engagements.
- Technical and Industry Experience
- Extensive experience delivering heat transfer equipment engineering for major capital and sustaining projects in industries such as:
- Oil & Gas (upstream, midstream, downstream)
- Refining and petrochemicals
- Gas processing and LNG
- Hydrogen (blue/green)
- Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS)
- Energy transition, decarbonization, and emerging energy projects
- Key technical strengths include:
- Deep technical expertise in thermal design, mechanical design, specification, fabrication, installation, commissioning, and troubleshooting of heat transfer equipment.
- Strong experience supporting brownfield revamps, debottlenecking, capacity expansion, fouling mitigation, thermal performance improvement, and reliability upgrades.
- Highly conversant with applicable industry codes and standards, including but not limited to:
- TEMA
- ASME Section VIII
- API 660
- API 661
- Relevant ASME, ASTM, and industry standards for pressure vessels and thermal equipment
- Strong understanding of operability, maintainability, inspection, fouling mechanisms, corrosion, vibration, and lifecycle performance of heat exchangers.
- Proven ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams and to interface with clients, vendors, construction teams, and operations personnel.
- Demonstrated technical leadership, mentorship, and coaching capability across multiple experience levels.
- Advanced proficiency with standard engineering tools and software (e.g., MS Office Suite, heat exchanger thermal design software, engineering document management systems, and calculation tools).
Education – Qualifications, Accreditation, Training
Required:
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.
- Registered Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) with APEGA (or eligible for immediate registration).
- Extensive and relevant mechanical engineering experience with a strong focus on heat transfer equipment in industrial facilities.
Preferred:
- Demonstrated experience acting as a technical authority or lead SME for heat transfer equipment on large, multidisciplinary capital projects.
- Experience supporting proposals, business development activities, technical governance initiatives, or discipline capability development.