Mechanical Project Engineer - Pharmaceutical Capital Projects

Location: Richmond, VA
Work Arrangement: Onsite, 5 days per week

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Mechanical Project Engineer to support a large-scale greenfield capital project associated with the expansion of Eli Lilly's Richmond manufacturing site.

This is an opportunity to play a key role in the delivery of complex pharmaceutical manufacturing infrastructure, leading mechanical engineering workstreams from early design and feasibility through construction, commissioning, qualification, startup, and final turnover.

The ideal candidate brings a strong background in pharmaceutical or biotechnology capital projects, with hands-on technical expertise across mechanical building systems, HVAC, utilities, process piping, and facility infrastructure. Just as importantly, you will bring the project leadership skills needed to manage scope, schedule, budget, risk, and change while maintaining a strong focus on safety, quality, and GMP compliance.

What You'll Do

As the Mechanical Project Engineer, you will serve as a technical and project lead for assigned systems and workstreams. You will collaborate closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Facilities, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, EHS, external engineering partners, contractors, and vendors.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead multiple capital project workstreams through conceptual design, detailed engineering, construction, commissioning, qualification, and startup.
• Serve as the mechanical engineering lead for assigned projects, systems, and areas.
• Develop User Requirements Specifications (URS) and establish project design basis in collaboration with key stakeholders.
• Manage and coordinate external engineering firms, construction managers, contractors, equipment suppliers, and vendors.
• Review and approve engineering deliverables, including drawings, specifications, calculations, design packages, and other technical documentation.
• Provide technical oversight for HVAC, clean utilities, plant utilities, process piping, mechanical equipment, and utility distribution systems.
• Coordinate engineering and project activities across Manufacturing, Facilities, QA, QC, EHS, and other functional teams.
• Oversee construction execution, equipment startup, commissioning activities, system turnover, and qualification support.
• Review and support approval of commissioning and qualification protocols.
• Provide hands-on engineering support and technical troubleshooting for facility, utility, and process systems.
• Plan and coordinate facility shutdowns, system tie-ins, and integrations while minimizing disruption to ongoing operations.
• Manage project scope, schedules, budgets, forecasts, capital requests, and change orders.
• Identify technical and project risks and develop mitigation strategies to maintain project objectives.
• Support RFP development, contractor and vendor selection, bid evaluations, procurement activities, and technical evaluations.
• Prepare project status updates and clearly communicate progress, risks, decisions, and priorities to project stakeholders and leadership.
• Ensure engineering and project activities align with applicable GMP requirements, regulatory expectations, engineering standards, safety requirements, and company policies.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers and broader project teams.

What You'll Bring

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 7+ years of experience as a Project Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Project Manager, or similar engineering professional within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, or another regulated manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience delivering mid- to large-scale capital projects from design and engineering through construction, commissioning, qualification, and startup.
• Strong knowledge of pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities and supporting mechanical infrastructure.
• Experience reviewing engineering designs, specifications, calculations, and construction documentation associated with:
  • HVAC systems
  • Clean utilities
  • Plant utilities
  • Process piping systems
  • Mechanical equipment installations
  • Utility distribution systems
• Hands-on experience supporting equipment and system startup, commissioning, and turnover.
• Experience managing engineering consultants, construction contractors, vendors, and cross-functional project teams.
• Experience developing URS documents, design basis documentation, and technical design packages.
• Strong understanding of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and engineering within regulated pharmaceutical environments.
• Demonstrated project management experience across scope, cost, schedule, risk, and change management.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, and Visio.
• Strong written and verbal English communication skills.
• Ability to work onsite in Richmond, Virginia, five days per week.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) license
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

This position involves work in both office and active construction/site environments. Candidates must be able to:

• Wear required personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Participate in routine site walks and construction oversight activities.
• Navigate ladders, stairs, and scaffolding as required.
• Access mechanical rooms, utility areas, and interstitial spaces.
• Work effectively within an active capital-project and construction environment.

Why This Opportunity

This role offers the opportunity to contribute directly to a significant pharmaceutical manufacturing expansion while owning critical mechanical engineering workstreams throughout the complete capital-project lifecycle.

You'll work at the intersection of engineering, construction, manufacturing, and GMP project delivery, with direct involvement from design through startup and turnover.

If you have successfully delivered complex mechanical systems within pharmaceutical or biotech environments and enjoy being close to both the engineering and field execution, we'd like to hear from you.