ProFound Staffing is working with a growing environmental-friendly manufacturing company located in Houston, Texas searching for a Lead Project Engineer (PE) - Mechanical & Fire Protection who can serve as the licensed technical authority on aircraft hangar projects where details matter and excuses don’t. This role requires a disciplined PE who leads 65% and 95% designs with confidence, challenges assumptions, and takes ownership of every coordinated submittal package before it reaches the client. If you prefer staying in the background or handing off unresolved redlines, this will feel uncomfortable.
Your work directly impacts hangars that protect F-35s, fifth-generation fighters, and major airline fleets that cannot afford downtime. Missed constructability risks, weak BIM coordination, or sloppy code interpretation don’t just create paperwork issues, they delay missions and erode trust.
If the work is done right, you will be instrumental in delivering a fire protection system that safeguards lives, protects aircraft, and prevents environmental damage for the next 50 to 100 years.
Does this level of ownership intimidate you, but at the same time make it irresistible? You might be humble and confident enough for this role.
Travel Requirements:
- Expect travel approximately 1–2 times per month
- Most trips are short (1–2 days) for site visits and client meetings
- Travel may be slightly more frequent during initial onboarding and relationship building
- Travel to client sites in the USA and Canada to support design validation, coordination meetings, and field alignment
Work Schedule:
- This is an onsite position in Houston, Texas.
Education & Professional Licenses:
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Civil, or Fire Protection Engineering
- An active Professional Engineer (PE) license in Mechanical, Civil or Fire Protection Engineering (required)
Requirements:
- 7+ years of experience in aviation, military, or large-scale infrastructure projects
- Direct experience leading design review meetings with sophisticated clients such as NAVFAC, USACE, architect engineering firms, and Canadian Air Force engineering branches
- Strong understanding of building specifications, contract specifications, and relevant building codes such as NFPA standards and UFC criteria
- Experience coordinating multi-discipline design packages (MEP, structural, civil, fire protection)
- Confidence presenting technical solutions in formal 65% and 95% design review meetings
- Experience reviewing and redlining complete engineering submittal packages
- Experience leveraging AI tools (Claude.ai or ChatGPT) to streamline workflows, with a mindset for adopting new technologies over traditional manual processes
Responsibilities:
- Serve as the technical lead for aircraft hangar projects, ensuring all engineering aspects are executed with precision and completeness
- Lead client design review meetings, including 65% and 95% reviews and redline resolution sessions
- Review and interpret client drawings, specifications, and layouts to guide the development of the company’s general arrangement drawings and coordinated submittal packages
- Lead two highly capable junior engineers who prepare design packages and submittals; thoroughly review, refine, and approve their work before client submission
- Propose layout options, pipe routing strategies, and containment tank placement based on each project’s structural and operational constraints
- Ensure the company’s CAD and Revit models integrate cleanly into client BIM environments
- Identify constructability risks early and translate field lessons into improved design standards
- Support the Project Manager and Installation Manager as the primary technical authority on multiple concurrent projects
This role will naturally evolve into leading a small engineering team over time. While the two junior engineers may not report formally at the beginning, you are expected to function as the technical leader of this group from day one.
Soft Skills:
- Must have a strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work under pressure and produce results.
- Ability to multi-task and have excellent time management skills.
- Ability to learn quickly and adapt.
- Must have a strong aptitude, attitude and work ethic.
- Flexible to change direction when needed.
Culture and Benefits:
This company has about 85 team members and growing. Their most successful team members connect to their mission, thrive in a fast-paced environment, deliver individual high-quality results as part of a team, and want to do better every day.
This company is a meritocracy. The more value you create, the more benefits in terms of the responsibility you will receive. Successful people at this company see themselves as owners of the company and treat it as such.
- Four weeks of paid vacation. Five weeks after two years of employment and six weeks after four years of employment.
- Health insurance – including company paid premium
- Dental, Vision, and Life insurance options.
- Free CrossFit and Barbell membership
- Stock options package (earned, not given).
About ProFound Staffing:
ProFound Staffing specializes in direct-hire placement of senior professionals across all business functions—from technology, engineering, operations to finance, HR, marketing, and leadership. We help emerging startups and mid-size companies build the strategic talent foundation they need to thrive. We don't just fill positions—we build the teams that drive long-term success.
