Mechanical Designer

This Senior Mechanical Designer – Piping role focuses on delivering high‑quality 3D piping and equipment designs for retrofit, environmental, and new power generation projects and other heavy industrial facilities. The position requires 20+ years of related experience and involves leading multi‑discipline technical efforts, producing detailed drawings and models, and applying relevant codes and standards to ensure safe, efficient, and constructible designs. You will collaborate closely with engineers, designers, plant personnel, and vendors while working with minimal supervision on multiple large projects concurrently.

Responsibilities

• Develop 3D piping and equipment designs for retrofit, environmental, and new generation power projects and similar heavy industrial facilities.
• Produce accurate 2D orthographic and isometric drawings, including piping plans, sections, and details.
• Create and update Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) that clearly define system scope and functional requirements.
• Design pipe supports and associated details, ensuring structural adequacy and constructability.
• Build and maintain 3D piping and equipment models using appropriate design tools to support coordination and clash detection.
• Work closely with engineers and designers from multiple disciplines to deliver safe, effective, and efficient designs.
• Apply applicable industry codes, standards, and company procedures consistently throughout all design work.
• Gather and verify field data, including measurements and existing conditions, to support the development of accurate design deliverables.
• Prepare material take-offs for piping, valves, fittings, and supports to support estimating, procurement, and construction planning.
• Perform sizing and selection of piping components, including pipe materials, fittings, and valves, based on design criteria and service conditions.
• Lead multi-discipline technical teams on assigned projects, coordinating design activities and deliverables across disciplines.
• Review and develop general arrangement drawings to ensure proper equipment layout, accessibility, and maintainability.
• Check design drawings and documents for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with project requirements and standards.
• Provide construction support by responding to field questions, clarifying design intent, and assisting with resolution of design-related issues.
• Manage and prioritize work across multiple large, concurrent projects while meeting quality and schedule expectations.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with plant staff, design engineering teams, and vendors.
• Organize design tasks, documentation, and files in a structured and efficient manner to support project execution and future reference.

• 20+ years of related experience as a mechanical designer in piping systems for power generation or similar heavy industrial facilities.
• Intermediate to advanced design experience in mechanical piping systems for new construction and retrofit projects.
• Proficiency in 3D modeling tools for piping system layout and design.
• Demonstrated experience producing 2D orthographic and isometric piping drawings.
• Experience developing and interpreting P&IDs, including piping and instrumentation details.
• Experience designing pipe supports and creating supporting details and drawings.
• Proven ability to create 3D piping and equipment models for coordination and design development.
• Experience checking design drawings and documents for quality and compliance.
• Experience preparing detailed material take-offs for piping, valves, fittings, and supports.
• Strong technical background in basic piping construction techniques, practices, and concepts.
• Knowledge of pipe and material selection, including appropriate use of materials for different services.
• Knowledge of valve selection and application for various process conditions.
• Ability to work efficiently on multiple large projects at the same time.
• Ability to work with minimal instruction and guidance while maintaining high-quality output.
• Self-motivated with a strong sense of ownership and accountability for assigned work.
• Effective team player with the ability to collaborate across disciplines.
• Good organizational skills, including the ability to manage documentation and project priorities.
• Experience providing construction support for piping and equipment installations.
• Experience reviewing and developing general arrangement drawings.
• Ability to build effective relationships with plant staff, design engineering personnel, and vendors.

• Experience with power generation facilities or other heavy industrial environments.
• Proficiency with AutoPLANT and/or AVEVA design tools for piping layout and modeling.
• Experience using AutoCAD for mechanical and piping design.
• background in mechanical design engineering and mechanical engineering principles as applied to piping systems.
• Experience in equipment layout and equipment design coordination within piping systems.
• Experience in take-offs and quantity development for estimating and procurement support.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing accurate, constructible designs.
• Ability to communicate clearly with multidisciplinary teams and external partners.

This role operates in a project-focused engineering environment that supports power generation and heavy industrial facilities. You will work extensively with 3D modeling and CAD tools such as AutoPLANT, AVEVA, and AutoCAD to develop piping layouts, equipment models, and detailed drawings. The position involves a combination of office-based design work and periodic visits to plant or field locations to gather data and support construction activities. You will collaborate closely with engineers, designers, plant staff, and vendors on multiple concurrent large projects, in a setting that values self-motivation, teamwork, and strong organizational skills. The work environment emphasizes safety, adherence to industry codes and standards, and the delivery of high-quality, practical designs that support successful project execution.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Birmingham, AL.

The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $65.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Birmingham,AL.

This position is anticipated to close on May 4, 2026.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:

• Hiring diverse talent
• Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
• Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
• Ensuring growth opportunities for our people

Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we’ve helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC—with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.

Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.