Job Title: Senior Mechanical Engineer Status: Full-time, Exempt
Location: Caldwell, ID Salary range: $140,000 - $175,000 annual
About us: Industrial Builders (IB) is a heavy industrial EPC contractor headquartered in Caldwell, Idaho, with operations in Buffalo, Missouri. Power generation is our core: geothermal, gas turbine, cogeneration, and advanced nuclear plants, self-performed from foundations to energization. The same crews self-perform heavy civil and industrial work of every kind, from site development and process facilities to the data centers driving new load across the country. We carry engineering, permitting, civil, fabrication, mechanical, electrical, controls, and commissioning, delivered as EPC construction, modular field assembly, or factory-built systems.
We have more than 1 GW built and under contract, 16 plants including first-of-kind plants in 4 states, a craft contingent of 500+ from concrete to controls, and $240M in bonding capacity per project. We are the balance of plant EPC contractor for Fervo Energy's Cape Station Phase 1 (120 MW) in Beaver County, Utah. Our hiring filter has not changed since Dave Erlebach started the company: hire people who like hard problems.
Job Summary: IB needs a senior mechanical engineer who can design a facility's mechanical systems, then put a number on that work that holds up through commissioning. You will lead mechanical design across our power generation work and the broader heavy industrial projects we self-perform, from process facilities to data centers. On major pursuits, you will build the mechanical estimate with our estimating team. Mechanical is where our fabrication shop and field crews spend the most hours, so your equipment selections, spool packages, and production rates drive the cost and schedule of the whole job. You will also set IB's mechanical design standards and develop the engineers and designers on your team.
What Industrial Builders Offers:
- Competitive Salary
- Weekly pay with Direct Deposit
- Generous PTO Program
- Comprehensive Health/Dental/Vision/Insurance
- Career Development and professional growth opportunities
- Paid holidays
- 401 K
Objectives of this role:
- Lead mechanical design for power conversion systems: ORC and steam cycles, turbine and generator interfaces, heat exchangers, condensers, and air-cooled, wet, and hybrid cooling systems.
- Own balance of plant mechanical: brine and process piping, pumps, compressors, NCG handling, fire protection, compressed air, and plant utilities.
- Produce and approve P&IDs, equipment specifications, datasheets, line lists, and piping layouts, and run 3D model reviews.
- Perform or direct pipe stress analysis, hydraulic calculations, and equipment sizing.
- Build and defend heat and mass balances, including gross versus net output and parasitic loads.
- Write design criteria and basis of design documents for new plant configurations, including first-of-kind systems.
- Manage the mechanical interface with turbine OEMs, reactor vendors, and package suppliers.
- Design mechanical systems for data center and industrial facilities, including on-site power generation, heat rejection, and cooling water systems.
- Lead the mechanical estimate on major pursuits, working with our estimating team: quantity takeoffs, equipment pricing, labor hours, and production rates.
- Review vendor quotes for scope and technical completeness and recommend equipment selections and long-lead buys.
- Call out mechanical scope gaps, risks, and exclusions before pricing goes out.
- Present the mechanical approach to clients during pursuits and technical clarifications.
- Work with our fabrication shop on spool drawings, fabrication packages, and shop versus field splits.
- Manage mechanical RFIs, submittals, and field changes, and keep the design current with what gets built.
- Support welding programs, including WPS and PQR review under ASME Section IX.
- Lead mechanical testing, hydrotest, flushing, and turnover packages.
- Support startup and commissioning on site through initial operation.
- Apply ASME B31.1, B31.3, and BPVC Section VIII, plus TEMA, API, and NFPA standards where they govern.
- Support IB's quality program on nuclear work, including NQA-1 requirements and commercial-grade procurement.
- Review vendor documentation and close out mechanical nonconformances.
- Build safety into every design and model IB's safety culture in the office and on site.
- Mentor and review the work of mechanical engineers and designers.
- Own the mechanical design standards, templates, and checklists used on every IB project.
- Work with the civil, electrical, and controls leads to deliver a single integrated design.
Required skills and qualifications:
- BS in Mechanical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
- 10+ years of mechanical engineering experience, with at least 5 in power generation, heavy industrial, process, or mission-critical facilities.
- Active PE license, or able to obtain one within 12 months of hire.
- Experience as engineer of record or lead mechanical engineer on plant-scale projects.
- Depth in piping design, rotating equipment, heat transfer equipment, and thermodynamic cycle analysis.
- Exposure to mechanical estimating on EPC or design-build work, such as quantity takeoffs, equipment pricing, or bid reviews.
- Working knowledge of CAESAR II or similar stress software, AutoCAD Plant 3D or Navisworks, and strong Excel skills.
- Clear communication with clients, vendors, and crews, in writing and in person.
- Geothermal experience, especially ORC binary plants.
- Nuclear balance of plant experience or work under an NQA-1 program.
- Time at a self-perform contractor, or field time on construction and commissioning.
- Thermal modeling tools such as Thermoflex, Aspen, or EES.
- Data center or mission-critical facility experience.
- OSHA 30 Construction certification.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The work environment is often busy, and the noise level can be loud. The employee will need excellent organizational and time and stress management skills to complete the required tasks.
Physical Abilities
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to use hand to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, climb, or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
- Please note this job description is designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.