Fabrication Project Engineer
Gillespie Precast is seeking a Fabrication Project Engineer to join our team in Chestertown, Maryland. The Fabrication Project Engineer supports Gillespie Precast's fabrication department by managing projects from quotation through delivery, prioritizing customer and internal fabrication work, and developing fabrication designs and AutoCAD drawings. This role serves as the primary connection between design, estimating, production, and project execution. The shop serves three connected functions: fabrication and repair support for the plants, fabrication of precast concrete forms, and fabrication of products sold with precast such as ladders, trash racks, cast-in components, and connection plates, with additional product lines anticipated over time.
Across those three functions, the role carries the technical work from concept to completion; producing fabrication drawings in AutoCAD, designing formwork and other fabricated items, and estimating and project managing each job from quote to delivery. Whether supporting plant fabrication and repairs, building precast concrete forms, or fabricating products sold with precast, the engineer interprets job plans that often arrive with limited information, applies lean manufacturing and design principles, and determines the most cost-effective, buildable way to meet the customer’s needs.
About Gillespie Precast
Gillespie Precast is a family-owned and operated leader in precast concrete manufacturing, serving the Mid-Atlantic region with innovative infrastructure solutions. Our product offerings include box culverts, stormwater systems, sanitary structures, pump stations, utility vaults, rigid frame structures, and custom precast concrete designs.
As a growing organization, Gillespie Precast operates four production facilities and employs approximately 200 team members dedicated to delivering high-quality engineered solutions and exceptional customer service. Our continued growth is driven by a commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and building lasting relationships with our customers, employees, and communities.
Why Join Gillespie Precast?
- Join a growing, family-owned manufacturer serving the Mid-Atlantic region
- Play a key role in supporting infrastructure and construction projects
- Work across engineering, manufacturing, and operations teams
- Help shape and grow a fabrication shop with expanding product lines
- Competitive compensation, bonus opportunities, and excellent benefits
- Opportunities for career growth as the business continues to expand
Key Responsibilities
Estimating & Project Management
- Prepare cost estimates and material takeoffs from drawings and specifications.
- Manage fabrication shop projects from quoting and detailing to delivery.
- Track estimated-versus-actual fabrication cost and use the results to refine designs and estimates.
- Prioritize and balance competing projects across internal plant needs, sellable product work, and customer delivery dates.
- Coordinate with Plant Management, Production Scheduling, and Sales to keep projects on schedule and report progress to operations leadership.
Design & Detailing
- Produce fabrication and shop drawings in AutoCAD for precast forms, formwork, and various fabricated products.
- Interpret job plans that contain limited, incomplete or inaccurate information, resolve gaps and make sound design decisions to produce fabrication-ready details.
- Detail weldments, connections, and hardware, applying weld symbols and structural/shop conventions.
- Develop and maintain standard fabrication details and CAD detail libraries for recurring products and forms.
- Support dimensional and quality review of designs and fabricated products before they ship with precast orders.
- Determine the most cost-effective way to fabricate each item while meeting the customer’s needs and quality requirements.
- Design and detail fabricated products sold with precast—ladders, trash racks, bolt and lifting plates, and future product lines.
Precast Form Fabrication & Industrial Maintenance
- Assist in the design and detailing of precast concrete formwork, including the build, modification, and repair of existing forms.
- Translate product and form designs into fabrication-ready AutoCAD details.
- Schedule form work against plant production timelines so new or modified forms are available when needed.
- Track form-fabrication labor and material cost against budget.
- Manage and document maintenance and repairs of existing forms and plant equipment.
- Assist the industrial maintenance team with in-plant projects as needed.
Required Qualifications
- 3+ years of experience in steel fabrication, manufacturing, or construction in design, engineering, estimating, or project management role.
- Ability to read and interpret fabrication drawings, weld symbols, and structural/shop details.
- Strong math skills.
- Proficiency in AutoCAD for producing fabrication and shop drawings.
- Ability to work from limited or ambiguous job plans and make sound design and cost decisions independently.
- Working knowledge of lean manufacturing and design principles.
- Experience with Microsoft Excel for building and managing estimating tools.
- Strong project-management, scheduling, and prioritization skills across competing internal and external demands.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across shop, plant, and office teams.
Preferred Qualifications
- Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Construction Management, Engineering Technology, Industrial Technology, or a related field preferred.
- Experience with lean or continuous-improvement programs in a fabrication or manufacturing setting.
- Experience designing forms or tooling for precast, concrete, or other heavy manufacturing.
- Familiarity with Titan or a comparable ERP/estimating system.
- Experience with CNC fabrication equipment and their input data.
- Experience with fabrication design, manufacturing engineering, project engineering, or CAD-based mechanical design.
- Experience with structural steel detailing, fabrication detailing, or mechanical drafting.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary: $85,000–$120,000 annually, based on experience, qualifications, and technical expertise.
- Eligibility for a discretionary, performance-based bonus
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) plan with company match
- Paid vacation, sick leave, and company holidays
- Tuition reimbursement and professional development support
Equal Opportunity & Workplace Commitment
Gillespie Precast is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees throughout the hiring process and employment.
Employment is at-will and may be contingent upon successful completion of a pre-employment drug screening, in accordance with applicable law.
Pay: $85,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
