Project Engineer – Capital Construction and Equipment Installation (Pharmaceutical Manufacturing)
Job Description
This contract Project Engineer role supports capital construction and equipment installation projects within a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility. Over a 12–18 month engagement, with potential to convert to a direct position, you will take a hands-on role driving projects from construction through closeout. You will help deliver $1–2M capital projects on time and within budget by coordinating onsite activities, managing contractors, and ensuring that safety, quality, and compliance standards are consistently met.
Responsibilities
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Execute capital projects across the facility, supporting the delivery of defined scope, schedule, and budget targets.
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Support Project Managers on $1–2M capital projects by owning day-to-day project execution activities in the field.
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Serve as the onsite point of contact during construction and installation phases, representing project interests in the field.
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Provide daily field oversight to track progress, monitor contractor activities, and keep project schedules on track.
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Coordinate work sequencing to minimize disruption to ongoing operations and maintain safe, efficient workflows.
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Manage contractor coordination, including scheduling, task assignments, and communication of project requirements.
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Oversee RFIs, inspections, and issue resolution in an active construction environment to keep work moving forward.
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Coordinate equipment installation with contractors, fabricators, vendors, and internal engineering and operations teams.
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Review contractor submittals, drawings, and documentation to ensure quality, compliance, and timely approvals.
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Support installation of process and utility equipment while maintaining safety, quality, and regulatory standards.
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Assist with cost tracking, cost control, and change coordination to support adherence to project budgets.
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Contribute to schedule recovery efforts when delays occur by identifying corrective actions and resequencing work.
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Apply working knowledge of construction methods, materials, and engineered systems to support field decision-making.
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Manage subcontractors in the field, including monitoring performance, sequencing work, and verifying completion of tasks.
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Support QA/QC processes by reviewing work quality, participating in inspections, and addressing nonconformances.
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Ensure adherence to safety requirements and OSHA compliance throughout construction and installation activities.
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Maintain accurate project documentation, including field reports, logs, and tracking of RFIs and change orders.
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Collaborate closely with project managers, contractors, inspectors, and internal stakeholders to align expectations and resolve issues.
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Work independently onsite while staying aligned with broader project goals, standards, and reporting requirements.
Essential Skills
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Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Chemical, or Industrial Engineering; an Associate’s degree in Engineering Technology or an equivalent technical experience will also be considered.
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5–10 years of Project Engineering experience supporting capital or construction projects.
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Experience supporting capital projects in the $1–2M range.
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history in manufacturing, facilities, or regulated environments (such as pharmaceutical or GMP settings) preferred.
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Strong experience working onsite during active construction and installation phases.
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Hands-on experience with construction execution, field coordination, and site planning.
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Working knowledge of construction methods, materials, and engineered systems.
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Experience managing subcontractors, including sequencing work, inspections, and RFIs.
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Familiarity with QA/QC processes and safety compliance, including OSHA-related requirements, in regulated or manufacturing environments.
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Exposure to cost control, estimating, value engineering, or change order coordination.
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Comfort managing coordination-heavy work involving contractors, documentation, engineered equipment, and construction activities.
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Strong communication skills with the ability to coordinate effectively across project managers, contractors, inspectors, and internal teams.
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Detail-oriented mindset with strong documentation, organizational skills, and follow-through.
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Ability to work independently onsite while aligning with broader project teams and project objectives.
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Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, coordination-driven project environments.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
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Experience in mechanical engineering, facilities maintenance, or manufacturing process environments.
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Experience in capital project management, including CAPEX planning and capital equipment installation.
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Experience in or exposure to GMP environments within pharmaceutical or similarly regulated industries.
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Project management experience, including scope, schedule, and cost management responsibilities.
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Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
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Experience with SAP is a plus.
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Familiarity with CAD/BIM tools is beneficial for reviewing drawings and coordinating installations.
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Strong general management skills, including prioritization, stakeholder coordination, and problem solving.
Work Environment
You will work in a clean, state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing facility that includes a mix of office space, laboratories, and manufacturing areas. The role is primarily onsite and field-focused, involving regular presence in active construction and installation zones within a regulated environment. You will collaborate closely with project managers, engineers, contractors, vendors, and operations teams while using tools such as Microsoft Office, SAP, and CAD/BIM outputs to support planning and coordination. The position offers flexibility around working hours, with a minimum expectation of 40 hours per week. Core hours are 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and you may flex your start and end times as long as you are present during core hours. The facility emphasizes safety, quality, and compliance, and you will follow appropriate site safety protocols and attire requirements suitable for office, lab, and manufacturing areas.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Columbus, OH.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $43.46 - $62.50/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 Columbus,OH.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Jun 15, 2026.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.
