JOB DESCRIPTION
Process Engineer — Fluid & Process Systems
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Position Type: On-Site
Reports To: Director of Operations & Engineering
Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt
Compensation: Competitive salary and benefits package
ABOUT PECO
Process Engineering & Equipment Company (PECO) is a full-service designer, manufacturer, and distributor of engineered industrial fluid equipment used primarily in mission-critical HVAC and industrial applications. Operating from our Grand Rapids, Michigan facility with approximately 40 employees, PECO is recognized for quality engineered systems, fabricated skid packages, pump repair and assembly, and technical excellence across the markets we serve. With PECO experiencing growth in every area of the business, we are strengthening our engineering team with the addition of a Process Engineer who can design and model fluid process systems and bring strong technical skills, ownership, and a willingness to assist others.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Process Engineer designs and models fluid process systems — pumps, mixers, industrial piping, heat transfer, filtration, and related equipment — for industrial plant and equipment applications. Applying chemical and mechanical engineering fundamentals such as mass and energy balances, fluid dynamics, and hydraulics, this individual develops process flow diagrams (PFDs) and piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), sizes equipment and piping, and produces 2D and 3D models and drawings in SolidWorks and AutoCAD. This is a hands-on, project-based, individual-contributor engineering role that carries projects from concept through delivery — developing the process design, selecting equipment and materials, coordinating with vendors, and working directly with customers and the sales team. It supports the engineering team under the Director of Operations & Engineering, and is ideal for a self-starter who wants ownership of process and system design work in a fast-moving, growing company.
PROCESS DESIGN & MODELING
- Design and model fluid process systems — pumps, mixers, industrial piping, heat transfer, filtration, tanks, and skid-mounted equipment — for plant and equipment applications.
- Develop process flow diagrams (PFDs) and piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs) as the design roadmap, from preliminary quoting drawings through issued-for-construction detail; update or create P&IDs as scope changes once a project is ordered.
- Perform process and thermal calculations — mass and energy balances, heat-transfer/load calculations (Btu/hr), flow-stream temperature requirements, tank and vessel sizing, and flow-rate sizing — repeating the analysis as project scope evolves.
- Design and size industrial piping systems — line/pipe sizing, pressure-drop and hydraulic calculations, pump sizing and selection, and layout for manufacturability and serviceability.
- Select and size process equipment — pumps, mixers and agitators, heat exchangers, filtration, and related components — appropriate to the application, operating conditions, budget, and manufacturability.
- Produce 2D and 3D models, piping layouts, and fabrication drawings in SolidWorks and AutoCAD.
- Develop custom and engineered-to-order process solutions for non-standard applications.
- Create accurate BOMs, specifications, and submittal packages that are complete and actionable for procurement and fabrication.
- Program loop controllers once the electrical panel is delivered (not required on every job), and document the controller programs in the job folder.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT & PROCUREMENT
- Track and manage projects from concept through design, procurement, fabrication, and delivery; keep scope, schedule, and status current across multiple concurrent jobs.
- Order materials and components and coordinate with vendors on availability, lead times, and pricing.
- Request quotes for electrical panels on larger, more complex projects, and review electrical schematics generated by the electrical vendor, coordinating updates as changes are requested.
- Obtain material quotes — steel, rolled tanks, piping, and similar — from qualified vendors.
- Cost and price equipment selections — obtain vendor pricing for pumps, mixers, heat exchangers, and related components and develop equipment cost estimates to support quoting and project budgets.
- Photograph projects during the build for the job folder, and coordinate shipping questions with logistics as needed.
- Escalate design or supply issues early to keep projects on schedule and on budget.
CUSTOMER, SALES & VENDOR COLLABORATION
- Meet with customers and the sales team early in new projects — through discussion or on-site visits — to understand process and application needs before a quote is developed.
- Work directly with customers to answer technical questions and refine application details.
- Develop PECO cost of the system together with the salesperson during quoting, and collaborate with engineering team members on equipment selection (e.g., cooling tower, chiller, or pump sizing) as needed.
- Support the sales team with technical selections, sizing, drawings, and submittals to help win and execute jobs.
- Coordinate with vendors and manufacturers on product options, custom configurations, and technical specifications.
- Partner with the shop and fabrication team to ensure designs are buildable and to resolve issues before and during production.
- Field day-to-day technical questions from salespeople, and provide start-up support to the field team — answering control questions and supplying documentation as needed.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent process/design experience.
- 3+ years of process, fluid-systems, or design engineering experience; experience with industrial fluid process, plant, or equipment design preferred.
- Experience designing fluid process systems and industrial piping — including pump sizing, mixers/agitation, and pipe/line sizing with hydraulic (pressure-drop) calculations.
- Proficiency in 2D and 3D CAD — SolidWorks and AutoCAD (plant/piping design tools a plus).
- Working knowledge of process fundamentals — mass and energy balances, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer.
- Experience developing PFDs and P&IDs.
- Experience sizing and selecting process equipment (pumps, mixers, heat exchangers, filtration, tanks, or similar) and selecting appropriate materials.
- Ability to manage and track multiple projects simultaneously from concept to delivery.
- Procurement and vendor-coordination experience a plus.
- Strong communication skills for working with customers, sales, and vendors.
- Professional Engineer (PE) license a plus, not required.
DESIRED ATTRIBUTES
- Self-starter — takes ownership of designs and drives them to completion without hand-holding.
- Detail-oriented and accurate — models, drawings, calculations, BOMs, and selections done right the first time.
- Practical problem-solver — balances the technical ideal with buildability, lead time, and cost.
- Strong communicator — clear and professional with customers, sales, vendors, and the shop.
- Organized, timely, and punctual — dependable across multiple concurrent projects.
Pay: $85,000.00 - $125,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
