Job Description

Lead Piping Designer

Portland, Oregon, United States

Qualifications

Here's What You'll Need:

• Associate's degree in Computer-Aided Drafting and Design, Engineering Technology, or a related technical discipline
• 12–15+ years of piping engineering and/or design experience in complex industrial environments (Oil & Gas, Chemical, Pharmaceutical, Semiconductor, or similar), with demonstrated leadership or technical authority experience
• Must have 3+ years of proven Technical Leadership
• Proven ability to manage or support scope, schedule, and budget considerations on multidiscipline industrial projects
• Advanced working knowledge of piping codes and standards (ASME, B31.3, and related industry codes)
• Strong working knowledge of 3D piping design platforms such as CADWorx Plant or Autodesk Revit, including the ability to review, assess, and guide model-based design deliverables
• Demonstrated understanding of constructability, safety, and cost control principles as they relate to piping layout and design execution
• Strong communication and leadership skills, with the ability to coordinate across disciplines and engage effectively with project teams and clients

Ideally You Will Have the Following:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related technical discipline (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
• Experience supporting projects in semiconductor, advanced manufacturing, or similarly complex industrial facilities
• Working knowledge of pipe stress analysis concepts and experience coordinating with stress engineers to ensure compatibility with layout and design intent
• Demonstrated success in global workshare execution, including effective communication and coordination with remote design teams
• Proven ability to mentor and develop junior engineers and designers, fostering technical growth and consistent design quality
• Strong understanding of earned value management, progress tracking, and change control processes as they relate to engineering execution
• Proficiency with 3D piping design platforms such as Autodesk Revit AND CADWorx Plant, with the ability to review and guide model-based deliverables
• Location: This hybrid position requires weekly attendance (2 days) in any office location. Must be within 50 miles of the office.

Responsibilities

Depending on project requirements, this role may function as a primary Piping Discipline Lead or as the senior design QA-QC authority. In all cases, the individual is expected to exercise independent technical judgment and to own the quality of piping design outcomes.

• As a PIPING DESIGN TECHNICIAN SPECIALIST, you must be capable of serving either as a Project / Discipline Lead or as a Senior Design QA-QC Lead, depending on project needs. The position is accountable for piping design integrity from early layout through final model review, ensuring systems are not only code-compliant but also constructible, operable, and maintainable.
• Quality assurance in this role is design-integrated and focused on preventing downstream issues through strong engineering judgment, proactive review, and technical leadership.
• In either of these capacities, you will need to have experience understanding and clarifying scope, working with cross-disciplinary teams, and ensuring their scope and team can meet the delivery schedule. Additionally, you'll be responsible for delivering a solid engineering and design product that meets safety and constructability requirements, providing technical input on operability, model quality, and design standards while supporting workshare execution and providing estimating support and change-management identification.
• Technical Leadership & Design Accountability
• Serve as a primary technical authority for piping design, ensuring compliance with applicable codes, standards, material specifications, project design bases, and internal procedures.
• Be accountable for piping design quality within assigned areas, including layout development, routing, coordination with other disciplines, and overall system integrity.
• Communicate clear technical direction and expectations to designers, engineers, and workshare teams.
• Review vendor drawings, specialty piping data, and design deliverables for accuracy, fit, function, and constructability.
• Design Quality & Model-Based Review
• Perform and guide 3D model-based design reviews, verifying constructability, access, maintenance, welding feasibility, and long-term operability—beyond clash detection.
• Evaluate piping layouts, supports, and interfaces for compatibility with stress requirements, installation sequencing, and maintenance needs.
• Identify design risks early, including conditions that may not present as formal clashes but could impact construction, safety, or operations.
• Provide clear, actionable redlines and feedback that improve overall design consistency and quality.
• QA/QC (Design-Integrated)
• Apply QA/QC judgment throughout design development, ensuring that technically acceptable layouts that present execution or operational risk are corrected.
• Support project-specific design verification and quality activities in coordination with established QA processes.
• Participate in technical, interdisciplinary, and quality reviews, representing piping design intent and technical rationale.
• Ensure checking and QA activities remain aligned with scope, schedule, level of development, and project deliverables without becoming administrative bottlenecks.
• Project, Coordination, and Collaboration
• Work closely with project delivery teams, piping leads, engineering managers, and multi-discipline stakeholders to maintain alignment and resolve issues.
• Maintain strong team relationships, understand project priorities, and promptly communicate design risks, scope changes, or execution concerns.
• Support global workshare execution through clear communication, defined expectations, and consistent technical standards.
• Contribute to schedule awareness, staffing needs, and workload forecasting as they relate to piping execution and quality assurance
• Mentorship & Continuous Improvement
• Mentor designers, engineers, and checking staff through technical guidance and example rather than inspection-only oversight.
• Support improvements to piping workflows, tools, standards, and review practices.
• Foster a culture where quality is achieved through strong design decisions and early engagement.

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