Principal Piping Designer

Lombard, IL
Piping & Plant Layout – Designer /
Full Time /
Hybrid
Valdes is a 200-person, multidisciplinary, engineering, architecture, and project management company with an expert focus on technical excellence. Every client project is assigned a dedicated team of professionals who provide personalized services and solutions. The Valdes success model consists of streamlined work processes, attention to detail, technical expertise, and an unyielding commitment to client satisfaction, safety and quality.
Valdes is guided by our purpose statement: We are talented people who thrive and achieve extraordinary results for our customers. 

Our core values reflect who we are, how we perform and what we aspire to:
Integrity            Critical Thinking              Excellence               Teamwork              Passion 

Valdes proudly executes all work in the United States to maintain the utmost quality for our clients. We are a certified Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE) and hold the following certifications:
National Minority Supplier Development Council - MBE Certification
Illinois Department of Central Management Services - BEP Certification 
City of Chicago - MBE Certification
California Public Utilities Commission, The Supplier Clearinghouse - MBE Certification

Summary

    • Seasoned professional with 10+ years of technical experience in piping design and plant layout. Supervise, design, lead, organize, plan and manage an assigned area or project. Responsible and accountable for the performance of assigned designers/drafters and for meeting safety, quality, schedule, budget criteria for engineering construction documents at the project level. Thoroughly comprehend the project scope of work and provide a piping design that conforms to code requirements and includes all necessary specifications, drawings and supporting documents. Frequent travel and out of town assignment may be required.  

Responsibilities include the following:

    • Extensive knowledge within the Piping and Plant layout discipline with the capability and initiative to perform the following tasks while supervising/mentoring a staff
    • Provide accurate detailed piping design per project requirements in accordance with scope, budget, and schedule assigned by department manager
    • Provide on-site field assistance as required per project assignment
    • Plan, facilitate, or conduct 3D model design reviews
    • Perform difficult and complex design calculations
    • Provide 2D or 3D design documents as required per project “list of deliverables”
    • Check design documents for quality and accuracy
    • Provide information for inter-discipline coordination
    • Document and eliminate the causes of internal rework
    • Participate in project coordination / client meetings
    • Provide progress reports as requested by project manager and department manager
    • Ownership of project  including quality, budget and schedule
    • Develop piping construction scope of work document
    • Develop and maintain project drawing list
    • Schedules work for personnel assign to project
    • Assist department manager with estimating project manpower requirements
    • Supervise and perform as discipline lead for multiple simultaneous discipline projects which may include managing up to five engineers / designers
    • Make recommendations to improve department work flow process
    • Develop and /or improve department standards, including templates and design guides
    • Provide supervision and day-to-day oversight of assigned subordinates
    • Provide man-hour engineering estimates
    • Mentor understudies within piping department
    • Generate “Engineering Change Notice “before the start of all out of scope work
    • All other duties as assigned 

Technical Competencies and Skill Sets:

    • Ability to communicate complicated issues in a simple manner
    • Ability to multi-task and handle multiple priorities simultaneously 
    • Strong verbal and written communication skills
    • Extensive knowledge of  2D and 3D AutoCAD software
    • Extensive piping design knowledge of equipment, instrumentation, structures, pipe supports, nozzle  and platform orientations
    • Ability to provide plant layout, feasibility studies and support T.I.C. estimates 
    • Ability to use CAD software to perform design tasks
    • Strong Microsoft Office experience
    • Strong Knowledge of  multi-discipline project design execution and construction sequence
    • Strong understanding of stress analysis and its application 

People Skills:

    •  5+ years’ experience supervising staff and managing projects from inception to completion including evaluating scope of work and assigning responsibilities
    • Basic understanding of other discipline work flow and how all departments work together to complete projects
    • Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships with clients, subordinates and co-workers
    • Personable and able to work easily with others at all levels
    • Ability to handle difficult individuals and remain calm when employees or clients are confrontational
    • Ability to effectively manage and resolve conflicts or work issues in a professional manner
    • Provide leadership to monitor, enforce, and improve quality of work
    • Demonstrate excellent intercultural sensitivity and listening skills
    • Demonstrate effective work relationships with all project and department personnel
    • Represents the highest standard of professional conduct with other groups, department members and clients
    • Extroverted personality, ability to supervise and lead staff offering coaching and oversight resulting in quality work product 

Organizational Skills:

    • Must be well organized and able to prioritize work
    • Ability to set and track goals
    • Ability to multi-task and work on more than one project at a time
    • Able to commit to and meet project deadlines, and driven to provide outstanding service to both external and internal customers
    • Must keep work area neat, clean  and organized 

Qualifications- Education and Experience

    • Associates Degree or Bachelor of Science in engineering technology or equivalent experience
    • 10+ years of experience with BSET degree or 12-20 years without degree 
    • Process piping design lead and checking experience
    • MUST BE ABLE TO WORK IN THE US WITHOUT SPONSORSHIP NOW, OR IN THE FUTURE
Valdes Architecture & Engineering Company is looking for bright and talented people that want to take their career to the next level. We offer many rewarding career paths to challenge and engage our employees at all phases of their careers. Our office provides a team environment, and excellent working conditions, which allow individuals to maximize their potential. Valdes Engineering offers an outstanding benefits package including Medical, Dental, 401K plan, Company paid Long Term and Short Term Disability Insurance, Company paid Life and AD&D Insurance, Pet Insurance, a discounted gym membership and tuition reimbursement.
EEO/AAE