Lead Mechanical Engineer – Cold Weather Plant Design

About the role

We are seeking a Lead Mechanical Engineer to drive the mechanical design and specification of a direct‑air‑capture (DAC) plant in Alberta, Canada. The role will own the development of fit‑for‑purpose specifications, ensure compliance with pressure equipment regulations, and guarantee that the plant can be built, operated and maintained in harsh winter conditions.

Key responsibilities

• Develop mechanical specifications, design philosophies and basis of design for global execution, translating owner requirements into clear contractor documentation.
• Define pressure equipment compliance pathways, including registration and lifecycle documentation for local and regional authorities.
• Incorporate Alberta‑type cold‑weather constraints into design – freeze protection, winterization, insulation/heat‑tracing, drainage, low‑point management and cold‑start commissioning.
• Review and approve contractor submissions, provide technical clarifications, and enforce schedule, quality, safety and operability standards.
• Identify innovative, cost‑effective engineering solutions such as modularization, reduced field welds and optimized layouts.
• Coordinate closely with process, civil, electrical and O&M disciplines to manage cross‑discipline interfaces.
• Support regulatory alignment and stakeholder engagement for permitting and infrastructure interfaces.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of design decisions, vendor data, pressure equipment records and lessons learned.

Required profile

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in process plant mechanical design, preferably in cold‑weather environments.
• Proven hands‑on experience with cold‑weather industrial plant design, winterization and freeze protection.
• Strong knowledge of API and ASME standards for pressure equipment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage contractor relationships.

Required skills

• Mechanical design and specification development.
• Pressure vessel, heat exchanger, column and storage tank design.
• API and ASME code compliance.
• Cold‑weather plant design, winterization and freeze protection.
• Insulation and heat‑tracing engineering.
• Modularization and layout optimization.
• Process plant engineering.