Freelance Functional Safety Engineer Jobs in Decatur, GA

The Project Engineering Manager (PEM) is the singlepoint owners for all engineering and technical matters on large capital projects (typically >$100MM). This role acts as the clientside Project Engineering Manager, providing leadership, technical assurance, and integration across all engineering disciplines, EPC contractors, licensors, vendors, and internal stakeholders. Beyond delivering individual projects, this role is expected to build, standardize, and institutionalize engineering systems, processes, procedures, and tools that can be consistently applied across company projects-so success is repeatable, scalable, and not dependent on any single individual.

Engineering Leadership & Technical Authority

• Act as the client Project Engineering Manager for all project engineering and technical matters from frontend development through construction, commissioning, startup, and handover to operations.
• Provide technical leadership and assurance across all disciplines, including:
  • Process Engineering
  • Mechanical (static & rotating)
  • Piping & Layout
  • Electrical
  • Instrumentation & Process Control
  • Utilities, offsites, and infrastructure
• Serve as a credible technical authority capable of challenging EPC contractors, licensors, and vendors while maintaining strong working relationships.

Systems, Processes & Standards

• Define, implement, and govern projectspecific engineering execution plans, processes, and procedures.
• Develop and continuously improve corporate project engineering standards, workflows, tools, and best practices to be used across multiple projects.
• Establish and align engineering standards with:
  • Company requirements
  • Industry codes & standards
  • US and state regulatory requirements
  • Process licensor design packages
  • SHE, Process Safety, and Project Excellence (PEX) standards

Design Assurance & Process Safety

• Ensure engineering design quality, safety, and compliance across all project phases.
• Lead and ensure closure of all design assurance activities, including:
  • HAZID / HAZOP
  • LOPA
  • SIL / Functional Safety Reviews
  • Management of Change (MOC)
  • Technical deviations and concessions
• Ensure all process safety risks are identified, assessed, escalated, and mitigated appropriately.

Integration & Execution

• Ensure full integration of process plants, utilities, offplots, and site infrastructure, with clear ownership and defined interfaces.
• Coordinate engineering activities to meet project schedule, cost, and constructability objectives.
• Interface closely with:
  • Procurement & Strategic Sourcing
  • Construction
  • Commissioning & Startup
  • Operations & Maintenance
• Ensure engineering deliverables are constructionready and executionfocused, not just "technically complete."

Leadership & Influence

• Lead a multidisciplinary, multilocation, and multicultural engineering team.
• Influence and align internal stakeholders (operations, construction, procurement) and external partners (EPCs, licensing clints, vendors).
• Communicate clearly with project and executive leadership, escalating risks early and transparently.
• Lead without burning bridges-driving results while maintaining trust, accountability, and motivation.

Qualifications

Education & Credentials

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, or related discipline required).
• Chartered Engineer or Professional Engineer (PE) preferred.

Experience

• 10+ years of experience delivering major capital projects, preferably in chemical, petrochemical, oil & gas, or complex process industries.
• Proven experience as a Project Engineering Manager or Lead Technical Integrator on large EPC-executed projects.
• Direct experience across front-end development, FEED, detailed design, construction, commissioning, and handover to operations.
• Demonstrated success managing:
  • EPC contractors
  • Process licensors
  • Complex vendor and packaged equipment scopes

Technical & Leadership Capability

• Deep, working understanding of all major engineering disciplines (not just one).
• Strong knowledge of process safety management and risk-based design.
• Ability to make sound technical judgments and influence decisions under uncertainty.
• Demonstrated ability to build systems and processes that others can follow and replicate.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Mobility

• Willingness to undertake domestic and international travel, as engineering, procurement, and fabrication activities span the US, Europe, and Asia.

New Company Rapidly growing globally. Lots of opportunities for continued career growth.