1

Principal Piping Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

... engineering work under an ASME NQA-1 quality program Familiarity with nuclear industry standards and regulations Experience with codes, standards, and regulations such as ANSI, API, ASME Section 1, ...

Knowledge of spring supports and functionality including differences between types of engineered ... Benefits: This position, Principal Desinger Piping , is eligible for participation in Zachry ...

The Principal Engineer - Plant Design will support the development and execution of combined cycle ... Plans, develops, coordinates and reviews plant design and piping engineering work on large size ...

... for engineer's approval. • Familiar with principals of pipe stress and coordinating analysis with Engineer. • Assumes responsibility for technical accuracy and constructability of finished ...

Showing results 21-40

Principal Piping Engineer information

See salary details

$74K

$147.2K

$212.5K

How much do principal piping engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal piping engineer in the United States is $147,220.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,500.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a principal piping engineer?

Principal Piping Engineers are senior engineering professionals responsible for the design, planning, and management of piping systems in large industrial projects, such as oil and gas plants, refineries, and power stations. They lead teams of engineers and draftsmen, ensuring that piping layouts, specifications, and materials comply with industry standards and project requirements. Their role also involves coordinating with other engineering disciplines, resolving technical issues, and overseeing project schedules and budgets. As subject matter experts, Principal Piping Engineers play a key role in ensuring the safety, efficiency, and reliability of complex piping networks.

How does a principal piping engineer typically collaborate with other engineering disciplines on large projects?

A Principal Piping Engineer frequently works alongside professionals from civil, structural, mechanical, and process engineering teams to ensure cohesive project delivery. This collaboration involves coordinating design interfaces, reviewing interdisciplinary documents, and attending regular project meetings to resolve issues promptly. Strong communication skills are essential, as the Principal Piping Engineer often leads multidisciplinary design reviews and ensures that piping systems are integrated seamlessly with other plant systems. These interactions help maintain project schedules, prevent costly design conflicts, and ensure that all safety and regulatory standards are met.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a principal piping engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Principal Piping Engineer, you need deep expertise in piping system design, material selection, and stress analysis, usually backed by a degree in mechanical engineering and extensive industry experience. Familiarity with technical tools like AutoCAD, CAESAR II, and piping codes (ASME, API) as well as relevant certifications such as Professional Engineer (PE) licensure are highly valued. Strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills set outstanding professionals apart, enabling them to manage multidisciplinary teams and complex projects effectively. These skills and qualifications ensure the safety, efficiency, and compliance of piping systems in large-scale industrial projects.

What is the difference between Principal Piping Engineer vs Senior Piping Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Piping EngineerSenior Piping Engineer
QualificationsBachelor's or Master's in Mechanical or Civil Engineering, Professional Engineer (PE) license often preferredBachelor's or Master's in Mechanical or Civil Engineering, PE license beneficial
Work EnvironmentLead design teams, oversee piping projects, coordinate with multiple departmentsDesign piping systems, prepare drawings, support project execution
Industry UsageUsed in large-scale projects, often in leadership rolesCommon in project teams, technical roles

The Principal Piping Engineer typically holds a higher level of responsibility, overseeing entire piping projects and leading teams, whereas the Senior Piping Engineer focuses on technical design and project support. Both roles require similar technical credentials, but the Principal position involves more strategic oversight and leadership within the industry.

Is a principal piping engineer a good career?

A principal piping engineer is a senior engineering role focused on designing and managing piping systems in industries such as oil and gas, power, and manufacturing. It offers high responsibility, competitive compensation, and opportunities for leadership and specialization, making it a strong career choice for experienced engineers. Success often requires advanced technical skills, certifications, and project management experience.
More about Principal Piping Engineer jobs

What are popular job titles related to Principal Piping Engineer jobs?

For Principal Piping Engineer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Principal Piping Engineer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 92% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,220 per year, or $70.8 per hour.

Lead Pressure Vessel & Piping Engineer

Bridgewater, MA • On-site

$107K - $141K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 5 days ago


Job description

  • The purpose of the Lead Pressure Vessel and Piping Engineer is provide technical expertise within Messer’s Project Execution department regarding various forms of plant static equipment including design, specification, fabrication, repair, operation and code compliance across various technologies such as cryogenic air separation, hydrogen production and CO2 purification/liquefaction. Since every single plant project requires process piping and pressure vessels, the engineer will be involved in some capacity with a wide variety of projects with a large range of technical complexity.
  • This position will primarily provide value to the organization by executing deliverables for capital projects, providing preliminary equipment design/cost bases to the proposals group, supporting operations team for mechanical integrity issues and interfacing with other engineering disciplines as required.
Why Messer?

Messer is the world’s largest privately held industrial gases company and what we do matters because it is woven into every part of life, from the medical gases that patients rely on to the essential elements needed to safely and sustainably produce the goods our communities depend on.

The true strength of Messer is our people—at every level and in every role.

Join us and take pride in the impact you will make by providing solutions essential to our world and lives. Reach your highest potential at our stable, inclusive company with diverse opportunities in a growing industry, supported by people who care.

Messer stands apart because we put what matters first, and you matter.

Principal Responsibilities
  • Discipline Technical Expertise: Serve as the lead technical authority for pressure vessel and piping engineering across multiple concurrent capital projects, providing technical guidance to project manager, engineering counterparts and suppliers regarding static equipment design, fabrication, installation, commissioning, and operation.
  • Act as the discipline escalation point for complex technical issues, code interpretations, equipment failures, and field deviations
  • Engineering and Design of Capital Projects: Establish engineering design criteria and technical requirements for major projects. Support project teams in evaluating technical, schedule, and cost impacts associated with design decisions and project changes.
  • Lead the design, specification, selection, commissioning, troubleshooting, and optimization of process piping and pressure vessel systems.
  • Review and approve engineering deliverables including calculations, specifications, datasheets, stress analyses, vessel designs, inspection reports, and engineering deviations from 3rd parties and vendors
  • Contractor and Vendor Leadership: Provide oversight of engineering contractor organizations supporting Messer projects, including review and approval of designs, calculations, specifications, schedules, procedures, and quality documentation.
  • Conduct critical supplier audits and technical capability assessments for strategic equipment vendors.
  • Lead factory acceptance testing activities for critical static equipment and provide technical acceptance recommendations.
  • Quality and Compliance Governance: Develop, maintain QA/QC program, inspection requirements, and engineering best practices related to piping and pressure vessels.
  • Ensure compliance with applicable industry standards and codes including ASME B31.3, ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code, CGA requirements, and Messer engineering standards.
  • Process Safety and Risk Management: Serve as lead pressure vessel and piping representative during HAZOPs, risk assessments, PHRs, MOCs, and incident investigations. Lead resolution of discipline-related safety findings and risk mitigation actions.
  • Provide technical recommendations regarding mechanical integrity, fitness-for-service, equipment life extension, and code compliance concerns.
  • Develop, maintain, and update Messer pressure vessel and piping specifications, engineering standards, standard drawings, and best-practice documents.
  • Identify opportunities to lower cost and improve productivity, reliability and safety through emerging technologies, engineering tools, fabrication methods, equipment solutions and standardization.
  • Technical Mentoring and Knowledge Development: Mentor and provide technical coaching to engineers within the pressure vessel and piping discipline.
  • Support discipline competency development through training, technical workshops, lessons learned sessions, and engineering reviews.
Required Skills
  • Experience with industrial gases, cryogenic systems, air separation plants and chemical plants for hydrogen production and carbon dioxide purification and liquefaction
  • Broad knowledge of static equipment such as storage vessels, heat exchangers, and process piping systems
  • Knowledge of the design and operation of cryogenic cold boxes, pre-purification systems, and cryogenic liquid bulk tanks is required
  • Deep understanding of cutting, welding, brazing and related thermal processes used for piping and vessel fabrication as well as NDE techniques
  • Well versed in applicable industry codes and standards such as ASME B31.3, ASME BPVC, CGA and participate in code conferences as a representative of Messer
  • Ability to think logically through complex technical issues and clearly document ideas, processes and conclusions
  • Ability to read, interpret and comprehend the following engineering documents:
  • P&ID
  • Piping Isometric and Orthographic Drawings
  • Fabrication Drawings
  • Site layout and civil plan drawings
  • Pressure vessel MAWP/wall thickness calculations
  • Ability to use 2D drafting programs (such as Autocad) and 3D CAD programs (such as Solidworks, CATIA, or Fusion360) to generate or inspect designs
  • Ability to use pressure vessel design software (such as Compress, or PV Elite) to generate designs
  • Ability to use pipe stress analysis software (such as CAESAR II, AutoPipe, or CAEPIPE) to analyze spools
  • Ability to work safely in confined spaces (such as inside of tanks) and at heights
  • Ability to use Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc) is required; knowledge of VBA is a plus
  • Ability to speak, read and write English is required
  • Ability to speak, read and write any of the following languages are a plus
  • German
  • Spanish
  • French
Interpersonal Skills
  • Strong collaboration with all engineering disciplines, internal resources, and external parties while displaying Messer core values
  • Ability to communicate technical ideas effectively through digital, written and verbal language to stakeholders in Project Execution, Operations and Business development
Basic Qualifications
  • Bachelor of Science/Engineering in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science/Metallurgical Engineering or related discipline. A graduate degree is not required, but considered a plus.
  • Minimum of 7-15 years relevant experience with process piping and/or pressure vessel engineering including design, fabrication, testing and commissioning.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Professional Engineering (P.E.) license is a plus
  • Knowledge of relevant industry practices such as oxygen level cleaning, and safety best practices is a plus
  • API certifications are a plus
  • Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) or other NDE certifications are a plus

The salary range for this position is $118,000 - $157,000. Messer provides medical, dental, vision, short term disability, life insurance and paid time off as well as other voluntary benefits, such as, long term disability in accordance with the terms and conditions of these Plans. Employees are eligible to enroll in Messer’s 401(k) Plan. Employees may be eligible to participate in the company’s bonus program.

About Messer

Messer’s safety culture, commitment to providing dependable supply and innovative gas technology solutions help customers unlock opportunities to be safer, more sustainable, more productive and more efficient, so their business thrives. We nurture lasting, meaningful relationships with customers, our communities, and with one another.

We offer comprehensive benefits and appreciable pay, with steady schedules and opportunities for ongoing training and career progression. We prioritize and invest in our people at every level of our organization – the dedication, knowledge, customer focus and entrepreneurial spirit of our employees is what make Messer refreshingly different.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

#J-18808-Ljbffr