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Principal Piping Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Kiewit

Principal Mechanical Engineer

Lenexa, KS · On-site

Design Engineering Market: Power Employment Type: Full Time Position Overview As a Principal ... Our Power district includes civil, structural, piping, mechanical, process, electrical, and ...

Kiewit

Principal Mechanical Engineer

Lenexa, KS · On-site

Kiewit Power Engineering Market: Power Employment Type: Full Time Position Overview As a Principal ... Our Power district includes civil, structural, piping, mechanical, process, electrical, and ...

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Principal Piping Engineer information

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

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

Principal Piping Engineer jobs near you
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.

Principal Mechanical Engineer

Lombard, IL

Valdes Architecture & Engineering
Engineering Professional Services • 51 - 200 employees
Learn more about Valdes Architecture & Engineeringexternal

$145K - $185K/yr

Full-time

Posted 20 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Lead complex mechanical engineering projects from planning through construction and commissioning.

  • Provide technical leadership, establish design criteria, and resolve non-routine engineering problems.

  • Review and approve engineering calculations, specifications, drawings, and reports to ensure project requirements and standards are met.

Job description

Valdes Architecture & Engineering is seeking an accomplished Principal Mechanical Engineer to provide senior technical leadership across municipal infrastructure, water and wastewater, building systems, industrial process facilities, utility and power infrastructure, and life sciences markets.

The Principal Mechanical Engineer is one of the most senior technical positions within the Mechanical Engineering Department and serves as a technical authority, mentor, and trusted advisor to clients and project teams. This individual leads complex mechanical engineering assignments, establishes technical direction, resolves difficult or non-routine engineering problems, provides senior-level quality review, and develops the technical capabilities of other engineers.

The position requires independent engineering judgment and technical leadership from planning and conceptual design through construction and commissioning.

Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

  • Serve as a technical authority for complex mechanical engineering projects and design challenges
  • Establish design criteria and technical direction for mechanical systems and equipment
  • Apply advanced engineering judgment to resolve complex, unusual, or non-routine engineering problems
  • Evaluate alternative systems and equipment based on performance, reliability, constructability, maintainability, lifecycle cost, and client requirements
  • Identify technical risks and develop practical, defensible engineering solutions
  • Provide technical consultation to clients and multidisciplinary project teams
  • Serve as Engineer of Record or responsible mechanical engineer when appropriate

 

Provide technical leadership in one or more areas including:

  • HVAC, plumbing, and building utility systems
  • Process and utility piping
  • Pumping systems
  • Steam, condensate, heating, and cooling water systems
  • Compressed air, gas, and fuel systems
  • Pumps, compressors, heat exchangers, tanks, vessels, and packaged equipment
  • Piping layouts, stress analysis, supports, and equipment interfaces

 

Project Leadership & Delivery

  • Serve as Mechanical Lead on large, technically complex, and multidisciplinary projects
  • Lead mechanical engineering from planning and conceptual design through construction and commissioning
  • Develop and review project scopes, design criteria, engineering estimates, schedules, and budgets
  • Provide technical direction to engineers and designers and coordinate mechanical interfaces with other disciplines
  • Review and approve calculations, specifications, drawings, equipment selections, data sheets, reports, and construction documents
  • Identify technical, scope, schedule, and budget risks and work with Project Management to resolve them
  • Ensure deliverables meet project requirements, applicable codes, client standards, and Valdes quality expectations

 

Field & Construction Support

  • Lead field investigations and assessments of existing mechanical systems
  • Provide senior-level engineering judgment in resolving field conditions, construction issues, and equipment problems
  • Review RFIs, submittals, shop drawings, and proposed field modifications
  • Participate in equipment inspections, factory testing, startup, and commissioning
  • Ensure designs consider constructability, maintainability, accessibility, operations, and personnel safety

Engineering Standards, Quality & Mentorship

  • Provide senior-level QA/QC review of mechanical engineering deliverables, including the underlying design basis and technical approach
  • Help develop and improve department standards, specifications, procedures, calculation methods, and design practices
  • Promote consistent application of sound engineering practices and lessons learned
  • Mentor engineers and designers and help develop future technical leaders
  • Provide technical guidance while allowing developing engineers appropriate ownership of their work
  • Share technical knowledge and provide clear, constructive technical feedback

 

Client Engagement & Business Development

  • Serve as a trusted technical advisor to clients
  • Participate in client meetings, planning sessions, presentations, and technical discussions
  • Support proposals, project pursuits, scope development, technical approaches, and fee development
  • Identify opportunities where Valdes' mechanical engineering capabilities can address client needs
  • Develop and maintain strong technical relationships with clients

 

Technical Competencies

The successful candidate will demonstrate advanced knowledge of mechanical engineering fundamentals and significant technical depth in one or more mechanical engineering areas.

Experience may include:

  • Municipal infrastructure and water/wastewater
  • Building mechanical systems
  • Power generation and energy
  • Industrial and central utility systems
  • Industrial and process facilities
  • Mechanical equipment and piping systems
  • Pharmaceutical and life sciences facilities

The candidate shall demonstrate:

  • Advanced ability to develop and review mechanical calculations, specifications, data sheets, equipment selections, reports, and construction documents
  • Strong knowledge of applicable codes and standards including ASME, ASHRAE, AWWA, NFPA, API, IMC, IPC, IBC, and applicable state and local requirements
  • Ability to direct and review work using applicable engineering analysis and design software
  • Working knowledge of AutoCAD and Revit sufficient to direct and review design work
  • Ability to communicate complex engineering issues clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders
Qualifications

Required

  • Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited institution
  • Active Professional Engineer (PE) license
  • 12+ years of progressively responsible mechanical engineering experience
  • Demonstrated experience leading complex mechanical engineering assignments and multidisciplinary projects
  • Demonstrated ability to establish technical direction and independently resolve complex engineering problems
  • Demonstrated ability to review and approve mechanical engineering calculations, specifications, drawings, equipment selections, and technical deliverables
  • Experience mentoring and providing technical direction to engineers and designers
  • Strong client-facing communication skills
  • Ability and willingness to travel to client and project sites as required
  • Must possess exceptional interpersonal and organizational skills
  • Must be able to work in the US without sponsorship now or in the future

 

Preferred

  • Experience serving as Engineer of Record or responsible Mechanical Engineer
  • Experience across multiple mechanical engineering markets or system types
  • Experience with rehabilitation and modernization of existing facilities
  • Experience developing engineering standards and QA/QC practices
  • Experience supporting proposals, project pursuits, and client development
What Success Looks Like

A successful Principal Mechanical Engineer is recognized as a trusted technical authority who can lead the department's most challenging mechanical engineering assignments while improving the capabilities of the engineers around them.

The Principal Engineer provides sound technical direction when solutions are not obvious, identifies and manages engineering risk, develops practical and defensible solutions, and strengthens the department through technical leadership, mentorship, quality, and client confidence.

Salaries for all positions are based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to relevant experience, total years of experience in the industry, education, skills, and qualifications. Compensation may vary depending on the candidate's individual background and expertise. Salaries are subject to fluctuation outside of the given range. The indicated range is not a commitment and meant as a guideline. All compensation, exempt or non-exempt status, and benefits will be discussed during the interview process.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.