Principal Engineer Manufacturing Projects… at Celanese · Location…

Overview
Join Celanese and play a critical role in shaping the future of our global manufacturing network. As a Principal Engineer, Major Capital Projects, you will lead the execution of high-impact capital investments that drive growth, improve reliability, enhance sustainability, and strengthen operational excellence across our manufacturing sites.

In this role, you will serve as the overall project leader, accountable for delivering capital projects ranging from $2 million to $50 million USD safely, on schedule, and within budget. From concept development through engineering, construction, startup, and closeout, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams and external partners to transform strategic business objectives into successful operational outcomes.

This is an opportunity for a results-driven project leader who thrives in complex industrial environments and enjoys leading multidisciplinary teams to deliver meaningful business value.

Responsibilities

• Lead the execution of capital projects ranging from $2 million to $50 million USD from project initiation through startup and closeout including FEL, detailed engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, startup, and project closure.
• Serve as the overall project leader accountable for scope, cost, schedule, safety, quality, and project performance.
• Develop project execution strategies, resource plans, contracting approaches, and implementation roadmaps aligned with business objectives.
• Establish and maintain project scope, cost estimates, schedules, risk registers, and project controls processes.
• Lead interdisciplinary project teams consisting of engineering, operations, maintenance, procurement, construction, and technical specialists.
• Ensure compliance with Celanese project management standards, engineering specifications, safety requirements, and environmental regulations.
• Drive a strong safety culture throughout project execution, ensuring contractor and employee adherence to safety expectations and zero-incident performance.
• Manage external engineering firms, contractors, equipment suppliers, and construction organizations to achieve project objectives.
• Monitor project performance through key metrics and proactively address scope changes, schedule risks, cost variances, and execution challenges.
• Facilitate project reviews, gate approvals, management presentations, and stakeholder communications throughout the project lifecycle.
• Coordinate with manufacturing leadership to minimize operational disruption and optimize project integration into existing facilities.
• Lead risk identification, mitigation planning, and contingency management to support successful project outcomes.
• Ensure constructability, operability, maintainability, and reliability considerations are incorporated during project development and execution.
• Support procurement activities including bid evaluations, contractor selection, contract negotiations, and supplier management.
• Oversee construction management activities, including field execution planning, safety oversight, quality assurance, and contractor performance.
• Lead commissioning, startup, and turnover activities to ensure successful project handoff to operations.
• Develop and maintain project financial forecasts, cash flow projections, and capital expenditure reporting.
• Identify and implement opportunities for project execution improvement, cost optimization, and schedule acceleration.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and operational excellence throughout the project organization.

Measure of Success

• Delivery of assigned projects within approved scope, budget, and schedule targets.
• Achievement of project safety objectives, including zero significant safety incidents.
• Successful startup and operational performance of completed projects.
• Effective management of project risks and mitigation plans.
• Positive stakeholder satisfaction and business partner feedback.
• Achievement of project financial objectives and capital efficiency targets.
• Compliance with Celanese engineering, project management, environmental, and safety standards.
• Effective contractor and supplier performance management.
• Successful commissioning, turnover, and operational readiness execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in engineering, project management, capital project execution, manufacturing, or related industrial environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading major capital projects ranging from $2 million to $50 million USD.
• Experience managing projects within chemical, petrochemical, specialty materials, refining, energy, or other process manufacturing industries.
• Strong understanding of project management methodologies, execution strategies, and project controls.
• Experience managing engineering contractors, construction contractors, and equipment suppliers.
• Knowledge of construction management, commissioning, startup, and operational readiness processes.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent capital projects and balancing competing priorities.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification preferred.
• Experience utilizing project scheduling and project controls software preferred.

Required Skills

• Strong project leadership and execution capabilities with a proven track record of delivering capital projects safely, on time, and within budget.
• Strong financial acumen, including capital budgeting, forecasting, cost control, and economic evaluation.
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and influence decision-making across organizational levels.
• Excellent planning, organization, and prioritization skills in a dynamic project environment.
• Strong risk management and problem-solving capabilities.
• Outstanding communication, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence senior leaders without direct reporting authority.
• Strong negotiation and contractor management skills.
• Ability to effectively manage competing priorities and changing project requirements.
• Strong analytical and decision-making capabilities.
• High level of personal accountability, ownership, and results orientation.
• Proficiency with project management tools, scheduling systems, and capital project reporting systems.
• Ability to travel to domestic and international manufacturing locations as required.