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Job Description

Overview

At Vallourec, we are seeking a Project Engineer to serve as a technical authority and strategic contributor in the design, development, optimization, and maintenance of mechanical systems that support large-scale steel production. This role drives equipment reliability, operational efficiency, safety, sustainability, and successful execution of capital projects across steelmaking operations.

Responsibilities

  • Lead mechanical engineering projects involving melting, casting, rolling mills, furnaces, conveyors, rotating equipment, hydraulic systems, and pipe threading equipment.
  • Oversee design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of mechanical equipment supporting capital projects.
  • Develop mechanical designs and simulations using CAD tools such as SolidWorks or AutoCAD.
  • Coordinate vendors and contractors during procurement, installation, factory acceptance testing, and site acceptance testing.
  • Collaborate with operations, maintenance, automation, quality, electrical, and civil teams to improve plant performance.
  • Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and industry standards.
  • Evaluate and implement innovative technologies that improve reliability and production capabilities.
  • Provide project cost estimates, engineering documentation, and technical guidance across departments.

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline required; Master's degree preferred.
  • 4 years+ of mechanical or maintenance engineering experience in steelmaking or heavy manufacturing environments.
  • Strong knowledge of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, hydraulic systems, materials science, mechanical design, and rotating equipment.
  • Familiarity with ASME, ASTM, and applicable building and engineering codes.
  • Proficiency with CAD software and engineering analysis tools.
  • Excellent problem-solving, communication, coaching, and leadership skills.
  • Professional Engineer (PE) certification and/or Six Sigma certification preferred.
  • English proficiency required; Spanish language skills are a plus.

Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • 401k
  • PTO

Additional Information

  • The location for this role is 19210 E Hardy Rd. Houston, TX 77073.

Benefits

Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
401k
PTO
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How this job compares in Houston, TX

Pay in context

This employer didn't publish a rate. For reference, welding jobs in Houston, TX currently run a median of $27/hr in our index, with the middle half of them falling between $22–$37/hr across 86 postings with published pay. That median is a reasonable floor to anchor on when a recruiter asks what you're looking for.

The local market in Houston, TX

We're tracking 341 other active welding openings in Houston, TX right now, from 193 different employers. 95 of them were added in the last week. Across Texas as a whole we're tracking 1,256 other active welding openings from 597 employers. A metro this active generally means you have real leverage — employers here are competing for the same welders. Browse every welding job in Houston, or widen the search to Texas.

Vallourec - North America currently has 3 other openings live in Texas, which is usually a sign of either steady growth or steady turnover — worth asking which in the interview.

The most active employers in Texas at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are Austin Industries (29), Welding Shop in Austin, TX (27), and Zachry Group (23). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Within Texas, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Midlothian at $38/hr, Irving at $38/hr, and Pasadena at $37/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.

Certifications this posting mentions

  • ASME Section IX — the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code qualification. It covers welding on pressure-retaining equipment — boilers, vessels, and process piping — where a failed weld is a safety incident rather than a rework ticket.

Read straight from this posting's text. Confirm the exact qualification the employer wants before you test — requirements vary by shop even under the same code.

Similar openings near Houston, TX

Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Project Engineer figures were last recalculated when this page was built.