This role operates with minimal oversight and is accountable for the delivery of all active engineering programs. It combines engineering depth with disciplined cost control, documentation, and vendor management, and works closely with the Finance and Purchasing teams on budgets, procurement, and spend control. Missed schedules, budget overruns, or incomplete engineering at this level directly affect customer commitments and company priorities.
Key Responsibilities & Outputs
Builds and owns project plans, schedules, budgets, and work breakdown structures for all active engineering programs
Tracks progress using scheduling tools scaled to each project’s complexity and keeps work aligned with project goals
Confirms engineering deliverables are complete before procurement or fabrication begins
Identifies technical and schedule risks early and drives mitigation plans to closure
Keeps customers, partners, and internal teams informed through regular status reporting, meeting minutes, and action logs
Maintains Confluence project pages as the single source of truth for each project
Addresses stakeholder concerns promptly and escalates issues to leadership when needed
Analyzes project financial and schedule data and presents findings and recommendations to the Leadership Team
Works closely with the Finance and Purchasing teams to align project budgets, procurement activities, purchase orders, and payment approvals
Sets up project accounting codes and budgets in coordination with FP&A
Approves and controls committed spend through purchase orders in Quickbase, with invoice matching and payment approval in Bill.com
Performs monthly reconciliation of Engineering and Internal Systems project spend using QuickBooks and Expensify data, including review of department credit card spend
Tracks spending against budget and reports variances to leadership
Reviews scopes of work for vendor RFPs, sets vendor selection criteria, and evaluates technology alternatives and value engineering opportunities
Manages project documentation, document transmittals, and design reviews using Google Workspace and Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC)
Reviews P&IDs, mechanical and fabrication drawings, and electrical documentation for internal and external deliverables
Ensures deliverables meet quality standards and are completed on time
Upholds a professional standard for all project documentation and communications
Serves as technical partner to the Vice President of Engineering, providing independent evaluation of engineering decisions across suppliers, manufacturing, and project execution
Supports strategic engineering initiatives and translates business priorities into clear, practical engineering direction
Leads problem-solving across multidisciplinary teams, including process, mechanical, electrical, and controls
Mentors engineering staff and promotes consistent project and engineering practices across the team
Drives process improvements that make project delivery faster and more predictable
Project Planning & Execution
Communication & Stakeholder Management
Budget, Cost & Vendor Management
Engineering Documentation & Quality
Technical Leadership & People Development
Qualifications & Characteristics
Bachelor’s degree in chemical, mechanical, or another engineering discipline
Minimum of 15 years of applicable professional experience, including 8+ years in project management, with at least 3 years managing multiple projects or programs concurrently
Experience managing custom-engineered process equipment projects, such as skid-mounted systems or pilot plants, from design through fabrication, installation, and commissioning
Demonstrated delivery of at least one capital project of $25M or greater, including EPC and contractor management, project controls, and commercial contract obligations
Ability to read and review P&IDs, mechanical drawings, and electrical documentation
Track record of managing project budgets, purchase orders, and vendor relationships
PMP or equivalent project management certification
Experience in a startup or early commercialization environment
Familiarity with Quickbase, Bill.com, QuickBooks, Expensify, Confluence, AutoCAD, and ACC
Experience with vendor fabrication oversight and site commissioning
Required
Preferred
We Offer
Competitive compensation package, including equity options
Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
Disability & Life Insurance
401(k)
12 weeks paid Family Leave
Flexible PTO
Paid time off for Company holidays
Onsite gym
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in chemical, mechanical, or another engineering discipline
- At least 15 years of applicable professional experience
- At least 8 years of project management experience
- At least 3 years managing multiple projects or programs concurrently
- Experience managing custom-engineered process equipment projects, such as skid-mounted systems or pilot plants, from design through fabrication, installation, and commissioning
- Delivery of at least one capital project valued at $25 million or greater
- Experience with EPC and contractor management, project controls, and commercial contract obligations
- Ability to read and review P&IDs, mechanical drawings, and electrical documentation
- Experience managing project budgets, purchase orders, and vendor relationships
- PMP or equivalent project management certification
- Experience in a startup or early commercialization environment
- Familiarity with Quickbase, Bill.com, QuickBooks, Expensify, Confluence, AutoCAD, and Autodesk Construction Cloud
- Experience with vendor fabrication oversight and site commissioning
What We Do
At Via Separations, we take a materials approach to the world's wasted energy. We are optimistic about scientific progress, passionate about global impact, and creative in everything we do. We are not afraid of hard problems, and we encourage each other to live at the intersections of disciplines, act on great ideas, and design everything. Via eliminates energy use in industrial processes, enabling pathways for a more sustainable, resource efficient future. With its core filtration technology, Via can slash the energy used in separation processes by 90%. We are a fast-paced, interdisciplinary team backed by The Engine, Safar Partners, Prime Impact Fund, and MassCEC.
