Piping Design Lead

Vista Projects is an integrated industrial engineering firm that helps clients navigate the digital transformation of their projects and operations. Our proven project execution process is based on a "single source of truth" model that eliminates the potential for inefficient engineering designs, cost overruns and project completion delays.

We believe the world needs industrial projects and that intelligent engineering data can increase the likelihood of innovative solutions getting to market. Over the years, our multi-discipline teams have conceptualized and designed some of the most challenging and successful industrial processing projects in the North American energy sector. Vista has established itself as a trusted industrial engineering partner for all types of projects, from conceptual studies and pilots to large-scale commercial expansions.

The benefits of our approach apply to new asset developments and brownfield optimization projects across several industrial markets. This includes biofuels and produced water treatment to natural gas and petrochemical processing. We are headquartered in Calgary and maintain a satellite office in Houston.

The Project Lead Piping Designer provides supervision and working leadership of drafters and designers in piping, CSA or EIC. The Design Lead also oversees the design of different aspects of energy industry related projects from inception to completion. Duties include:

• Planning, allocating and reviewing work programs. This includes updating ForecastWeb on a weekly basis and ensuring it is suitably completed to align with the demand of the Project/Program Manager. The forecast should be updated to current project plans and changes to work plans/resourcing needs are communicated through change management to project stakeholders.
• Preparing weekly progress reports for each project including work completed, work planned for the following week and discipline needs
• Updating project schedule on a weekly basis including marking tasks which are completed, in progress, and any potential delays. In addition, ensure tasks are listed correctly in schedule. Project schedule along with tasks and deliverables are reviewed and maintained in conjunction with Project Management.
• Establishing scopes of work, man-hour estimates, schedules and priorities for projects and proposals
• Scheduling and expediting department work
• Providing leadership and mentorship to project/program discipline design team
• Providing technical and quality guidance to department staff
• Ensuring the design and drafting team are completing high quality work within the required time and budget constraints
• Attending status meetings with clients, project management and suppliers
• Coordinating interfaces with other disciplines
• Maintaining current knowledge of industry and regulatory standards
• Assigning and reviewing work of discipline design and drafting staff
• Ensuring adherence to Vista Quality Management System (QMS)
• Preparing layouts, calculations and designs related to the most complicated elements of projects
• Ensuring all drawings and materials are in accordance with Vista and client specifications and standards
• Approving completed drawings
• Supporting development, implementation and maintenance of discipline design standards, checklists and procedures
• Making general recommendations on the utilization of new drafting/design techniques, normally within an area of specialization
• Analyzing design elements for potential trends, technical feasibility, client or contractual requirements
• Supporting discipline man-hour estimates for proposals
• Providing construction support
• Preparing and reviewing complex 3D models for accuracy and completeness in accordance with established industry, client and Vista design criteria
• Acting as the 3D model manager, ensuring seamless interfaces with other engineering disciplines to incorporate design elements and vendor data such as equipment location, piping routing, structural steel, foundations, cable trays, inline instrumentation, offline instruments and panels
• Facilitating plot plan reviews, model reviews and constructability reviews with the assistance of one or more senior designers
• Ensuring design review action items are closed in a timely manner.
• Preparing and checking isometrics, general arrangements, MTOs, plot plans, key plans and equipment location plans
• Performing other duties as requested

• Eight years of progressive experience in facilities engineering and design in the energy industry
• Technical school certification/degree or equivalent experience
• Ability to work and collaborate within a multi-disciplinary team of engineers and designers including Process, Mechanical, Civil, Structural & Architectural, Electrical, Instrumentation & Controls and Piping
• Advanced computer skills and broad experience in major drafting and design software such as AutoCAD, CADWorx, SmartPlant, AutoPLANT, AVEVA and PDMS
• Required experience with carbon capture systems, processes, and projects within pulp and paper manufacturing environments
• Strong organizational skills, technical competence and attention to detail
• Self-motivated and efficient with time management
• Comprehensive knowledge of applicable government regulations and regulatory codes
• Ability to meet safety requirements to attend site visits

• Ten years of experience in a designer capacity, ideally with a focus in the energy industry
• Three years of previous management or supervisory experience in a professional setting