Senior Project Engineer, Carbonate Production

Senior Project Engineer – Carbonate Production

Position Summary
Our client is seeking a full-time Senior Project Engineer to lead the design and execution of the core lithium extraction and refining process within the planned Clearwater Central Processing Facility in central Alberta, with work primarily coordinated from the client's corporate headquarters in Calgary.

This role oversees the carbonation and dewatering units needed to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate from brine.

As the Senior Project Engineer, you will act as the technical lead for the Carbonate Production scope and will be responsible for driving the engineering and execution of this scope through the entire project lifecycle.

About Our Client Our client is pioneering a new industry and redefining what is possible as it deploys local know-how to bring lithium into Alberta's value chain. This is innovation at scale, driven by bold ideas, cutting-edge technology, and a team that thrives on solving tough challenges.

Joining the organization means more than just building a career; it is joining an ambitious team that collaborates naturally and is committed to building a new industry within Canada. This role offers an unparalleled opportunity to be part of a company on the rise in one of the most crucial industries of our time. The organization supports growth and curiosity, celebrates balance, and provides the space to achieve big things.

Based in Calgary, recognized as one of North America's most livable cities, employees will find themselves working at the intersection of innovation, impact, and quality of life.

Responsibilities

• Champion a strong safety culture across the organization, reinforcing that safety is a core value and a shared responsibility rather than a compliance exercise.
• Lead the FEED, detailed engineering, and technical execution through procurement, construction, commissioning, and readiness for operations of the carbonation process area.
• Define and manage the technical scope, schedule, and risks for the carbonation scope, escalating budget and execution decisions to the Senior Project Manager as needed.
• Monitor expenditures and schedule performance for the carbonation scope, flagging variances and supporting budget forecasting.
• Define engineering milestones, track deliverables, and adjust schedules to minimize delays within the carbonation scope.
• Track and report on KPIs established for the carbonation scope to measure technical progress and cost performance.
• Act as the primary technical point of contact between engineering firms, equipment suppliers, and field contractors for the carbonation scope.
• Coordinate interfaces with internal stakeholders to ensure the carbonation design integrates with the broader process area.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers and designers supporting the carbonation scope.
• Oversee engineering, procurement, and construction activities delivered by external contractors and consultants for the carbonation scope, ensuring all work aligns with contract requirements and technical specifications.
• Ensure designs and installations comply with applicable codes, standards, regulatory requirements, and applicable specifications.
• Support permitting and regulatory submissions related to the carbonation scope.
• Lead a thoughtful, purpose-driven design review process for the carbonation scope, capturing key input on constructability, operability, reliability, and process safety.
• Lead commissioning and start-up planning for the carbonation systems, including development of commissioning plans and technical support during field execution.
• Provide regular progress reports on the carbonation scope to the Senior Project Manager and project stakeholders.
• Evaluate change requests for the carbonation scope and recommend a path forward that protects budget, schedule, and technical integrity.
• As part of a young and growing company, establish the processes and procedures that set the team up for long-term success, taking a systematic approach in areas where no formal processes or procedures currently exist, and continuously evolving them to support the organization's growth.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, or related discipline).
• Registered as a Professional Engineer with APEGA in good standing.
• 10+ years of project engineering experience on facilities in the oil & gas, chemical processing, water treatment, or related industries.
• Proven track record delivering complex facility scopes in excess of $20MM from FEED through construction and commissioning, on time and on budget.
• Experience working alongside EPC contractors through FEED, detailed engineering, and construction and commissioning support phases.
• Experience supporting complex capital procurement programs with equipment and materials sourced from global suppliers.
• Experience with complex material selection for applications in corrosive or high chloride environments.
• Direct experience with facility projects involving mineral or precipitation processes is considered an asset.
• Experience working with gas-liquid contacting, absorption, crystallization, or precipitation technologies.
• Working knowledge of Alberta's regulatory environment for the energy and mineral resource sectors.
• Demonstrated application of the design codes and standards associated with mineral processing systems

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.