United Piping, Inc. is seeking a strategic and experienced Vice President of Engineering and Project Controls to lead enterprise-wide engineering and project controls functions across our organization. This executive role is responsible for driving operational excellence across estimating, scheduling, cost control, forecasting, change management, and engineering execution to support safe, profitable, and on-time project delivery.

This leader will play a key role in shaping company strategy, strengthening project performance, improving predictability, and building scalable systems that support growth. The ideal candidate brings strong industrial construction expertise, executive leadership experience, and a track record of improving project controls across complex projects.

What You’ll Do

As Vice President of Engineering and Project Controls, you will provide executive leadership across the full project lifecycle, from preconstruction through closeout.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead company-wide engineering and project controls strategy, including estimating, scheduling, cost management, forecasting, and progress measurement
• Develop and execute long-term plans to improve project predictability, profitability, and risk management
• Partner closely with Operations, Business Development, and Field Leadership to align engineering and project execution strategies
• Establish governance standards, processes, and best practices for project controls across all projects
• Oversee project budgets, schedules, forecasts, and performance reporting from preconstruction through project closeout
• Ensure accurate cost tracking, productivity analysis, earned value reporting, and financial visibility across projects
• Lead change management efforts, including evaluation of scope, cost, and schedule impacts
• Drive engineering execution to ensure designs are constructible, cost-effective, and aligned with field and project schedules
• Coordinate engineering with procurement, fabrication, and field operations for seamless project delivery
• Lead project review cadence and provide executive-level reporting on project performance, risks, and trends
• Evaluate and refine rate structures and billable rates to help achieve financial targets
• Identify project risks early and implement mitigation strategies and recovery plans where needed
• Champion continuous improvement through data, KPIs, lessons learned, and process optimization
• Build, mentor, and develop high-performing teams across engineering and project controls
• Lead the selection, implementation, and optimization of project controls systems, reporting tools, and dashboards

What We’re Looking For

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field
• 15+ years of experience in engineering, construction, or industrial project delivery
• Significant leadership experience overseeing engineering, project controls, or related technical functions
• Strong knowledge of estimating, scheduling, cost control, forecasting, and project financial performance
• Proven success leading complex industrial or piping-related projects
• Experience implementing or improving project controls systems, processes, and reporting at scale
• Ability to work cross-functionally with operations, business development, and field leadership
• Strong executive communication, strategic thinking, and decision-making skills

Preferred qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a related field
• PE or PMP certification
• Experience in industrial piping, fabrication, or heavy industrial construction

Leadership Scope

This role provides oversight for key departments, including:

• Estimating
• Business Development
• Project Controls

Work Environment and Travel

• Office-based role with hybrid flexibility available based on business needs
• Fast-paced environment supporting active project operations
• Frequent travel required, up to 50%, including air travel
• Occasional evening or weekend work may be needed based on project and business demands

Why Join United Piping, Inc.?

This is an opportunity to join the executive leadership team of a growing industrial organization and make a direct impact on project performance, operational discipline, and long-term business success. You’ll help shape the systems, teams, and strategies that drive safe, efficient, and profitable project delivery across the company.

Apply Today

If you are a strategic engineering and project controls leader with deep industrial construction experience, we encourage you to apply and explore the opportunity to help lead United Piping’s next phase of growth.

Benefits and Compensation:

This role will be eligible for hybrid work flexibility based out of our either our Duluth, MN or Yorkville, IL office. The pay range is $201,900 - $252,500, depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. This position is eligible for annual bonus and profit sharing based on company performance in addition to other benefits that support the total well-being of you and your family.  Some benefits include:

• Comprehensive Insurance coverage, Medical, Dental, Vision, and more
• Wellness Program
• 401K with employer match
• Discounted company stock (Employee Stock Purchase Plan)
• Profit Sharing
• Generous paid time off
• Hybrid work environment
• Growth opportunities through company sponsored leadership development courses and trainings

This position is not eligible for sponsorship.

All offers of employment are expressly contingent upon the satisfactory completion, in accordance with Company policy, of a pre-employment drug screening and background check.

AI Disclosure: Portions of this job posting may have been created or refined using AI-based tools. All content has been reviewed by the author for accuracy and intent.