Complex Project Engineering Lead

Location: Selma, AL, United States

Title: Complex Project Engineering Lead

Duties: Provide visible leadership in safety and ensure compliance with all EHS regulations and company policies. Organize and lead cross-functional project teams, aligning corporate and mill disciplines to meet objectives and mitigate risks. Manage all phases of capital projects—from scope development, design review, and procurement to construction, commissioning, and startup—following IP’s Project Delivery Process. Develop and maintain project scope control, cost/schedule systems, and master schedules; monitor progress, identify risks, and implement contingency plans. Develop and maintain project schedules using MS Project; review contractor schedules and identify critical paths. Coordinate with engineering firms, vendors, and internal stakeholders to ensure design integrity, constructability, and lifecycle value. Lead contractor selection, bid analysis, contract development, and construction oversight; resolve field issues and ensure safety compliance. Support equipment selection, factory acceptance testing, installation inspections, and numbering systems. Facilitate training and startup plans; ensure performance evaluation and lessons learned are captured at each phase. Prepare and distribute monthly reports detailing project progress, issues, and resolutions. Mentor junior engineers and support team development. Travel internationally to vendor sites Canada, Germany, Mexico, Finland to conduct factory acceptance tests and any inspections.

Requirements: Must have a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related plus 10 years of experience in capital and maintenance engineering with 5 being in a large-scale pulp and paper mill setting, including:

• Microsoft Office, SAP, Unifier, AutoCAD, Adobe and MS Project

• Environmental, health, and safety (EHS) compliance within pulp and paper industry standards and operating practices

• Managing large-scale capital projects with annual project portfolios of up to $50 million

• Project controls, engineering coordination, construction management, reliability, and regulatory compliance

• Managing Woodyard, Medium Consistency Pump, Best Management Practices (BMP) & Effluent Treatment System replacement and improvement projects.

• Preparing and maintaining cost reports, accruals, forecasts, and cash flow scenarios; tracking spending and providing periodic updates using SAP and Unifier.

International travel is required 4-5 times a year to CAN/GER/MEX/FIN to conduct factory acceptance tests. Must be available to work night shift for up to 1.5 months at a time.

Salary: $129,900 to $180,400 per year

Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday

Location: International Paper

601 County Road 78

Selma, AL 36703

Contact: Katie Mosby, Legal Department- Paralegal - Labor & Employment

About Us