Preconstruction Engineering Lead
Harris · United States
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- $113,000 / year
- United States
Tailored resume — keyword-matched to this role.
Hiring manager — we find who's hiring.
Intro email — drafted to reach them directly.
Job highlights
- Lead preconstruction engineering strategy for mechanical and plumbing.
- Influence project design, engineering, pricing, and delivery.
- Collaborate with owners, contractors, and design teams.
- Develop and implement preconstruction processes and best practices.
- Mentor and train teams to enhance preconstruction skills.
About the role
Preconstruction Engineering Lead
At Harris, preconstruction is more than estimating and coordination — it is where technical expertise, innovation, and strategic execution come together to shape project success before construction begins. We’re looking for a technical leader to drive preconstruction engineering strategy across Harris. In this role, you’ll influence how projects are designed, engineered, priced, and delivered across multiple offices and project teams. You’ll partner with owners, contractors, design teams, and internal operations leaders to solve complex mechanical and plumbing challenges, improve delivery methods, and advance the tools and processes that differentiate Harris in the market.
Role Purpose
The purpose of your role as a Preconstruction Engineering Associate is to direct preconstruction engineering activities to improve project delivery for our customers and Harris. Strategize, initiate, and influence the outcomes for preconstruction efforts between design and engineering, and construction operations. Encourage and develop effective communication across all project stakeholders to manage risks, quality, delivery, and meet project goals.
Preconstruction Engineering Responsibilities
- Develop & implement Harris Precon processes and activities across all Harris locations in collaboration with stakeholders.
- Expand pre-con processes and best-practices across company offices, communicating and explaining these processes to all locations/divisions.
- Deliver preconstruction services with a keen sense of urgency to customer requests, building trusted partner relationships.
- Manage, coordinate, and carry out preconstruction engineering activities, including scheduling, estimating, bidding, design + engineering.
- Drive and facilitate in design-related tasks, including reviews, reports, studies, and construction administration.
- Maximize impact in preconstruction and design meetings with owners, architects, and other design professionals, ensuring timely meeting minutes.
- Apply activities to meet demands of different project delivery methods.
- Optimize preconstruction engineering tasks by working with other teams, managing logs and reports for technical issues, cost and schedule trending, and procurement.
- Prepare and deliver presentations and reports on preconstruction activities, task progress, and construction team briefings.
- Lead business development proposal and pursuit support.
- Drive the advancement of tools and IT solutions for the wider preconstruction effort.
- Manage and utilize software tools for quantity studies, constructability studies, clash detection, reviews, and value engineering (AutoCAD, Revit, Navisworks).
- Support design studio teams in the creation and preparation of design packages.
- Develop expertise in preconstruction processes that differentiate Harris.
- Create and utilize tools and dashboards to automate Precon activities.
- Work with PMs to develop budgeting & report-out tools for client communications, demonstrating delivery method benefits.
- Optimize Precon best practices and approaches to support project goals.
- Direct and drive prefabrication design efforts throughout Precon, ensuring constructability.
- Identify and drive resolution for issues and project risks in Precon.
Execution and Delivery
- Track, manage, and communicate project scope, schedule impacts, change orders, and budget trends internally and externally.
- Support identifying estimate peaks and scope gaps, reducing risks within the overall project estimate.
- Actively drive the cost trend log to include scope creep, value-added solutions, and other risks/opportunities.
- Partner with project management teams to ensure constructability of preconstruction ideas/concepts by educating teams on logistics, pre-fab, and options.
- Drive, monitor, and confirm feedback of preconstruction concepts with project teams to measure and verify value.
Develop Preconstruction Skills Across The Company
- Support, train, and mentor other Precon contacts throughout the company.
- Document, train, and mentor Design + Engineering team members on Preconstruction services, considering various project delivery methods.
- Use reference documentation in a shared format for easy access.
- Support the implementation of the Precon training plan to ensure D+E team members build this skill set.
Leadership + Culture
- Consistently demonstrate the desired Harris culture.
- Emphasize and demonstrate a strong safety culture and an environment of collaboration, teamwork, and transparency.
- Demonstrate leadership regarding preconstruction engineering and activities on the D+E team and throughout preconstruction work.
- Foster a culture of Precon within Harris.
Business Development
- Support the sales effort by reviewing project designs and participating in the development of bids, cost estimates, and schedules.
- Propose alternatives to keep projects on schedule or within budget.
- Participate in project interviews as requested to support high preconstruction potential projects.
Miscellaneous
Perform additional assignments per supervisor’s direction.
What We're Looking For In You
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering preferred.
- 8+ years of industry knowledge of mechanical and plumbing.
- 6+ years of knowledge of corporate objectives impacting estimating, estimating strategies and techniques, and construction contracts.
- 8+ years and proficient understanding of engineering and technology, including principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment.
- 6+ years and previous success in delivering pre-construction engineering solutions.
Your Life at Harris
As one of the country's leading mechanical contractors, Harris offers you the best of both worlds: the stability, resources and opportunities of a national company, and the team culture, creative spirit and customer loyalty of a local business. If you thrive on variety and new challenges, we want to meet you! From stadiums to manufacturing facilities, power plants to hospitals, concert halls to classrooms, we handle projects of all sizes and complexity from multiple regional locations across the country.
Harris Benefits + Compensation
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
- 401K with company match
- Vacation time, sick time, and paid holidays
- Paid Parental leave
- Short-Term Incentive Plan
Visit our Careers Page for additional benefit details: https://www.harriscompany.com/careers/employee-benefits-at-a-glance
Pay Range
$75,521.24 - $113,281.86
The actual salary offer will vary by candidate based on a wide range of factors such as specific skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
Key skills/competency
- Preconstruction Engineering
- Mechanical and Plumbing
- Estimating
- Project Management
- Construction Contracts
- Engineering and Technology
- Design and Engineering
- Business Development
- Risk Management
- Value Engineering
Skills & topics
- Preconstruction Engineering Lead
- Mechanical Engineering
- Plumbing Engineering
- Estimating
- Project Delivery
- Construction Management
- Revit
- Navisworks
- Value Engineering
- Risk Management
- Leadership
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight your 8+ years of mechanical/plumbing and engineering experience, and 6+ years in estimating and contracts.
- Showcase your impact: Quantify achievements in preconstruction engineering solutions and driving project success.
- Address key skills: Emphasize expertise in AutoCAD, Revit, Navisworks, value engineering, and risk management.
- Research Harris culture: Understand their commitment to collaboration, safety, and innovation in mechanical contracting.
- Prepare for technical questions: Be ready to discuss complex mechanical and plumbing challenges and solutions.
Technical preparation
Master AutoCAD, Revit, and Navisworks for design tasks.,Deepen knowledge of mechanical and plumbing systems.,Practice constructability reviews and value engineering.,Prepare to discuss engineering technology principles.
Behavioral questions
Describe a complex challenge you solved.,How do you foster collaboration and teamwork?,Share an example of influencing stakeholders.,How do you drive process improvement?
Frequently asked questions
- What are the key technical skills required for the Preconstruction Engineering Lead role at Harris?
- The Preconstruction Engineering Lead role at Harris requires a strong technical foundation, including 8+ years of industry knowledge in mechanical and plumbing. Proficient understanding of engineering and technology principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment is essential. Experience with software tools like AutoCAD, Revit, and Navisworks for quantity studies, constructability, clash detection, and value engineering is also critical.
- What is the expected educational background for this leadership position at Harris?
- While a Bachelor's degree in Engineering is preferred for the Preconstruction Engineering Lead position at Harris, the company also highly values extensive industry experience. Candidates with at least 8 years of relevant engineering and technical knowledge, along with 6+ years of experience in estimating and construction contracts, will be considered strongly.
- How does Harris foster professional development for its Preconstruction Engineering Lead employees?
- Harris is committed to developing its employees. The Preconstruction Engineering Lead will have opportunities to support, train, and mentor other preconstruction contacts and design+engineering team members across the company. This includes documenting and sharing best practices and supporting a company-wide preconstruction training plan.
- What is the typical project scope and complexity managed by the Preconstruction Engineering Lead at Harris?
- The Preconstruction Engineering Lead at Harris will engage with a wide variety of projects, ranging from stadiums and manufacturing facilities to power plants, hospitals, and educational institutions. These projects can be of significant size and complexity, managed from multiple regional locations across the country.
- How does Harris ensure a positive work-life balance and employee well-being for its Preconstruction Engineering Lead?
- Harris offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, along with a 401K with company match. Employees also receive vacation time, sick time, paid holidays, and paid parental leave. The company aims to provide the stability of a national company with the collaborative spirit of a local business.
- What is the salary range for the Preconstruction Engineering Lead position at Harris?
- The stated pay range for the Preconstruction Engineering Lead position at Harris is $75,521.24 - $113,281.86 annually. The final salary offered will be determined based on various factors, including the candidate's specific skills, qualifications, experience, and geographic location.
- How does the Preconstruction Engineering Lead role contribute to business development at Harris?
- The Preconstruction Engineering Lead plays a crucial role in business development by supporting the sales effort. This involves reviewing project designs, participating in the development of bids, cost estimates, and schedules, proposing cost-saving alternatives, and potentially participating in project interviews.