Lead Mechanical Engineer - Fuel & Fluid Systems

Job Details: Job Location: Kansas - ACI - Overland Park, KS, Position Type: Full Time, Salary Range: Undisclosed, Argus Consulting is seeking an experienced Mechanical Engineer to provide technical leadership for our Northeast region from our headquarters in Overland Park, Kansas. This is a senior, hands-on engineering leadership role with responsibility for the technical direction, quality, execution, and development of our mechanical engineering work and team in the region. You’ll lead complex fuel and fluid-system engineering involving pumps, piping, hydraulics, storage, filtration, fire protection systems, and related infrastructure; work closely with Project Managers and clients on technical decisions and project execution; and develop engineers through thoughtful delegation, review, coaching, and knowledge sharing. This role is for an engineer who wants broader technical responsibility and leadership, while remaining meaningfully engaged in the engineering itself. What We’re Looking For You’re a strong mechanical engineer who enjoys difficult technical work—and you understand that technical leadership requires more than knowing the answer. You take ownership of quality. You notice the details that matter, understand technical risk, make sound decisions without waiting for perfect information, and can explain your reasoning clearly to engineers, Project Managers, contractors, and clients. You also know that leading a strong engineering team doesn’t mean personally solving every problem. You can delegate without disappearing, review without redoing, and give engineers enough guidance and responsibility to become more capable and independent. You’re willing to make decisions, have difficult technical conversations, share what you know, and remain accountable for the result. Success in this role isn’t measured only by the work you personally produce. It’s also reflected in the quality of the work produced around you and the capability you help build in others. About the Role Most of the work you’ll support will be within the aviation industry, including commercial airports, airlines, fuel storage and distribution facilities, and other aviation fueling infrastructure. Our projects range from troubleshooting, system improvements, and equipment replacements to new fuel facilities, major airport programs, and long-range infrastructure planning. The Northeast region includes long-standing client relationships and technically complex work where details matter. This role will be closely involved in helping teams work through engineering challenges, maintain consistency across projects, and deliver solutions that meet client needs, applicable codes, and Argus standards for quality. What You’ll Do Lead mechanical engineering planning and execution across Northeast aviation and fuel infrastructure projects. Provide technical design and engineering for pumps, piping, hydraulics, storage tanks, filtration, fire protection systems, equipment selection, and related fuel system components. Partner with Project Managers to define technical scopes, staffing and labor needs, schedules, and execution strategies. Coordinate mechanical workload and delegate work based on project needs, technical capability, availability, and opportunities for engineer development. Review calculations, drawings, specifications, and other engineering deliverables for technical accuracy, code compliance, quality, and completeness. Provide QA/QC oversight, identify technical risks, challenge assumptions when needed, and serve as Engineer of Record when appropriately licensed and assigned. Lead technical discussions with clients, contractors, Project Managers, and multidisciplinary teams, helping resolve difficult engineering questions with sound judgment and professionalism. Mentor and develop engineers through meaningful responsibility, coaching, technical review, feedback, and knowledge sharing. Collaborate across Civil, Electrical, Environmental, Structural, Controls, and other disciplines to support integrated project delivery. Help improve engineering standards, tools, workflows, QA/QC practices, onboarding, and technical training. Qualifications: What You’ll Bring Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related engineering discipline. 10+ years of progressive mechanical engineering experience. Active Professional Engineer (PE) license. 5+ years of demonstrated leadership experience guiding engineers, assigning and reviewing work, developing team capability, and taking accountability for engineering quality and team performance. Strong engineering fundamentals involving pumps, piping, hydraulics, storage, filtration, fire protection systems, and/or related fluid or process systems. Experience providing technical leadership and QA/QC on complex engineering projects. Experience reviewing calculations, designs, specifications, and technical deliverables. Experience helping plan technical scopes, engineering effort, resources, and project execution. Demonstrated ability to mentor, delegate, and develop other engineers. Strong client-facing communication skills and the ability to work effectively across disciplines. Ability to remain organized, composed, and decisive across multiple projects and changing priorities. Ability and willingness to obtain additional state PE registrations as project needs require. Your Experience May Come from More Than Aviation Direct aviation fueling experience is highly valuable, but it is not the only path to success in this role. We’re interested in experienced engineers whose work has involved similar technical fundamentals in areas such as: Aviation fueling Petroleum and fuel-handling systems Bulk terminals and tank farms Pipelines Oil and gas Water and wastewater Pump stations Industrial process systems Industrial piping Power/process facilities Other fluid-intensive infrastructure If you have designed or led complex systems involving the movement, storage, pumping, control, or distribution of fluids, we want to consider how that experience could translate to our work. Experience in consulting engineering, EPC, design-build environments, commissioning, field support, or Engineer of Record responsibility is also valuable. Why Argus? Meaningful technical influence. Argus is large enough to deliver sophisticated, nationally significant work and small enough that your technical judgment can directly influence how engineering is planned, reviewed, executed, and improved. Complex, specialized engineering. Our engineers work on critical fuel infrastructure at airports and aviation facilities across the country — systems where reliability, safety, accuracy, and sound engineering judgment have real operational consequences. Build capability beyond your own work. This role gives you the opportunity to strengthen engineering practices, share hard-earned knowledge, and help other engineers become stronger technical professionals. Employee ownership. Argus Companies is 100% employee-owned through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), giving eligible employees the opportunity to share in the long-term value we create together. Location & Travel This position is based at Argus Companies’ headquarters in Overland Park, Kansas, part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. Relocation assistance is available for the right candidate. Periodic travel to Northeast project sites, airports, clients, and Argus offices is required and generally consists of short-duration trips rather than extended assignments. Compensation & Benefits Base Salary: $110,000-140,000 base salary + bonus. Actual compensation will be based on experience, skills, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors. Argus offers a comprehensive benefits program including: Employee Stock Ownership Plan eligibility after one year. 401(k) plan with a 3% company contribution that is immediately vested. Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance. Employee-only medical coverage is fully paid by Argus with wellness participation. Company HSA contributions for employees enrolled in the HDHP. Paid time off, holidays, a floating holiday, volunteer time, and paid parental leave. Tuition assistance and reimbursement for professional licensing, certifications, and professional society memberships . Wellness reimbursement. Flexible scheduling within established core hours. Teladoc and Employee Assistance Program resources. If you’re looking for a role where your technical judgment can influence the work, strengthen the team, and help shape how complex aviation fuel infrastructure is delivered, we’d like to hear from you. Argus Consulting, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans.