Principal Project Manager Oil and Gas
Houston, TX, US
At Mott MacDonald, we are driven by purpose and powered by brilliant people. As a trusted engineering, management, and development consultancy, we work with clients to solve complex challenges and deliver sustainable outcomes that make a meaningful difference for the communities we serve.
When you join us as an experienced professional, you will bring your expertise to work that matters while continuing to grow your career. You will collaborate with talented colleagues across disciplines and geographies, contribute your perspective, and help shape better outcomes through technical excellence, innovation, and integrity.
Build on your experience while helping shape what comes next. At Mott MacDonald, you'll work alongside talented people on complex and rewarding projects that make a real difference. We value fresh perspectives, encourage collaboration, and provide opportunities to expand your skills, take on new challenges, and grow your career. Whether you're deepening your technical expertise, broadening your leadership experience, or exploring new opportunities across our business, you'll be supported by a team that is committed to helping you succeed.
Mott MacDonald is a leading provider of engineering, project delivery, and asset management services for the North American energy industry. We support many of the largest pipeline operations, midstream companies, and developers across the United States through the development and delivery of critical energy infrastructure.
We are seeking an experienced Principal Project Manager to lead the delivery of multidisciplinary consulting and engineering services for major pipeline and facilities projects. This role will serve as the primary interface between our clients and our technical delivery teams, ensuring successful execution of complex projects while expanding trusted client relationships and Mott MacDonald’s presence across the energy sector.
The successful candidate will be responsible for coordinating and managing teams delivering services that span the entire pipeline project lifecycle, including route selection, survey, permitting, GIS, geotechnical investigations, FEED studies, detailed engineering, HDD, facilities design, construction support, and construction monitoring.
This role is ideally suited for an oil and gasprofessional who combines strong commercial and client leadership capabilities with extensive experience with how major pipelines and facilities projects are developed, permitted, engineered, and constructed.
Your Impact
As a Principal Project Manager, you will lead multidisciplinary teams supporting some of North America’s most significant energy infrastructure projects.
You will be responsible for delivering high-quality services, maintaining strong client relationships, ensuring commercial success, and integrating the full range of Mott MacDonald’s capabilities into a seamless client solution.
Success in this role will be measured by project performance, client satisfaction team leadership, repeat business, and growth of strategic client accounts.
Key Responsibilities
Project Delivery Leadership
- Serve as Principal Project Manager for complex pipeline and facilities projects, coordinating multiple technical disciplines and workstreams throughout project development and execution.
- Lead the successful delivery of consulting, survey, permitting, engineering, and construction support services from project initiation through completion.
- Oversee project execution plans, staffing plans, schedules, budgets, forecasts, and resource plans.
- Manage project scope, commercial performance, quality, risk, and contractual obligations.
- Establish project governance and reporting processes to ensure predictable and successful project outcomes.
- Serve as the primary point of accountability for project delivery performance and client satisfaction.
Client Relationship Leadership
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with pipeline operators, midstream developers, and other energy infrastructure clients.
- Serve as a strategic advisor to clients throughout project development and execution.
- Understand client capital investment programs, delivery challenges, and long-term business objectives.
- Identify opportunities to expand existing relationships and introduce additional Mott MacDonald service offerings.
- Lead project reviews, client meetings, and strategic planning discussions.
Commercial and Financial Management
- Develop project budgets, fee estimates, staffing forecasts, and delivery strategies that support both client and business objectives.
- Ensure projects are delivered safely, profitably, and in accordance with contractual commitments.
- Maintain accountability for project profitability, forecasting accuracy, utilization, invoicing, and financial performance.
- Lead scope negotiations, contract amendments, and change management processes.
Business Development and Growth
- Collaborate with account leaders and market leaders to develop and expand key client relationships.
- Identify opportunities to position Mott MacDonald's capabilities across pipeline, facilities, and energy infrastructure programs.
- Support strategic pursuits, proposals, interviews, and capture planning activities.
Leadership and Team Development
- Lead multidisciplinary teams consisting of engineers, environmental specialists, permitting professionals, surveyors, GIS specialists, geotechnical engineers, project controls professionals, and construction support personnel.
- Mentor project managers, discipline leads, and developing professionals.
- Foster a culture of safety, collaboration, accountability, innovation, and technical excellence.
- Support recruitment, onboarding, and professional development efforts across the Energy Team.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Project Management, Construction Management, or related discipline.
- 15+ years of experience managing multidisciplinary consulting, survey, engineering, and project delivery services supporting pipeline infrastructure.
- Expert understanding of oil and gas project development including routing, permitting, engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning processes.
- Experience managing large project budgets on behalf of clients, schedules, contracts, and commercial agreements.
- Excellent communication, leadership, negotiation, and stakeholder skills.
- Ability to translate complex engineering concepts for non-technical partners, investors, and public officials.
Preferred Qualifications
- Professional Engineering license and PMP certification
- Expert in interstate pipeline projects and regulatory processes including FERC and PHMSA requirements.
- Experience with natural gas transmission, gathering systems, hydrogen, carbon capture, renewable natural gas, LNG, and related energy infrastructure.
- Established relationships with pipeline operators, utilities, and midstream developers.
- Experience managing major capital projects, portfolio delivery contracts, and long-term client service agreements.
- Familiarity with Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, GIS platforms, project controls systems, and digital delivery tools.
Bring your expertise, curiosity, and drive to make a difference. If you are ready to join a collaborative consultancy where your perspective is valued, your growth is supported, and you are empowered to lead with integrity, we would love to hear from you.
Benefits & Rewards
Individual pay is determined based on several factors such as work location, education, experience, and unique skills.
In addition to base salary, Mott MacDonald offers performance-based bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package, giving employees a direct connection to our success.
Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support the health, wellbeing, financial security, and professional growth of our employees. Eligible employees have access to medical, dental, and vision coverage, FSA and HSA accounts, company-paid life insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage, and a competitive 401(k) plan with company matching. We also provide paid time off, paid holidays, caregiver leave, employee referral bonuses, professional registration and membership reimbursements, and tuition assistance to support continued learning and career development.
Collaboration at Our Core
At Mott MacDonald, we believe great ideas happen when we're together. Our hybrid approach centers on an in-office culture, with most of your time spent collaborating face-to-face and a minimum of three days per week in the office. We balance flexibility with connection, so you and your manager can choose how to meet clients, team, and personal commitments.
Equal opportunity is the law.
We seek to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they have the opportunity to contribute.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status or disability status.
Nearest Major Market: Houston