Portfolio Support Engineer

The Portfolio Support Engineer is an entry-level engineering development position designed for a recent engineering graduate with a strong interest in project management, business processes, organizational development, and continuous improvement.

Working within the Engineering Department's Project Portfolio Support function, this position provides transversal support across all engineering disciplines and capital projects, contributing to the development and continuous improvement of project delivery processes, engineering governance, portfolio reporting, standards, digital tools, and organizational best practices.

The Project Portfolio Engineer works collaboratively with the Project Controller, Document Controller, Project Managers, Engineering Discipline Leads, and Engineering leadership to improve the consistency, efficiency, and maturity of the Engineering organization while supporting the implementation of the Company's Front-End Loading (FEL) methodology and project governance framework.

During the initial development period, the employee will participate in a structured rotation across the Engineering Department to gain practical exposure to engineering disciplines, terminal operations, project execution, and engineering support functions before transitioning into the Project Portfolio Support team.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

• Participate in a structured Engineering Development and Rotation Program to develop a broad understanding of the Company's engineering organization, project delivery processes, and terminal operations.
• Support the continuous development and improvement of the Engineering Project Portfolio Support function.
• Assist in developing and maintaining Engineering standards, procedures, templates, and best practices.
• Support implementation and continuous improvement of the Company's Front-End Loading (FEL) methodology and project governance processes.
• Assist in maintaining Engineering project lifecycle workflows, stage-gate deliverables, and governance documentation.
• Support the Project Controller in developing portfolio reporting, dashboards, KPIs, and project performance metrics.
• Assist the Document Controller in developing and improving document management processes, workflows, and digital collaboration tools.
• Collect, validate, organize, and analyze project and portfolio information to support management decision-making.
• Develop standardized reports, dashboards, presentations, and management summaries using Power BI, Excel, and other reporting tools.
• Support Engineering leadership in maintaining portfolio visibility, project prioritization, and workload management.
• Assist in mapping, documenting, and improving Engineering business processes and workflows.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, standardization, quality, and organizational effectiveness.
• Support implementation of Engineering digital tools, SharePoint sites, workflow automation, and data management initiatives.
• Coordinate with Project Managers, engineers, consultants, contractors, and internal stakeholders to collect project information and support portfolio reporting.
• Participate in project reviews, lessons learned sessions, and governance meetings.
• Assist with technical research, benchmarking, and implementation of industry best practices in engineering management and project delivery.
• Participate in site visits to gain practical understanding of engineering, construction, maintenance, and terminal operations.
• Promote a strong safety culture and support the Company's operational, environmental, and business objectives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Engineering Development and Rotation

During the initial approximately three months of employment, the Portfolio Support Engineer is expected to participate in rotations and assignments across selected areas of the Engineering Department. Rotations may include:

• Civil Engineering & Projects - Exposure to capital project development, civil and marine infrastructure, engineering design, and project execution.
• Project Support and Project Controls - Exposure to project planning, cost control, scheduling, reporting, risk management, and project governance.
• Cranes and Equipment Engineering - Exposure to container handling equipment, equipment engineering, reliability, and major equipment projects.
• Power Equipment and Asset Management - Exposure to mobile equipment, fleet management, maintenance strategies, and asset lifecycle planning.
• Technology & Innovation - Exposure to engineering technology, automation, data, and innovation initiatives.
• Terminal Operations and Field Activities - Exposure to terminal operations and the practical interface between engineering, maintenance, and operations.

The specific rotation plan may be adjusted based on business priorities, active projects, and development opportunities.

Following completion of the initial rotation period, the employee will be assigned to an Engineering function based on business needs, demonstrated capabilities, and career development objectives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Construction Engineering.
• Recent graduate or up to 2 years of professional experience.
• Fluency in English with effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Core Competencies:
  
  
  
  • Strong analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent organizational skills.
  • Ability to work effectively and collaboratively in multidisciplinary and geographically dispersed teams.
  • Strong initiative, curiosity, and willingness to learn.
  • Ability to learn new engineering, data, and project management systems.
  • Willingness to travel and participate in field assignments.
  
  
  
  
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite (particularly Excel, PowerPoint, and Word), along with a basic understanding of engineering drawings, technical specifications, and engineering documentation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Internship or university project experience related to engineering, operations, project management, business process improvement, analytics, or continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated interest in project management, portfolio management, engineering systems, or organizational development.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Project, Primavera P6, Power BI, AutoCAD, or similar engineering and project management tools.

Work Environment:

• Based at SSA Marine headquarters (Seattle, WA) with regular travel to SSA Marine terminals and project sites.
• Required job duties are normally performed in a climate-controlled office environment but may include time at project sites and manufacturing facilities.
• Exposure to computer screens.
• The ability to work in an environment that may be hazardous to persons unable to see and hear fast-moving equipment.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Will travel to project sites and multiple regions, as well as attend required meetings as necessary, including extended off-site stays when required.

Benefits

Eligible employees (and their families) may qualify for medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as basic life and accidental death insurance, paid disability insurance, including paid parental leave if eligible, and an Employee Assistance Program. Employees will receive paid sick and vacation time, and company holidays if eligible. The company also offers paid bereavement leave and paid jury duty. Eligible employees can enroll in our company's 401(k) plan, as well as a retirement plan. Employees will be eligible for discretionary and/or metric-based bonuses, depending on their position.