What are the responsibilities and job description for the Project Engineer/Program Manager position at Clayens US LLC?
Job Title: Project Engineer/Program Manager
Location: Machesney Park, IL
Department: Engineering
Reports to: Plant Manager
Effective Date: July 2026
Job Summary:
Manages all phases of programs from inception through completion production hand off, ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget. Responsible for the pricing, schedule, and technical performance of programs or subsystems of major programs. Manages the overall manufacturing effort of the facility through the coordination and management of manufacturing, human resources, quality assurance, and continuous improvement for the location in support of the overall company objectives. Makes final decisions on issues relating to the project and ensures the program achievement of objectives
Supervisory Responsibilities:
- None
Duties/Responsibilities: include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
- Leads the preparation of proposals, quotations, business plans, work statements and specifications, operating budgets and financial terms/ conditions of contracts and contract changes.
- Leads program review sessions with large customers or critical projects to discuss cost, schedule & technical performance.
- Determine customer requirements and negotiate price with vendors for tools, equipment and services.
- Develops new business or expands the product line with the customer.
- Provides engineering support to sales for presentations to help sell manufacturing capabilities.
- Establishes design concepts, criteria engineering efforts for product research, development, integration and test.
- Reviews designs for injection molds including quoting, coordinating with mold builders, visiting and auditing mold builders, communicating with customers
- Identifies program problems and develops solutions, such as allocation of resources or changing contractual specifications. May assist other Program managers with developing solutions for complex problems.
- Directs the work of employees assigned to the program from various departments.
- Reviews status reports prepared by project team, modifies schedules or plans as required and escalates issues to management as required. Acts as advisor to program team regarding projects, tasks, and operations.
- Coordinates assembly development and supply chain requirements by holding design reviews and weekly project status meetings.
- Acts as main communication interface between company, customers and vendors for new programs.
- Develop flowcharts, GANNT charts and other project report mechanisms as needed.
- Manage and coordinate program continuous quality improvement and cost reduction efforts and teams by developing and leading the quality-based reporting process.
Qualifications and Experience: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or plastics engineering or related discipline with 5 years of experience.
- Strong and broad Project Engineering and/or Program Management experience.
- Proven ability to solve problems.
- Experience in plastic injection molding
- Experience in Tooling for injection molding
- Experience in CNC Machining and Fabrication
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills required
- Ability to communicate with other team members, visitors and customers in an effective, pleasant, courteous and tactful manner.
- Computer experience with Windows, Excel, Word, and Microsoft Outlook.
- English language proficiency, to include verbal and written communication.
- Must be proficient with computer aided design software/hardware and be able to download designs to computer aided machining software/hardware
Physical Requirements:
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
Salary : $90,000 - $100,000