Director of Project Engineering

This job description is a general description of the essential job functions and is not intended to be an employment contract. Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. maintains its status as an at-will employer. Position requirements, skills, and abilities included in this job description have been determined to be the minimal standards required to successfully perform the position. Eastern Shipbuilding Group Inc. reserves the right to increase, waive or reduce these minimal standards. In no instance, however, should the duties, responsibilities, and requirements described be interpreted as all-inclusive. All employees of Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. are expected to perform the duties as assigned by Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc., supervisory/management personnel, regardless of job title or routine job duties. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. To perform this job successfully, an individual is expected to be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability expected. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. However, no accommodation will be made which may pose serious health or safety risks to the employee or others or which imposes undue hardship on Eastern Shipbuilding. Purpose The Director of Project Engineering for Commercial Programs is responsible for managing and directing the tasks of the Project Engineers. Project Engineers coordinate “matrixed” support among various Engineering disciplines, with Program Management, Production, subcontractors, and other assigned personnel. The Director of Project Engineering develops project schedules, reviews proposed changes, formulates technical solutions, and accurately estimates the resources, time, and effort (labor and materials) required for new projects and changes. Once projects are authorized for execution, the Director ensures that tasks within the Engineering Department’s integrated schedule are executed as planned, prepares regular status reports, and drives projects to successful completion. Functions Communicate regularly with the Director of Engineering to coordinate the availability and release of construction drawings and other technical deliverables, in alignment with the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) and program requirements. Develop task-based execution plans for major projects (>1,000 hours), with clearly established Estimated Completion Dates (ECDs) for each task. Ensure these plans are incorporated into the Engineering Department’s integrated schedule. Provide the VP of Engineering or Director of Engineering with: A schedule of all assigned tasks, including budgeted hours and required completion dates. Active tracking and daily reporting of any deviations, risks, or required schedule changes. Develop engineering estimates for task durations, labor hours, and material budgets. Notify supervisors and relevant managers of any delays or complications, proposing corrective actions to recover schedule and budget. Lead meetings, as required, to resolve obstacles affecting assigned or related projects. Participants may include personnel from Program Management, Production, Project Engineering, and other engineering functions, as well as internal or external stakeholders. Lead meetings with internal engineering teams and external customers (e.g., ESG clients) to provide project status updates and support as needed until completion. Essential Responsibilities As the primary point of contact (PC) between Program Teams and Production, the Director of Project Engineering must remain informed and maintain all information necessary to meet contract requirements, which may include: Managing compliance, preparation, and scheduling of deliverables. Preparing and providing engineering support for project reviews. Attending program and production meetings to ensure proper prioritization of engineering activities across disciplines. Coordinating engineering support for any contract-related issues during project execution. Developing and implementing procedures and methods to ensure contract compliance and quality standards. Establishing and maintaining processes, training, and procedures for assigned Project Engineers. Managing and interpreting engineering hours used versus budget for each project. Acting as the main engineering point of contact for Program Management and/or client, representing Project Engineering in meetings with the USCG or Classification Societies (CLASS), and coordinating with the VP of Engineering regarding resource needs for such meetings. Working with the VP of Engineering and Director of Engineering to manage subcontractors and outsourced engineering firms used for the program—overseeing schedule, deliverables, reporting, and issue resolution. Collaborating with Engineering leadership to identify program issues affecting detailed engineering development and implementing mitigation plans as required. Areas of focus include: Weight Control Program VFI Status and Issues Vendor Integration with Detailed Engineering Configuration Change Management (status and implementation) Material Validation Technical Specification priorities and development Additionally, the Director will: Analyze resource availability, plan staffing additions, and participate in interviews and selection as required. Work with Group Managers to collect and process program information and support continuous improvement initiatives. Supervisory Responsibilities The Director of Project Engineering will have both supervisory and project leadership responsibilities, indirectly managing assigned (matrixed) engineering resources responsible for project completion. Responsibilities include planning, assigning, and directing work; evaluating performance; providing feedback to homeroom supervisors for annual assessments; and supporting hiring and personnel development. The Director will carry out supervisory duties in accordance with company policies, procedures, and applicable laws. Responsibilities may include interviewing, hiring, training, and scheduling personnel. Local and out-of-town travel, including overnight stays, may be required. Reporting Relationship This position reports to the Vice President of Engineering – Commercial Programs. Qualifications 15 years of experience in an engineering capacity. Strong ability to read and interpret technical documents, regulations, and professional publications. Proven communication skills with senior management and cross-departmental leaders. Proficient in interpreting written, verbal, and diagrammatic instructions. Strong understanding and working knowledge of FORAN or similar ship design software (e.g., AVEVA, CADMATIC, or Shipconstructor). Intermediate to advanced proficiency in AutoCAD, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook), and scheduling software (e.g., Primavera P6). Ability to solve practical problems and work effectively in situations lacking standardization. Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, demonstrate attention to detail, and work collaboratively in a team setting. Experience working with regulatory body requirements in the shipbuilding industry (e.g., ABS, 46-CFR, IEEE, USCG). Ability to effectively present information to senior management, regulatory bodies, and clients. Extensive experience planning and executing projects with teams of 20 or more. Deep understanding of marine vessel engineering and design processes. Strong knowledge of engineering drawings, specifications, and design documentation. Educational Requirements A Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Mechanical Engineering or Naval Architecture from an ABET-accredited institution is required (advanced degree preferred). At least 6 years of directly applicable Project Engineering or Project Management experience is also required. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Behavioral Attributes: Integrity, flexibility/adaptability, initiative, strong interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities. Maintain strict confidentiality of all information related to Eastern Shipbuilding Group operations. Working Conditions This position is considered both office and field work which is characterized as follows. Assigned an office space for daily work, but will be conducting daily ship visits as needed/required Occasional exposure to airborne dust in the workplace When in the field, working in confined spaces may occur as well as working in high areas Physical Activity/Requirements The physical demands described here include but are not limited to those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position is considered LIGHT physical work. OCCASIONAL Lift up to 20 pounds Climbing, stooping, kneeling, squatting, and reaching FREQUENT Lift up to 10 pounds Standing CONSTANT Repetitive movements of arms and hands Sit with back supported We are equal opportunity/affirmative action employers, committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under state or local law. Our Work Experience is the combination of everything that’s unique about our culture, our core values, our company meetings, our commitment to success, our recognition programs, but most importantly, it’s our people. Our employees are self-disciplined, hardworking, curious, trustworthy, humble and truthful. They make choices according to what is best for the team, they live for opportunities to collaborate and make a difference, and they make us the #1 Top Workplace in our area.