Project Engineer

Summary:

The Project Engineer is responsible for leading and executing engineering projects that support manufacturing operations, facility improvements, and new product initiatives. This role combines hands-on design and CAD work with full lifecycle capital project execution—from concept development and justification through installation, commissioning, and handover to operations. The Project Engineer works closely with cross-functional teams including Safety, Operations, Maintenance, Quality and Finance to ensure projects meet performance, cost, and schedule targets.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead engineering projects from initial concept through implementation, ensuring alignment with business objectives, plant priorities, and safety standards.
• Perform mechanical and/or equipment design work using CAD tools (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or equivalent) to create layouts, part models, assemblies, and technical drawings.
• Develop project scopes, cost estimates, schedules, and justification packages for capital expenditure approvals.
• Manage capital projects, including contractor coordination, procurement, installation oversight, and start-up support.
• Conduct root cause analysis and develop engineered solutions to improve equipment reliability, product quality, and manufacturing efficiency.
• Support factory layout changes, equipment upgrades, and process optimizations.
• Prepare and maintain technical documentation including drawings, specifications, work instructions, and validation or commissioning protocols.
• Ensure compliance with internal engineering standards, regulatory requirements, safety guidelines, and industry best practices.
• Partner with operations teams to identify opportunities for improvement and provide technical expertise during troubleshooting or continuous improvement activities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on new product introductions, ensuring equipment capability and manufacturability.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None

Education Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.

Experience Requirements:

3–5 years of experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment (consumer goods experience preferred).

Competencies:

• Ability to organize data.
• Ability to handle stress and work with multiple priorities independently.
• Ability to interface effectively with other departments.
• Ability to assess information and provide systemic improvements to work processes and tools.
• Must be able to work on multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be able to coordinate workload and work under pressure.
• Proficiency with CAD software for mechanical design and layout development.
• Experience managing capital projects, including budgeting, vendor management, installation, and commissioning.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to diagnose technical issues and develop actionable solutions.
• Excellent communication and project management skills with the ability to lead cross-functional teams.
• Familiarity with continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma) is a plus.
• Must be able to track projects and ensure deadlines are met.
• Professional, helpful behavior, accepts constructive criticism well, and is a team player
• Must have working knowledge of computer usage including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access and SAP, and other word processing, database, or spreadsheet programs.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

None

Travel:

Some travel may be required

Work Environment:

Worker exposed to extreme heat and cold with temperatures sufficiently high or low to cause marked bodily discomfort. Exposed to sufficient noise to cause worker to shout in order to be heard above the ambient noise level. Worker exposed to hazards such as proximity to moving mechanical parts. Works in laboratory, production line and warehouse environments.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of 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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. Occasionally lift boxes of product 5-40 lb. frequently lift samples 1-5 lb. Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less, with the ability to distinguish colors and adjust eye to bring objects into sharper focus.