Lead Project Engineer Advanced Manufacturing

TekniPlex•Van Wert, OH

9h•$138,000

About The Position

In this newly created role, you will serve as the technical project leader for new equipment installations, automation initiatives, process innovation, and manufacturing technology implementation. The Lead Project Engineer will partner closely with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Supply Chain, OEM suppliers, and Corporate Engineering to ensure projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and achieve expected operational performance. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, enjoys solving complex technical challenges, and has experience commissioning new equipment, optimizing manufacturing processes, and leading cross-functional project teams from concept through production.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline is Required.
7+ years of engineering experience supporting manufacturing operations, capital projects, or equipment design.
Experience developing capital project justifications including ROI, payback, and business case analysis.
Demonstrated experience leading capital projects from concept through commissioning.
Experience with manufacturing equipment installation, startup, and process optimization.
Strong understanding of mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and automation systems.
Proven project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving abilities.
Strong communication skills with the ability to effectively influence cross-functional teams and external partners.
Proficiency with AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or similar engineering software.
Experience with Microsoft Project or other project management software.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting greenfield manufacturing startups or major facility expansions.
Experience with automation, robotics, PLC controls, vision systems, or Industry 4.0 technologies.
Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
Experience working with OEM equipment manufacturers and system integrators.
Knowledge of reliability engineering, preventive maintenance, and equipment lifecycle management.
Experience within molded fiber, paper, packaging, food manufacturing, or other high-volume manufacturing environments.

Responsibilities

Develop long-term manufacturing technology roadmaps that improve capacity, reliability, automation, quality, and operational competitiveness.
Lead operational readiness planning to ensure new equipment, processes, documentation, spare parts, training, and maintenance systems are fully prepared prior to production startup.
Ensure maintainability, reliability, spare parts strategy, and preventive maintenance requirements are incorporated into all equipment designs and capital projects.
Apply engineering principles that prioritize operator safety, ergonomics, machine guarding, and maintainability throughout the project lifecycle.
Evaluate emerging manufacturing technologies and identify opportunities to improve automation, digitalization, productivity, and operational performance.
Lead capital equipment projects from concept development through design, installation, commissioning, and production handoff.
Serve as the technical lead for the implementation of new manufacturing technologies, automation systems, robotics, and process improvements.
Manage project scope, schedules, budgets, vendor relationships, and project risks to ensure successful execution.
Partner with Operations to optimize manufacturing processes, improve throughput, reduce waste, and increase Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
Develop equipment specifications, review vendor proposals, and support equipment selection and procurement activities.
Lead Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), equipment startup, and operational readiness activities.
Coordinate installation contractors, equipment suppliers, and cross-functional project teams during equipment installation and startup.
Support troubleshooting and root cause analysis of new equipment to ensure long-term reliability and performance.
Develop process documentation, standard operating procedures, engineering standards, and training materials for new technologies.
Identify opportunities to improve manufacturing capability through automation, digital technologies, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Collaborate with the Engineering, Maintenance, and Reliability teams to ensure new equipment is maintainable and sustainable.
Ensure all projects comply with company safety standards, engineering specifications, and applicable regulatory requirements.
Travel as needed to support equipment suppliers, other Fiber facilities, and technology partners.
Identify technical, schedule, cost, and operational risks and develop mitigation plans.
Develop engineering standards and preferred equipment specifications to improve consistency across Fiber operations.
Capture and apply lessons learned from completed projects to improve future project execution.