Mechanical Engineering Manager

Panasonic • De Soto, KS

5h • Onsite

About The Position

Join us at Panasonic Energy as we expand to De Soto, Kansas, where we’re building the world’s largest lithium-ion battery factory. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your career while contributing to the future of electric vehicles. As part of our team, you’ll help push the limits of battery technology, enhancing performance and efficiency in sustainable transportation.
Our state-of-the-art facility, just outside the Kansas City Metro, will be a hub for innovation in green energy solutions. If you're passionate about sustainability and eager to contribute to the electric vehicle revolution, we invite you to be part of our dynamic team. Join us and make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation.
Job Summary:
The Mechanical Engineering Manager serves as a senior technical and people leader within the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) organization, providing strategic direction and operational oversight for the full lifecycle of mechanical engineering systems supporting lithium-ion battery manufacturing facilities. This role is accountable for mechanical design strategy, technical quality, team development, and execution performance across multiple large-scale industrial projects. The Mechanical Engineering Manager leads and develops a high-performing team of engineers, ensures compliance with applicable engineering codes and standards, drives innovation and continuous improvement in system design, and collaborates cross-functionally to deliver projects that meet safety, quality, schedule, and budget objectives. This role combines deep technical expertise with strong organizational leadership in a fast-paced, high-growth manufacturing environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline from an ABET-accredited institution
• Professional Engineer (PE) license (State of Kansas preferred or ability to obtain reciprocity)
• 5+ years of progressive mechanical engineering leadership experience, including leadership of multidisciplinary industrial or EPC projects
• Extensive knowledge of mechanical system design for large-scale industrial or manufacturing facilities
• Strong working knowledge of applicable industry codes and standards (ASME, ANSI, API, PIP, NACE)
• Demonstrated ability to manage engineering scope, budgets, schedules, and technical risk across multiple concurrent projects
• Proficiency with engineering design and analysis tools (e.g., AutoCAD, SmartPlant, AFT Fathom, 3D modeling platforms, Bluebeam)
• Strong leadership, mentoring, and organizational management skills
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and decision-making capabilities
• Must have working-level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking English
• Alignment to Panasonic’s seven (7) core principles (contribution to society, fairness and honesty, cooperation and team spirit, untiring effort for improvement, courtesy and humility, adaptability, gratitude)

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Energy Systems, or a related field
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
• OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety Certification
• 7+ years of industrial mechanical engineering leadership experience within building industry, including battery manufacturing plant, semiconductor factory building, or advanced manufacturing facilities/infrastructures
• Experience scaling engineering teams in high-growth, capital-intensive industries
• Specialized training or certifications in battery systems, energy storage technologies, or sustainable manufacturing
• Demonstrated experience leading large capital programs or multi-project portfolios

Responsibilities

• Provide technical and managerial leadership for the mechanical engineering team across all project phases (concept through construction, commissioning, and final acceptance)
• Oversee and approve mechanical system designs including building HVAC, process piping, plumbing, wet mechanical, and specialty systems
• Serve as the technical authority for mechanical systems, ensuring compliance with process requirements, regulatory codes, and company standards
• Lead review and approval of calculations, specifications (CSI MasterFormat©), datasheets, PFDs, P&IDs, 3D models, and piping layouts
• Oversee supplier technical evaluations, equipment selection, and contractor performance for mechanical scopes
• Ensure engineering support for procurement, fabrication, construction, commissioning, and startup activities
• Resolve complex technical challenges and provide guidance on constructability, maintainability, and lifecycle performance
• Monitor mechanical engineering scope execution to ensure alignment with project budgets, schedules, and performance targets
• Establish and maintain mechanical engineering standards, design guidelines, and QA/QC procedures across projects
• Drive innovation and optimization in both dry and wet mechanical system design to improve energy efficiency, reliability, maintainability, and redundancies
• Implement lessons learned and best practices across programs to enhance design quality and execution efficiency
• Support long-term capacity planning and organizational scaling strategies for mechanical engineering resources
• Contribute to proposal development, staffing strategies, and technical sections of major capital project plans
• Lead workforce planning, recruitment, performance management, and career development for mechanical engineering staff
• Mentor senior and junior engineers to strengthen technical depth and leadership capability within the organization
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous professional development
• Promote knowledge sharing of industry standards, evolving technologies, and best practices in industrial mechanical systems
• Support succession planning and capability growth within the EPC engineering organization
• Ensure multidisciplinary coordination with electrical, manufacturing process, civil, structural, and controls engineering teams.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for internal stakeholders and external partners on mechanical engineering matters
• Collaborate with project management and project controls to manage scope, risk, change orders, and forecasting
• Engage with clients, contractors, suppliers, and Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) to ensure technical alignment and compliance
• Support business development initiatives through technical presentations, industry engagement, and proposal contributions
• Ensure all mechanical designs comply with applicable codes and standards (e.g., ASME, ANSI, API, PIP, NACE) and internal engineering requirements
• Enforce adherence to safety protocols and site-specific construction safety standards
• Oversee technical risk identification and mitigation strategies related to all mechanical systems
• Promote a culture of quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and ethical engineering practices
• Uphold environmental, sustainability, and safety standards in all aspects of design and execution
• Proficiency in engineering software and tools (e.g. AutoCAD Construction Cloud, AutoCAD, Revit, AFT Fathom, Bluebeam, SmartPlant, BIM clash coordination, Procore, 3D modeling)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and project management tools
• Direct supervision of mechanical engineering staff, including hiring, performance evaluation, compensation input, and disciplinary actions
• Oversight of contract engineers and external engineering partners as required

Benefits

• Health Benefits – Offering medical, dental, vision, prescription plans, plus Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options.
• Voluntary Benefits – Life, accident, critical illness, disability, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance.
• Panasonic Retirement Savings & Investment Plan (PRSIP) – 401(k) plan with company matching contributions and immediate vesting.
• Paid Time-Off Benefits – Vacation, holidays, personal days, sick leave, volunteer, and parental & caregiver leave.
• Educational Assistance – Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses after six months of service.
• Health Management and Wellbeing Programs –Lifestyle Spending Account, EAP, virtual health management, chronic condition, neurodiversity, tobacco cessation, substance abuse support, and life stage and fertility resources. Available to eligible employees starting the first day of the month following your start date. Eligibility for each benefit may vary based on employment status, location, and length of service.
• Employee Recognition Program - High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition
• Annual Bonus Program - Opportunity for an annual performance-based bonus.
• On-site Food Options: Several on-site cafes, plentiful snack and beverage kitchens, revolving on-site vendor visits and employee events.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees