Mechanical Project Engineer (Experienced Professional)

Michelin • Lexington, SC

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Mechanical Project Engineer completes the mechanical engineering work for plant capital projects and provides technical support to help the plant meet its market, productivity, and quality goals. The role assists management with pre-studies for mechanical engineering deployment and development projects, completes design studies, follows equipment procurement and fabrication, and leads equipment installation, commissioning, and startup in an industrial plant environment. For customer projects, the engineer manages design studies for industrial equipment installations and ensures adherence to customer specifications, local regulations, performance requirements, and costs.

The position involves hands-on project support, particularly during installation, startup, and ramp-up. Some project implementation schedules take place during holidays and shutdowns. The senior-level scope additionally includes start-to-finish project management, contractor and installation-team leadership, change management, equipment validation, troubleshooting support, and ownership of assigned equipment documentation and relationships.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field, or equivalent technical experience.
• Ability to set and achieve goals with minimum supervision.
• Self-motivation, a high degree of integrity, and ability to perform duties on time with minimal direction.
• Ability to work with others or as part of a team to meet common objectives.
• Experience developing or implementing team or group project plans that met or exceeded expectations.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and data accuracy in previous work.
• Experience with mechanical design standards such as OSHA, ASME, ANSI, and ISO.
• Knowledge of pneumatics, hydraulics, piping, and fittings.
• Experience with lifting devices, cranes, jibs, below-the-hook devices, and end-effectors.
• Knowledge of sizing and selecting motors, reducers, and servos.
• Ability to complete machine designs for parts and assemblies, detail drawings, bills of material, and motion and interference analyses using SolidWorks 3D CAD software.
• Engineering document management experience.
• For senior-level roles, at least 5 years of experience in a similar role or 7–10 years in a manufacturing maintenance area.
• For senior-level roles, ability to prioritize and handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• For senior-level roles, ability to work well under pressure and handle strict deadlines.
• For senior-level roles, ability to develop and maintain technical documentation for responsible equipment.
• For senior-level roles, ability to coach, mentor, and train junior engineers.
• For senior-level roles, proven project management experience from conception to completion.
• For senior-level roles, strong understanding of procurement, installation, commissioning, and startup of complex manufacturing systems.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with mechanics of materials, stress analysis, and FEA.
• Siemens Teamcenter experience is preferred.
• Robotics experience; experience with Fanuc or Yaskawa is a plus.
• Experience with advanced technologies such as AGV, ASRS, vision systems, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

Responsibilities

• Conduct pre-studies, prototypes, and pilots to capture business requirements and determine solutions based on costs and benefits, deadlines, risks, and functional capabilities.
• Follow the quality system and established methods, including risk analyses, FMEA, design reviews, quality planning, and non-conformity treatment.
• Design, build, and lead implementation projects that improve plant performance by replacing outdated systems, improving existing equipment, or introducing new innovations.
• Implement and monitor risk-mitigation actions, including calculations, simulations, and tests.
• Apply design and development best practices, including worldwide sharing of best practices.
• Develop and maintain relationships with suppliers, vendors, and contractors.
• Stay up to date with emerging manufacturing trends and technologies.
• Prepare detailed technical specifications for process equipment and machine installation activities.
• Provide detailed mechanical design and project management for assigned projects.
• Provide estimates and technical schedules for all phases of process equipment additions, replacements, or upgrades.
• Facilitate procurement and acceptance inspections, and maintain as-built folders for assigned material and equipment projects.
• Provide backup support and training to plant maintenance teams on newly implemented systems.
• Support projects, especially during installation, startup, and ramp-up, often on-site and hands-on.
• At the senior level, manage technical projects from start to finish, including risk, schedule, budget, and resources.
• At the senior level, lead or participate in system approvals, qualification, and validation of industrial robustness.
• At the senior level, manage change requests, approvals, and change testing.
• At the senior level, lead contractors or maintenance installation teams through equipment modifications, machine installations, startup, and commissioning.
• At the senior level, acquire validation of installation, startup, and ramp-up milestones in collaboration with team members.
• At the senior level, assist local technicians with troubleshooting and root cause analysis as needed.
• At the senior level, interface with internal company support groups and provide contract engineering management and direction when needed.
• At the senior level, act as equipment referent (owner) for specific machines, maintaining documentation and relationships.

Benefits

• Personalized development plans, mentorship, and cross-functional opportunities.
• Career paths and opportunities for advancement.
• Option to join a Connected Community.
• Inclusive and supportive work environment where competencies, contributions, and behaviors are recognized.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level