Operations Readiness Project Engineer III for Digitalization, Operational Technology & Equipment Readiness

Daimler Truck • Detroit, MI

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Operations Readiness Project Engineer III supports operational readiness, commissioning, start-up execution, project engineering integration, and adoption of digital solutions, operational technologies, new equipment, and new product introductions. The role serves as a cross-functional integrator among Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Maintenance, TechLab, IT, Supply Chain, suppliers, contractors, and external stakeholders to support project delivery, operational handover, equipment readiness, and business value realization.

The position leads readiness planning and commissioning activities for capital projects, equipment installations, infrastructure upgrades, and product launches. It develops project controls and readiness documentation, coordinates internal and external participants, monitors scope, schedule, cost, quality, and performance, and supports commissioning, testing, validation, troubleshooting, and final acceptance. The role also leads adoption of digital manufacturing and operational technology solutions, develops readiness reporting and performance measures, and supports change management, training, and capability building.

The position is onsite in Detroit, Michigan. Relocation assistance is not available.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Industrial Technology, Operations Management, Manufacturing, or a related technical field.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in manufacturing, engineering, project execution, commissioning, start-up, reliability, maintenance, or digital transformation.
• Demonstrated experience supporting capital projects, equipment installation, commissioning, start-up, and operational handover.
• At least 2 years of experience developing project schedules, budgets, forecasts, specifications, and project controls.
• At least 2 years of experience with industrial mechanical systems, maintenance practices, reliability principles, and operational technology systems.
• Strong analytical thinking and ability to independently solve complex technical and operational issues with minimal guidance.
• Experience with CMMS/EAM systems, industrial technologies, and business intelligence tools.
• Proficiency in Power BI, Power Apps, Tableau, or equivalent analytics and visualization tools.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, project management, and leadership skills.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects and workstreams simultaneously.
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work permanently in the country where the position is located at the time of application; visa sponsorship is limited to current Daimler Truck North America employees working under an existing U.S. Daimler Truck North America visa.
• Final candidate must successfully complete a criminal background check.
• Final candidate may be required to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screen.

Nice To Haves

• Experience leading commissioning teams, start-up execution, and large-scale manufacturing or industrial projects.
• Experience preparing commissioning manuals, turnover packages, and acceptance documentation.
• Knowledge of project management methodologies, risk management, and capital project delivery processes.
• Experience working with external contractors, suppliers, engineering firms, and regulatory agencies.
• Experience developing digital manufacturing, operational excellence, and continuous improvement solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead deployment and adoption of digital manufacturing, maintenance, reliability, and operational technology solutions.
• Serve as a technical advisor and liaison among TechLab, Engineering, Maintenance, IT, Quality, Operations, and Supply Chain.
• Lead readiness planning for capital projects, new equipment installations, infrastructure upgrades, and product launches.
• Coordinate pre-commissioning, commissioning, start-up, validation, performance testing, and operational handover.
• Develop and maintain commissioning schedules, readiness plans, commissioning manuals, and start-up execution strategies.
• Develop pre-commissioning and commissioning test procedures, checklists, turnover packages, and documentation.
• Coordinate suppliers, contractors, third-party service providers, and internal stakeholders during project execution.
• Monitor project scope, schedule, cost, quality, and performance metrics; identify and resolve issues that could affect start-up success.
• Prepare project controls, technical specifications, requests for quotation, capital estimates, budgets, forecasts, and implementation plans.
• Provide spare-parts floating support and use mechanical and electrical drawings to assist with troubleshooting and design review.
• Participate in engineering design reviews to support maintainability, reliability, safety, operability, operational efficiency, and lifecycle cost optimization.
• Support equipment supplier selection, factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, installation, testing, commissioning, and acceptance of new equipment and systems.
• Develop reporting structures, digital readiness dashboards, KPI scorecards, and executive project status reports.
• Interpret equipment and production data to identify upgrade needs, cycle-time improvements, and engineered countermeasures that improve uptime, reliability, and safety.
• Drive root cause analysis, troubleshooting, deficiency resolution, and reliability improvements during start-up and ramp-up.
• Develop safety, quality, environmental, and operational readiness plans, using digital solutions to monitor and improve OEE, MTBF, MTTR, asset availability, preventive maintenance compliance, safety, quality, and digital adoption metrics.
• Ensure compliance with company standards, regulatory requirements, and acceptance criteria, including technical documentation, operating procedures, and training material.
• Coordinate approvals, inspections, sign-offs, turnover documentation, and final project acceptance.
• Identify, secure, and coordinate resources needed to complete projects successfully.
• Advise leadership and project stakeholders on operational readiness, commissioning, project engineering, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Lead change management, training, and capability-building activities to accelerate operational adoption.

What This Job Offers

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