Project Engineering Manager

Kuraray America•La Porte, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Project Engineering Manager provides site-level leadership for capital project execution and engineering delivery at the Pasadena manufacturing facility. This role is responsible for managing a portfolio of capital projects from concept through commissioning while leading and developing a team of project engineers. The Project Engineering Manager partners closely with Operations, Maintenance, EHS, and corporate stakeholders to ensure projects are executed safely, efficiently, and in alignment with business and reliability objectives. This position serves as both a technical authority and people leader, ensuring consistent application of engineering standards, project management best practices, and continuous improvement across the site's capital program.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical or Chemical preferred).
Minimum of 10 years of engineering experience in a chemical or process manufacturing environment
Minimum of 5 years leading capital projects and/or engineering teams.
Demonstrated success managing capital projects from concept through commissioning, including feasibility studies, cost estimating, and execution.
Strong knowledge of mechanical engineering principles, construction practices, and applicable industry standards (ANSI, ASME).
Proven ability to lead multiple projects simultaneously while setting priorities and meeting aggressive deadlines.
Effective people leader with a track record of coaching, mentoring, and developing engineering professionals.
Strong project management, planning, and organizational skills, with sound judgment and decision-making abilities in dynamic environments.
Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across all organizational levels and cultural boundaries.
Highly analytical with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to act decisively when information is limited.
Proficient in SAP (PM, PS, MM) and Microsoft Office applications.
Ability to manage multiple responsibilities with minimal supervision.
Valid driver's license required.
Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S.

Responsibilities

Own and manage the site's capital project portfolio, ensuring alignment with business priorities, safety requirements, and budget constraints.
Lead planning, design, execution, commissioning, and closeout of medium- to large-scale capital projects.
Approve project scopes, cost estimates, schedules, and execution strategies.
Ensure projects meet safety, quality, cost, and schedule objectives throughout the full project lifecycle.
Provide leadership during commissioning, startup, and handover to Operations and Maintenance.
Directly manage, mentor, and develop project engineers and project support staff.
Assign projects, set performance expectations, and provide ongoing coaching and feedback.
Promote consistent application of Kuraray engineering standards, project controls, and best practices.
Support succession planning and technical development of the project engineering team.
Serve as a senior technical authority for mechanical systems, piping, and process integration.
Ensure compliance with ANSI, ASME, and Kuraray corporate engineering standards.
Provide technical guidance on equipment selection, system design, and constructability.
Support Operations and Maintenance in troubleshooting complex technical and reliability issues.
Oversee development and management of project budgets, schedules, and resource plans.
Track portfolio-level cost performance, forecasting, and risk management.
Ensure disciplined use of project controls, SAP (PM, PS, MM), and reporting tools.
Approve change orders and manage contractor and vendor performance.
Ensure all projects comply with site safety policies, environmental regulations, and engineering governance.
Lead or oversee Management of Change (MOC), hazard reviews, and pre-startup safety reviews (PSSR).
Model and reinforce strong safety leadership and accountability.
Partner with Operations, Maintenance, EHS, and Reliability to identify long-term infrastructure and improvement needs.
Contribute to multi-year capital planning, project prioritization, and cost optimization initiatives.
Drive continuous improvement in project management processes, tools, and execution strategies.
Evaluate and recommend new technologies and engineering solutions to improve safety, reliability, and sustainability.