Project Value Engineer

Rittal LLC • Urbana, OH

106d

About The Position

The Project Value Engineer will be a critical member of the design engineering team, responsible for leading projects to reduce the cost of existing and new products without compromising quality or functionality. This role blends a deep technical understanding of mechanical engineering with project management skills to proactively identify and implement cost-saving opportunities throughout the product lifecycle. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in sheet metal fabrication and a proven track record of successful value engineering projects.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related technical field is required.
• 2-5 years of experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably within sheet metal fabrication or a related industry.
• Proven experience in project management and leading cross-functional teams.
• Strong technical background in mechanical design and sheet metal fabrication.
• Preferred proficiency in CAD software (Autodesk Inventor, PTC Creo).
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, including the ability to present complex data to management.
• Demonstrated ability to perform cost-benefit analysis and manage project budgets.

Responsibilities

• Lead Value Analysis/Value Engineering (VA/VE) workshops with cross-functional teams (engineering, procurement, manufacturing, and sales) to identify and prioritize cost-reduction opportunities.
• Analyze product designs, materials, and manufacturing processes to propose and implement changes that reduce costs.
• Conduct competitive benchmarking to identify cost gaps and target areas for improvement.
• Develop and manage comprehensive project plans for all cost-reduction initiatives, including timelines, budgets, and resource allocation.
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure projects are completed on schedule and within budget.
• Track and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) for cost savings and project success.
• Present regular updates to management on the status of cost-reduction projects, including results achieved and a future outlook with plans to seek new cost-saving ideas from bills of materials and design for manufacturability.
• Perform detailed technical analysis of components and assemblies, proposing alternative materials, manufacturing methods, or design changes.
• Utilize knowledge of sheet metal fabrication processes (e.g., punching, laser cutting, forming, welding) to optimize designs for cost efficiency.
• Collaborate with the design engineering team to ensure new product designs meet target cost goals.
• Serve as a mandatory checkpoint in the design process for all new projects to provide analysis on Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and review the Bill of Materials (BOM) for potential cost-saving opportunities.
• Work closely with the purchasing department to evaluate supplier proposals, negotiate costs, and identify alternative vendors for components and raw materials.
• Review Bills of Materials (BOMs) to identify high-cost components and lead the search for cost-effective alternatives.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees