Sr. Mechanical Engineer - Project Management

MSD•De Soto, KS

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

Join a premier research‑intensive biopharmaceutical organization at the forefront of delivering innovative health solutions. As a Sr Mechanical Engineer - Project Management, you will lead the engineering lifecycle for capital and improvement projects in a highly regulated environment, combining deep mechanical engineering expertise with rigorous project, portfolio, and stakeholder management. You will drive projects from concept through commissioning/qualification, ensure safety and quality compliance, optimize cost and schedule, and enable cross-functional teams to deliver reliable, efficient, and compliant operations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (or closely related engineering discipline)
5–10+ years of experience delivering mechanical engineering projects in highly regulated industries (biotech, pharma, food, nuclear, or energy), including end-to-end project management of $250K–$10M projects
Demonstrated ability to develop engineering specifications (URS/FRS/DDS), read/interpret drawings and P&IDs, and lead FAT/SAT and CQV activities
Proven experience establishing and managing schedules, budgets, risk registers, and change control; proficiency with MS Project and office productivity tools
Strong problem solving and root-cause analysis across safety, compliance, automation, equipment, and process domains
Excellent communication, leadership, stakeholder management, and team facilitation skills; ability to influence across functions and levels
Working knowledge of regulatory/industry requirements for tightly regulated environments; familiarity with quality change control and MOC
Ability to work in manufacturing environments with exposure to temperature extremes, noise, moving mechanical parts, and production chemicals

Nice To Haves

Experience in USDA-regulated and/or pharmaceutical manufacturing sites and capabilities
PMP (Project Management Professional) or equivalent project management certification
Lean/Six Sigma training or certification
Experience with SAP or similar CMMS/ERP for parts, maintenance history, and asset data
Working knowledge of end-to-end supply chain processes and their impact on engineering projects
Advanced English; strong presentation skills and business acumen

Responsibilities

Mechanical engineering and technical leadership
Own mechanical scope for projects across utilities, process equipment, facilities, and packaging/HVAC systems; develop URS/FRS/DDS and review provider deliverables
Read and interpret engineering drawings, P&IDs, schematics, equipment manuals; perform and/or oversee design reviews (constructability, maintainability, ergonomics)
Specify, evaluate, and select equipment; participate in FAT/SAT, punchlist resolution, and turnover to operations/maintenance
Lead or manage development and execution of Commissioning, Qualification, and Validation (CQV) protocols for system changes and upgrades
Ensure mechanical integrity and reliability; apply root-cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions across safety, compliance, automation, equipment, process, and people dimensions
Develop and update SOPs and Energy Control Procedures, train end users on system interfaces and applications
Project management and delivery
Define project scopes, deliverables, success criteria, and intake documents; align with Global/Site Engineering, EHS, Quality, and Operations
Build and manage integrated schedules (e.g., MS Project) and stage-gates from concept through closeout; lead cross-functional project team meetings
Develop cost estimates, budgets, and forecasts; track performance, risks, and changes; issue POs/change orders and verify/approve supplier invoicing
Manage vendors, contractors, and consultants; ensure use of Job Safety Assessments during construction and at turnover
Open and track Quality Change Requests and Safety Management of Change (MOC); coordinate Process Hazard Analyses and execution of action plans
Conduct ergonomic, industrial hygiene, and other safety-related assessments and drive resulting action plans
Close out projects, ensure asset capitalization, and assign depreciation profiles with Accounting/Finance
PMO, governance, and portfolio enablement
Establish and apply project governance frameworks, policies, and standardized processes; drive reuse of lessons learned and knowledge management
Centralize and communicate critical project information; deliver timely updates to stakeholders and senior leadership to support decisions
Plan and schedule resources across the portfolio; conduct divisional portfolio and KPI reviews to optimize throughput and compliance
Mentor and coach project managers/engineers; facilitate key team meetings, resolve conflicts, and enhance cross-functional team dynamics
Analyze financials (budgets, risks, resource allocation) and provide financial reports and budget outlines to leadership
Maintain schedules and critical data in enterprise project management systems; support change management and communications plans
Compliance, safety, and quality
Ensure adherence to cGMP, OSHA/EHS, and applicable regulatory/industry standards for pharmaceutical/USDA-regulated environments
Lead or support audits/inspections related to engineering changes, equipment, and facilities
Champion Lean/Six Sigma and continuous improvement to enhance safety, quality, reliability, and energy efficiency