Technical Project Manager

Laborup • Oak Ridge, TN

15d • Onsite

About The Position

We are hiring an Estimator / Project Manager to own custom fabrication projects from initial customer request through final delivery at our manufacturing facility in Oak Ridge, TN. This is a true high-mix, low-volume job shop environment. Customers come to us with drawings, specifications, and unique fabrication needs. Your job is to determine: Can we build it? How should we build it? What will it cost? How long will it take? What needs to happen to get it delivered successfully? From there, you will manage the project through machining, welding, electrical, and assembly, coordinating internal production, materials, outside vendors, schedules, and customer expectations. This is not a position where you estimate a job and hand it off. You will have ownership throughout the project lifecycle, serving as the link between the customer and the shop floor.

Requirements

• Experience working in a manufacturing environment with an understanding of how parts move from drawings and raw materials through production and delivery.
• Proven ability to manage projects, schedules, materials, customers, vendors, or production priorities.
• Comfortable communicating directly with customers through both phone and email and taking ownership of follow-ups.
• Ability to manage numerous active projects and priorities without allowing deadlines, details, or customer commitments to fall through the cracks.
• Ability to read and interpret manufacturing drawings, dimensions, tolerances, and technical specifications.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing processes, materials, measuring equipment, and shop-floor terminology.
• Able to adapt quickly when schedules, materials, drawings, or customer priorities change.
• Comfortable working directly with machinists, welders, fabricators, technicians, engineers, and purchasing personnel.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a high-mix, low-volume job shop or custom fabrication environment where every project may require a different manufacturing approach.
• Experience supporting projects involving CNC machining, welding, fabrication, electrical work, and/or assembly.
• Experience developing manufacturing estimates involving labor, materials, purchased components, outside processes, and lead times.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Technology, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical discipline. Equivalent manufacturing experience will also be considered.
• Familiarity with AutoCAD, Inventor, SolidWorks, or similar 2D/3D CAD software.
• Understanding of geometric tolerancing, dimensional inspection, gauges, and precision measuring equipment.
• Experience sourcing materials or outside manufacturing processes and managing supplier pricing and lead times.

Responsibilities

• Manage multiple custom fabrication projects simultaneously from initial customer request through completion and delivery.
• Develop labor, material, purchased component, outside-process, cost, and lead-time estimates for incoming projects.
• Determine how projects should move through machining, welding, electrical, assembly, and outside processes.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for assigned customers, communicating pricing, schedules, progress, questions, and changing requirements.
• Work directly with machinists, welders, technicians, assemblers, and engineers to answer questions and keep jobs moving.
• Manage project timelines and shop workflow while balancing multiple jobs with different priorities and delivery dates.
• Coordinate with purchasing and outside suppliers to obtain pricing, materials, services, and accurate lead times.
• Review RFPs, drawings, blueprints, specifications, dimensions, and tolerances to understand project requirements and manufacturing feasibility.
• Respond to changing drawings, material issues, vendor delays, shop constraints, and customer requests while keeping projects on track.
• Participate in daily production meetings and provide updates on project status, requirements, bottlenecks, and delivery schedules.
• Assist the machine shop with dimensional inspection and other technical project needs when necessary.

Benefits

• Medical & Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Account: Employer HSA contribution
• 401(k): Generous company matching program
• Paid Time Off: Competitive PTO package that increases with tenure
• Paid Holidays: Multiple company-paid holidays throughout the year
• Additional Paid Leave: Bereavement and jury duty leave
• Schedule Flexibility: Flexible scheduling opportunities available with tenure
• On-Site Amenities: Employee fitness and recreational facilities

What This Job Offers

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