Mechanical Project Engineer I

Location: Charleston, SC

Salary: $75,000 to $95,000 (DOE) + 10% Annual Bonus

About the Role

The Mechanical Project Engineer I reports to the Plant Engineering Manager and is responsible for providing mechanical engineering design and project management at an electrode manufacturing facility. This role includes project management and engineering for capital projects from project requirements through specification, design, and installation, as well as major equipment modifications for reliability improvement, equipment rebuilds, and limited technical support for the plant Maintenance Department.

Responsibilities

• Manage all phases of engineering projects from project request through project closure.
• Lead project teams in developing solutions to project requests.
• Design solutions and produce drawings based on the scope of work and interaction with end users.
• Develop scopes and specifications for the purchase of capital and non-capital equipment and contract labor.
• Develop and utilize project risk management plans.
• Prepare appropriation requests for capital equipment purchases and major repairs.
• Track and forecast project schedules using Gantt charts and manage project costs.
• Coordinate project work with vendors and contractors using established departmental and divisional purchasing procedures, including bid inquiries, bid procedures, liaison activities, and contract specifications.
• Develop Bills of Material and recommendations for spare parts for project equipment.
• Provide training to end users on changes to existing equipment and new installations.
• Provide recommendations to Maintenance regarding preventive maintenance activities for new equipment.
• Maintain the highest expectations of quality, safety, and housekeeping from contractors on projects for which the engineer is responsible.
• Support focused improvement efforts through improvements to maintenance practices and design changes to existing equipment.
• Support Operations in assigned plant areas by staying engaged in equipment reliability and recurring equipment malfunctions.
• Update engineering drawings following equipment modifications, corrections, errors, or other changes.
• Ensure compliance with Company and Plant policies, health and safety standards, environmental regulations, hazardous waste requirements, and good housekeeping practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering required.
• 5+ years of engineering design and/or project management experience.
• Knowledge of PMBOK or similar project management methodologies.

Preferred Experience

• Experience in one or more of the following areas is preferred: Heavy industrial environments, hydraulics and pneumatics, material handling equipment, thermal oil systems.

Skills & Competencies

• Proficient in AutoCAD, Inventor, Microsoft Office, and SAP.
• Strong communication, mechanical design, analytical, and troubleshooting skills.
• Experience with root cause analysis and problem-solving.

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to sit for extended periods and maintain good manual dexterity.
• Ability to operate office equipment safely and accurately.
• Ability to lift, push, or pull up to 30 lbs and wear required PPE.
• Ability to occasionally work overtime.
• Comfortable working in moderate noise, fumes, and around moving equipment.
• Vision requirement of 20/40 or better, with corrective lenses permitted. Color and field of vision must meet job requirements. Monocular vision requires medical clearance.
• Hearing requirement of 30 dB at 500–2000 Hz, with hearing aids permitted. At least one ear must meet the required standard. Referral may be required if standards are not met.