Sr. / Principal Project Engineer (Mechanical) Job

About the role

The Sr./Principal Mechanical Project Engineer will lead and execute projects related to manufacturing equipment and processes. They will work closely with various teams including manufacturing, Innovation, New Product Development, plant and operations staff, and outside suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute major capital projects, ensuring delivery to established cost, schedule, safety, and performance objectives
• Specify production equipment and partner directly with vendors to design, procure, install, and commission assets for new and existing production lines
• Support capital projects from concept development through installation, commissioning, and start-up
• Investigate equipment and process issues, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions to improve operational reliability and performance
• Apply mechanical engineering and precision maintenance principles to support safe, reliable, and efficient manufacturing operations
• Participate as a key member of cross-functional project teams across engineering, maintenance, operations, and external vendors
• Drive rapid and sustainable process improvements through participation in Lean and Agile initiatives
• Mentor and develop engineers and maintenance personnel on technical standards, engineering best practices, precision maintenance principles, and other topics
• Support plant reliability initiatives, asset condition programs, and other corporate operational improvement efforts
• Collaborate closely with plant engineering, operations, maintenance, and business stakeholders to meet customer and operational requirements
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to less-experienced engineers across plant and corporate engineering teams
• Support project estimating, capital budgeting, cost tracking, and project financial management activities

Requirements

• Strong mechanical engineering knowledge with hands-on manufacturing and industrial project experience
• Proven ability to successfully lead capital projects from planning through execution and start-up
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Excellent problem-solving and root cause analysis capabilities
• Ability to collaborate effectively across engineering, maintenance, operations, vendors, and leadership teams
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to clearly communicate technical concepts and project updates
• Hands-on approach with the ability to work effectively in active manufacturing environments
• Strong focus on safety, reliability, lifecycle asset performance, and continuous improvement
• Ability to mentor and develop less-experienced engineers and technical personnel
• Adaptability and willingness to travel to support project execution across multiple locations

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent engineering discipline required
• 5–7 years of project planning and execution experience within manufacturing or industrial environments required
• Experience leading cross-functional teams including engineering, maintenance, operations, and external vendors
• Hands-on experience supporting equipment installation, construction, commissioning, and manufacturing start-up activities
• Experience with SAP or similar ERP systems
• Experience working in cross-functional engineering and operations environments
• Ability to drive process improvements through Agile and Lean methodologies
• Proven ability to mentor engineering and maintenance teams on technical best practices