Manufacturing Engineer

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

Project Management (Primary Focus): Lead and manage capital, engineering, and process improvement projects from initiation through closeout, owning scope, schedule, budget, and risk Develop and maintain integrated project plans, Gantt schedules, milestones, and critical-path tracking across multiple concurrent projects Reviews and validates engineering designs, drawings, and deliverables to ensure they match project specifications and complies with all applicable NFPA Codes along with local, state, and federal regulations.

Establish project governance including charters, RACI assignments, stage-gate reviews, and regular status reporting to plant and corporate leadership Coordinate cross-functional resources across engineering, maintenance, production, quality, procurement, EHS, and outside contractors Manage project budgets, forecasts, and variance reporting; control change orders, contingency, and scope creep Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks; escalate issues early with clear options and recommendations Drive on-time, on-budget delivery and successful commissioning, startup, and handover to operations Capital (CAPEX) Project Leadership: Own the development of capital project business cases from concept through approval, including ROI, payback period, NPV, and total cost of ownership (TCO) Prepare approval-ready capital appropriation packages aligned with corporate governance and PCBG CAPEX approval requirements Quantify benefits such as capacity expansion, uptime improvement, labor reduction, energy savings, quality improvement, and safety risk mitigation Lead equipment specification, RFQ and bid package development, technical bid evaluation, and vendor selection Manage equipment procurement, installation, qualification, and validation through to production release Track capital spend against authorization and manage contractor and vendor performance to scope and schedule Process Improvement and Continuous Improvement: Lead process improvement initiatives across compounding, extrusion, and material handling to improve throughput, yield, and cost Apply structured problem-solving and Lean / Six Sigma methods (RCA, DMAIC, Kaizen, 5S, SMED) to eliminate waste and reduce variation Analyze process and production data to identify bottlenecks, downtime drivers, and improvement opportunities Develop and implement standardized work, process controls, and capability improvements (Cp/Cpk) Partner with Quality to support APQP/PPAP, control plans, and corrective action for process-related issues Establish and track KPIs for productivity, OEE, scrap reduction, and project benefit realization Mechanical and Electrical Engineering: Provide hands-on mechanical and electrical engineering support for plant equipment, systems, and capital installations Develop and review mechanical designs, P&IDs, electrical schematics, control narratives, and equipment specifications Support troubleshooting and reliability of mechanical systems (drives, gearboxes, conveyors, pumps, hydraulics, pneumatics) and electrical systems (motors, VFDs, PLC/control systems, power distribution) Ensure designs and installations meet applicable codes and standards (NEC/NFPA 70, NFPA 79, OSHA, machine safeguarding) Coordinate integration of new and modified equipment with existing utilities, controls, and automation Maintain engineering documentation, drawings, and change control Leadership and Collaboration: Provide technical leadership and escalation support to production, maintenance, and quality teams Coach and mentor engineers, supervisors, and technicians in project management and structured problem-solving Communicate project status, risks, and results clearly to plant leadership and corporate stakeholders Comply with all applicable customer, safety, ISO/IATF 16949 QMS, and ISO 14001 EMS requirements.

• Perform any other duties as assigned.
• MENTAL AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS Ability to maintain concentration with frequent interruptions.
• Professional, well-groomed appearance and attire is advised.
• Ability to sit for extended periods of time.
• Ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND CONDITIONS This position involves working in an office and manufacturing environment.

Potential domestic travel: up to 25% EDUCATION, Experience and TRAINING Education: Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering (or related engineering discipline) Experience: 3+ years of engineering and project management experience in a manufacturing or plant environment.

Preferred experience managing capital (CAPEX) projects from financial justification through commissioning and startup Demonstrated process improvement results using Lean / Six Sigma methods Hands-on mechanical and electrical troubleshooting and design experience Project Management certification (PMP or equivalent) preferred; Lean / Six Sigma certification preferred Proficiency with project scheduling tools (e.g., MS Project) and familiarity with an ERP system, preferably SAP Strong understanding of the plastics / polymer compounding industry preferred.