Project Engineer

Job purpose Bridges the gap between sales, engineering, and production to evaluate new business proposals, estimate manufacturing costs, and lead products successfully from initial quote through full shop-floor launch. Develops and improves manufacturing processed by studying product and manufacturing methods, and driving post-launch review. Duties and responsibilities - Cost Estimating & Quoting: Review incoming Requests for Quotations (RFQs), analyze customer 2D/3D CAD data, verify cost models, and determine manufacturing feasibility and pricing (consolidating inputs: materials, tooling, labor, capacity, pilots/trials). - Project Management: Plan, schedule, and drive complex, multi-phase initiatives using stage-gate / phase-gate processes. Utilize critical-path management, milestone tracking, resource allocation, and tools such as Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, Asana, or equivalent. Escalates for resolution, as needed, to assure project timing is achieved. - New Product Introduction (NPI): Lead products from concept or design freeze through pilot builds, validation, manufacturing readiness, and launch. Familiarity with Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Bill of Materials (BOM) management, Engineering Change Orders (ECOs), and pilot-to-volume transitions. - Process & Tooling Development: Collaborate with tooling and manufacturing engineers to select equipment, design fixtures/gauges, and establish efficient production routers and work instructions. - Quality & Compliance: Drive quality planning tools including Process FMEA (PFMEA), control plans, and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) submissions. - Cross-Functional Communication: Serve as the primary technical liaison between customers, finance, quality, and shop-floor personnel from quoting, during launch trials, project closeout with handoff to production, and post launch review. Collaborate with Supply Chain to support supplier selection, supplier readiness, and manufacturability of purchased components. - Other duties as assigned. Qualifications Education: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline. Experience: Minimum of 5+ years' Manufacturing Engineer experience quoting and facilitating new product introduction and launch in a regulated (AS9100) manufacturing environment. Technical Knowledge: Strong project management mastery to plan/schedule/drive complex, multiphase initiatives using stage-gate/phase-gate processes. Knowledge of manufacturing processes (such as die casting, machining, electrical component/motor assembly), GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing), BOM, and ERP systems. Quality Methodologies: Familiarity with APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, and Lean/Six Sigma continuous improvement principles. Software Proficiency: Experience with CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks) and project scheduling tools. Risk Management/Problem-Solving: Proactive identification, assessment, and mitigation of risks across technical, schedule, cost, quality, and supply dimension. Ability to escalate with recommended solutions and drive resolution in ambiguous or fast-moving situations. Cross-functional Influence Without Authority: Skill at coordinating and aligning diverse stakeholders (Sales, R&D/Engineering, Procurement, Operations, Quality, Finance, Marketing, Regulatory) in matrixed organizations. High Organizational Discipline and Attention to Detail --- Capacity to manage multiple concurrent priorities, maintain accurate documentation (quotes, plans, gate reviews), and keep teams aligned on timelines and deliverables. Exceptional Communication and Stakeholder Management --- Clear, concise verbal and written communication; ability to pro