Design Project Manager

Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions; Riverside (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions seeks a Project Engineering Manager to provide technical and organizational leadership for project engineering and new product development activities.

You will lead a team of mechanical engineers in the design, development, and continuous improvement of equipment and systems that meet customer requirements, quality standards, regulatory requirements, and business objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• 10+ years of progressive engineering experience in manufacturing or related industries.
• 2+ years of leadership or people management experience.
• PE license preferred.
• Experience in project estimation, design support, and pre-sales activities preferred.
• Strong mechanical design knowledge and problem-solving abilities.
• Familiarity with ANSI/ISO standards and manufacturing processes.
• Experience with ERP systems, preferably Infor SyteLine.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Mechanical Engineers; allocate resources and manage workloads.
• Drive new product development initiatives and engineering process improvements.
• Define project requirements, timelines, risks, and deliverables with stakeholders.
• Oversee testing, validation, and design reviews for equipment and systems.
• Coordinate cross-functional collaboration across Engineering, Sales, Service, Manufacturing, and Operations.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Mechanical design

CAD software

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred

Tools

Creo

SolidWorks

AutoCAD Inventor

Infor SyteLine

Job description

The Project Engineering Manager provides technical and organizational leadership for project engineering and new product development activities. This role leads a team of mechanical engineers in the design, development, and continuous improvement of equipment and systems that meet customer requirements, quality standards, regulatory requirements, and business objectives.

The Project Engineering Manager is responsible for managing custom engineering projects, driving new product development initiatives, and improving engineering processes across all business units. Working closely with Sales, Service, Operations, Manufacturing, and Product Management, this position ensures effective project execution from concept through implementation while maintaining alignment with strategic business goals.

This role also develops engineering standards, project management processes, order review procedures, and project tracking methodologies that improve efficiency, consistency, and scalability across the organization. As the business evolves, the Project Engineering Manager will support acquisition integration efforts, technology transfers, and other strategic initiatives that strengthen the organization's engineering capabilities.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Engineering Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Mechanical Engineers, providing technical guidance, coaching, and performance support.
• Assign resources and manage engineering workloads to ensure project priorities, schedules, and deliverables are achieved.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and technical excellence.
• Support employee development through training, mentoring, and succession planning initiatives.

Project & Product Development Management

• Lead custom engineering projects across all product lines, ensuring execution within scope, schedule, and budget.
• Manage New Product Development (NPD) initiatives across all business units.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to define project requirements, timelines, risks, and deliverables.
• Monitor project progress, proactively identify challenges, and implement solutions to ensure successful outcomes.
• Develop and maintain project management processes, tools, and performance metrics.

Technical Leadership & Design Oversight

• Provide technical direction for the design, development, and optimization of mechanical systems and equipment.
• Review engineering designs, drawings, and specifications for accuracy, completeness, manufacturability, and technical feasibility.
• Develop and oversee testing and validation procedures for new products, product enhancements, and machine upgrades.
• Ensure compliance with applicable industry standards, safety requirements, and engineering best practices.

Process Improvement & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on engineering processes, design standards, and product performance.
• Establish and maintain standards for order processing, scope review, engineering documentation, and project tracking.
• Coordinate communication and project execution between Engineering, Sales, Service, Manufacturing, Purchasing, and Operations.
• Provide regular project status updates and communicate key milestones, risks, and resource requirements.

Strategic Initiatives

• Support engineering activities associated with business acquisitions, product integrations, and strategic growth initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to standardize designs, improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance product quality across the portfolio.
• Participate in long-term technology and product roadmap planning.

Qualifications

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Education & Experience

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline required.

Minimum of 10 years of progressive engineering experience in manufacturing, industrial equipment, or related industries.

Minimum of 2 years of leadership or people management experience.

Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred.

Experience in project estimation, design support, and pre-sales engineering activities preferred.

Technical Qualifications

Strong mechanical design knowledge and engineering problem-solving capabilities.

Extensive CAD and solid modeling experience, preferably with Creo, SolidWorks, AutoCAD Inventor, or similar platforms.

Experience designing stainless steel equipment for sanitary food processing applications, including machined components, sheet metal, and welded assemblies, preferred.

Knowledge of manufacturing and fabrication processes, including machining, welding, assembly, and metal fabrication.

Familiarity with ANSI, ISO, and applicable industry standards.

Working knowledge of control systems and automation concepts sufficient to effectively communicate design intent and system requirements.

Experience with finite element analysis (FEA) tools preferred.

Experience with ERP systems, preferably Infor SyteLine, preferred.

Strong leadership and team development skills.

Excellent project management and organizational capabilities.

Effective written and verbal communication skills.

Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

Results-oriented with a continuous improvement mindset.

Proficient with Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.