Director of Engineering and Project Management - SP Group USA

The Chamber of Manitowoc County; Two Rivers (WI); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Location flexibility

Professional development

Competitive compensation

Job summary

SP Group USA, based in Two Rivers, WI, seeks a Director of Engineering and Project Management to own engineering leadership and project delivery for packaging machinery deployments. You will drive configuration, integration, and service enhancements while coordinating with global suppliers and customers.

The role combines strategic leadership with hands‑on execution in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment, with travel to sites and partners as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Packaging, or related engineering field.
• 2+ years of progressive leadership/PM experience in packaging machinery or capital equipment.
• Proven track record leading complex equipment projects from concept to installation.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering activities for equipment selection, configuration, and optimization.
• Oversee end-to-end project delivery, planning, budgeting, and risk management.
• Coordinate with international manufacturers on specifications, FAT, and QA.

Skills

Engineering Leadership

Project Management

Packaging Machinery

Mechanical Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Cross-cultural collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

PMP

Job description

Director of Engineering and Project Management - SP Group USA

About SP Group USA SP Group USA is a leading U.S. distributor of advanced packaging equipment, specializing in high-performance stick pack, sachet, pre-made pouch, flow wrapping, and related filling/sealing solutions. As the exclusive U.S. representative for Solpac Korea and through partnerships with manufacturers such as PA Line, Dyna Pack, and KIMPO BNS, we deliver innovative, efficient, and sustainable packaging machinery to customers in the food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and related industries.

We focus on simplifying operations, minimizing waste, enabling rapid changeovers, and providing reliable support that helps our customers stay ahead. Founded in 2024 and headquartered in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, we are a growing, privately held company committed to premium performance and customer success.

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Director of Engineering and Project Management to lead the technical and project delivery side of our business. This senior leadership role will oversee engineering support, machine configuration and customization, installation/commissioning coordination, project execution for customer deployments, and continuous improvement of our technical offerings and service capabilities. You will work closely with sales, suppliers (including international partners), and customers to ensure successful project outcomes, technical excellence, and high customer satisfaction. This is a hands-on leadership position ideal for someone who thrives in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment within the packaging machinery industry.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead engineering activities related to packaging machine selection, configuration, customization, integration, and optimization for customer applications (stick pack, sachet, pre-made pouch, flow wrappers, scales/fillers, etc.).
• Manage end-to-end project delivery for machine sales and installations, including planning, budgeting, timelines, risk management, resource coordination, and on-time/on-budget execution.
• Coordinate with international manufacturers (e.g., Solpac Korea and other partners) on technical specifications, design reviews, modifications, factory acceptance tests (FAT), and quality assurance.
• Provide technical expertise and pre-sales engineering support to the sales team, including application analysis, proposals, and customer presentations.
• Develop and maintain engineering standards, documentation, best practices, and knowledge base for packaging equipment solutions.
• Drive continuous improvement in machine performance, reliability, sustainability (waste reduction, efficiency), and service processes.
• Build and manage relationships with key suppliers, service partners, and customers; serve as a primary technical point of contact.
• Lead or contribute to the growth of in-house technical capabilities, potential service/spare parts operations, and team development as the company scales.
• Ensure compliance with relevant safety, quality, and industry standards (e.g., for food, pharma, and cosmetics packaging).
• Monitor industry trends, new technologies, and competitor offerings to inform product strategy and innovation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Packaging Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 2+ years of progressive experience in engineering and/or project management within the packaging machinery, automation, or capital equipment industry (experience with form-fill-seal, stick pack, sachet, pouch, or similar flexible packaging equipment is highly desirable).
• Proven track record of successfully leading complex equipment projects from concept through installation and commissioning, including international supplier coordination.
• Strong technical knowledge of packaging processes, servo systems, filling technologies (powders, liquids, etc.), controls, and integration with upstream/downstream equipment.
• Excellent project management skills (PMP or equivalent certification a plus); experience with tools for scheduling, budgeting, and risk management.
• Demonstrated leadership ability in a small-to-mid-sized or growing company environment; comfortable being both strategic and hands-on.
• Outstanding communication, customer-facing, and cross-cultural collaboration skills (experience working with Asian or European manufacturers preferred).
• Willingness to travel domestically and occasionally internationally (to customer sites and supplier facilities).
• Knowledge of food, pharmaceutical, or cosmetics packaging regulations and best practices is a strong plus.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to play a pivotal leadership role in a growing packaging equipment company with strong manufacturer partnerships and a clear value proposition.
• Competitive compensation package commensurate with experience (salary + potential incentives).
• Collaborative, entrepreneurial culture focused on innovation, customer success, and operational excellence.
• Professional development and the chance to shape technical and project processes as the business expands.
• Location flexibility considerations for the right candidate, with primary base in the Two Rivers, WI area preferred.

Location: Two Rivers, Wisconsin (or hybrid/remote with travel as needed)

SP Group USA is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.