Engineering Project Manager

Sylvan, Inc.; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Sylvan, Inc. is seeking a Conveyor Controls Project Engineering Manager to lead controls activities from pre-bid through project completion.

You will coordinate with customers, PM, engineering, contractors, and field teams to ensure safe, on-schedule delivery within budget and quality standards. The role requires a strong understanding of industrial automation and conveyor systems, with the ability to manage multiple projects, resolve technical issues, and maintain effective customer and team

Qualifications

• 8–10+ years in industrial controls or automotive manufacturing.
• Experience with automotive conveyor/material handling systems preferred.
• Experience coordinating controls projects with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead controls engineering from estimating to closeout.
• Coordinate scope, resources, schedules, and deliverables with PM and engineering.
• Serve as primary technical contact for customers, contractors, and suppliers.
• Review specifications, drawings, and scope for risks and changes.
• Provide oversight of PLC, HMI, networks, safety, and automation systems.
• Oversee installation, programming, testing, commissioning, and startup.
• Guide project meetings and track actions and issues.
• Support training, warranty, and production activities.
• Assist estimating and sales with technical scope.

Skills

Industrial controls

Automation

Project management

Rockwell controls

PLC

HMI

AutoCAD

Electrical engineering

Team leadership

Education

Engineering degree (associate/bachelor)

Tools

Studio 5000/RSLogix

FactoryTalk

AutoCAD software

Job description

The Conveyor Controls Project Engineering Manager provides technical and project leadership for controls activities from pre-bid through project completion. The position coordinates with customers, project management, engineering, contractors, suppliers, and field teams to ensure controls projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with project requirements and quality standards.

The role requires a strong understanding of industrial automation and conveyor systems, along with the ability to manage multiple projects, resolve technical issues, and maintain effective customer and team relationships.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead controls engineering activities from estimating and project kickoff through design, fabrication, installation, commissioning, launch, production support, and closeout.
• Coordinate controls scope, resources, schedules, deliverables, and priorities with Project Management and other engineering disciplines.
• Serve as a primary technical contact for customers, contractors, suppliers, and internal project teams.
• Review customer specifications, contracts, drawings, and project scope to identify requirements, risks, and potential changes.
• Provide technical oversight of controls hardware, PLC, HMI, network, safety, and automation systems.
• Review controls designs and documentation to ensure they meet project and customer requirements.
• Coordinate controls installation, programming, testing, commissioning, validation, customer buy-off, and startup activities.
• Monitor project progress and work with project teams to address technical, schedule, quality, resource, and scope-related issues.
• Lead or participate in project meetings and maintain action items, schedules, and open-issue tracking.
• Coordinate controls contractors and suppliers and support review of work orders, changes, and invoicing.
• Support customer training, warranty activities, production support, and project closeout.
• Assist estimating and sales teams with technical scope development and proposals as needed.
• Provide guidance, mentoring, and support to controls engineers and project team members.
• Promote a collaborative project environment focused on Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost.
• Participate in lessons-learned and continuous-improvement activities.

Qualifications & Experience

• 8–10+ years of experience in industrial controls, automation, material handling, or automotive manufacturing.
• Experience with automotive conveyor and material handling systems strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating or managing controls engineering projects.
• Experience with PLC, HMI, industrial networks, and automated material handling systems.
• Working knowledge of Rockwell Automation platforms, including Studio 5000/RS Logix and Factory Talk.
• Working knowledge of AutoCAD and engineering documentation.
• Experience coordinating customers, contractors, suppliers, and cross-functional engineering teams.
• Strong understanding of project scheduling, technical documentation, commissioning, and startup activities.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent required. An associate or bachelor's degree in engineering, automation, electrical engineering, project management, or a related field is preferred. Equivalent industry experience may be considered.

• Strong leadership, organizational, and project-management skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication.
• Strong technical problem-solving and analytical abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and changing priorities.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across departments.
• Strong customer-service and relationship-building skills.
• Attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Ability to remain professional and solution-oriented in fast-paced project environments.
• Strong commitment to safety and compliance with company and customer requirements.

Computer Skills

Microsoft Office, Teams, Microsoft Project or equivalent scheduling software, AutoCAD, and Rockwell Automation software.

Travel is required as needed to support customer requirements, project installation, commissioning, startup, and production activities.

Work will be performed in both office and industrial manufacturing environments. The position may involve extended periods of sitting, standing, walking, and occasional lifting, climbing, or other physical activities associated with project and job-site requirements. Appropriate PPE and compliance with all company and customer safety requirements are required.