Lead Project Engineer

Eaton Corporation; Santa Ana (CA); On-site; USD 112,000 - 164,000; Full time

Job summary

Eaton Corporation is looking for a Lead Project Engineer at our Electrical Manufacturing facility in Santa Ana, CA. This role focuses on optimizing manufacturing processes to enhance efficiency and reduce costs. The ideal candidate should have a Bachelor’s degree in engineering and at least 3 years of relevant experience.

The expected annual salary range is $112,000 to $164,000, contingent on skills and experience. Responsibilities include project management, process design, and cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of process design and improvement experience.
• Experience in manufacturing/operations for at least 1 year.
• Experience managing large-scale growth projects for at least 2 years.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize manufacturing processes to improve productivity.
• Support project controls capabilities for cost and schedule management.
• Conduct process capability studies and perform statistical analysis.
• Implement process monitoring for the digital factory.
• Collaborate with division leaders to align project initiatives.

Skills

Process design

Manufacturing optimization

Project management

Statistical analysis

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Job description

Eaton’s Electrical division is currently seeking a Lead Project Engineer. This position is based at our Electrical Manufacturing facility in Santa Ana, CA. Relocation assistance is available within the US.

This position is responsible for planning and executing a critical business project. As a Lead Project Engineer, you will analyze and optimize manufacturing and industrial processes to improve efficiency and reduce costs. This includes process designing, troubleshooting, process optimization, process analysis, process documentation, quality control, project management, process automation, and quality assurance. You will also collaborate with cross‑functional teams, implement process improvement initiatives, and contribute to the overall success of our organization.

The expected annual salary range for this role is $112,000 – $164,000 a year. Please note the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.

What you’ll do

• Developing, optimizing, and improving manufacturing processes to enhance productivity, quality, and safety.
• Support the building of project controls capabilities including the creation of cost and schedule baselines, tracking, forecasting, and change management tools.
• Perform process capability studies, statistical analysis, and data‑driven decision‑making to achieve operational excellence and meet production targets.
• Conduct research to develop new and improved processes for manufacturing using lean tools.
• Work closely with division OPEX resources to drive continuous improvement (CI) programs, utilizing EBS resources (ProLaunch, OpA, BPI, etc.).
• Design and plan equipment layout that maximizes production velocity and material flow.
• Implement process monitoring to facilitate digital factory.
• Troubleshoot problems associated with manufacturing processes.
• Work with the division leadership, functional leaders, and site managers to align project management organizational resources and initiatives with key business objectives. Drive unified plans that support operations and division business, financial and employee engagement objectives.
• Facilitate a culture where best practices are shared across operations and the business and identify opportunities for synergy and integration between businesses, as well as benchmark industry and local best practices to set stretch performance targets.

This role could be the next step in your career if you demonstrate the following experience

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an accredited educational institution.
• Minimum 3 years of process design and improvement or operations management experience.
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience in manufacturing/operations.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience with managing large‑scale growth projects.

You will set yourself apart by demonstrating some or all of the following

• Prior experience in facility management and consolidation.
• PMP certification.
• Ability to communicate effectively and equally well within all levels of an organization.

We will not consider candidates who

• Eaton will not consider applicants for employment immigration sponsorship or support for this position. This means that Eaton will not support any CPT, OPT, STEM OPT, F‑1 to H‑1B, H‑1B cap registration, O‑1, E‑3, TN status, I‑485 job portability, or similar.

We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based on job‑related reasons regardless of an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

Eaton believes in second‑chance employment. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction history will be considered regardless of their arrest or conviction history, consistent with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act, and other local laws. You do not need to disclose your conviction history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After a conditional offer and background check, if Eaton is concerned about a conviction directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.

To request a disability‑related reasonable accommodation to assist you in your job search, application, or interview process, please call us at 1‑800‑836‑6345. Only accommodation requests will be accepted by this phone number.