Plant Engineering Manager

The Davis Companies; New Jersey; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Davis Companies in New Jersey is seeking a Senior Plant Engineer/Senior Project Engineering Manager to lead complex manufacturing projects from concept to implementation. This hands-on role manages a small team of three, focusing first on tooling operations and equipment for production, with growth toward broader operations leadership.

You will drive process improvements across two facilities, oversee scheduling, budgeting, risk, and safety, and bridge engineering, operations, quality, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related field.
• 7+ years leading complex technical PM initiatives.
• Experience managing cross-functional projects involving engineering and operations teams.
• Strong understanding of enterprise systems and data workflows.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead full lifecycle of complex projects from planning through deployment and stabilization.
• Develop and manage project schedules, budgets, resource plans, milestones, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams including engineering, operations, quality, and business stakeholders.
• Translate business requirements into technical implementation plans.
• Support system integrations, data workflows, and technical solution deployment.
• Facilitate design reviews, technical workshops, and project status meetings.
• Develop and improve operational processes, workflows, governance structures, and performance metrics.
• Establish service readiness plans, SLAs, and transition-to-operations strategies.
• Coordinate training, documentation, and change management activities.
• Lead quality assurance efforts including testing, validation, and user acceptance testing (UAT).
• Monitor project performance and provide regular updates to leadership.
• Identify and mitigate project, operational, and compliance risks.
• Drive successful transition of projects into ongoing business operations.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Process improvement

Risk management

Budget management

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's degree in Engineering

Tools

MS Project

ERP systems

Data workflow tooling

Job description

Overview

The Senior Plant Engineer/ Senior Project Engineering Manager is responsible for leading complex manufacturing and operational projects from concept through implementation. This is a hands‑on role leading a small team of three focusing first on managing and maintenance tooling operations and equipment for production. This will grow in responsibility over time into more holistic manufacturing operations leadership. This role will drive process improvement initiatives across two manufacturing facilities, including equipment relocation, installation, startup, and optimization activities. The position serves as a bridge between engineering, operations, quality, and leadership teams to ensure projects are completed safely, on time, and aligned with business objectives.

Responsibilities

• Lead the full lifecycle of complex projects from planning through deployment and stabilization
• Develop and manage project schedules, budgets, resource plans, milestones, and risk mitigation strategies
• Coordinate cross‑functional teams including engineering, operations, quality, and business stakeholders
• Translate business requirements into technical implementation plans
• Support system integrations, data workflows, and technical solution deployment
• Facilitate design reviews, technical workshops, and project status meetings
• Develop and improve operational processes, workflows, governance structures, and performance metrics
• Establish service readiness plans, SLAs, and transition‑to‑operations strategies
• Coordinate training, documentation, and change management activities
• Lead quality assurance efforts including testing, validation, and user acceptance testing (UAT)
• Monitor project performance and provide regular updates to leadership
• Identify and mitigate project, operational, and compliance risks
• Drive successful transition of projects into ongoing business operations

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline
• 7+ years of project or program management experience leading complex technical initiatives
• Experience managing cross‑functional projects involving engineering and operations teams
• Strong understanding of enterprise systems, integrations, and data workflows
• Experience developing operational processes, governance models, and support structures
• Strong project management, organizational, and problem‑solving skills
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities
• Experience managing project schedules, budgets, resources, and risks

Preferred

• Master's degree in Engineering or a related field
• Background in process engineering, technology operations, or systems implementation
• Experience working in regulated industries such as healthcare, medical device, pharmaceutical, or life sciences environments
• Knowledge of Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid project management methodologies

Desired Skills

• Project and Program Management
• Process Improvement
• Technical Implementations
• Operational Readiness
• Change Management
• Stakeholder Management
• Governance Frameworks
• Business Process Development
• System Integrations
• Data Workflows
• Quality Assurance and Validation

What Success Looks Like

• Successfully delivers complex initiatives from concept through operational launch
• Creates structure and clarity in fast‑paced environments
• Builds strong relationships across technical and business teams
• Proactively identifies and resolves project risks
• Drives continuous improvement and operational excellence
• Maintains strong ownership and accountability for project outcomes