Project Engineer

Actalent; Georgetown (KY); On-site; USD 55,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent in Georgetown, KY is seeking a Project Engineer to lead planning, evaluation, and implementation of new paint materials and colors for automotive body and bumper paint operations. You will manage project schedules, trials, and cost reduction initiatives while coordinating with lab and production teams.

The role focuses on transitioning materials from lab to mass production, performing on-line testing, establishing process controls, and supporting model color launches and paint

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or equivalent experience.
• Strong Excel and PowerPoint for reporting and analysis.
• Ability to work in cross-functional teams across departments.
• 3+ years in project management in materials or manufacturing.
• 2+ years in color/appearance evaluations.
• 1+ year in paint design.
• Hands-on experience in a paint shop or automotive manufacturing.
• Understanding of paint application processes and topcoat application.
• Experience with robotics or automation related to paint applications.
• 3D CAD experience (AutoCAD, CATIA, SolidWorks).
• Familiarity with controls engineering and production equipment.

Responsibilities

• Lead area project schedules for new material trials and cost initiatives.
• Oversee planning, evaluation, and implementation of new colors and materials in Body/Bumper Paint shops.
• Lead lab testing and online testing to meet production standards.
• Establish process controls for new materials in cross-functional settings.
• Coordinate with stakeholders to resolve root-cause issues and optimize cost/performance.
• Assess environmental impacts of materials and technologies during selection.
• Support model color launches and paint application changes across teams.
• Coordinate transition of materials from lab to mass production.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional teamwork

Excel

PowerPoint

Scale-up

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Bachelor’s or higher in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Engineering, or Materials Science

Tools

AutoCAD

CATIA

SolidWorks

VMS

Job description

Job Title: Project Engineer

Job Description

This role focuses on leading the planning, evaluation, and implementation of new paint materials, colors, and technologies for automotive body and bumper paint operations. You will manage project schedules for new material trials, new model paint trials, cost reduction initiatives, and material performance improvements while supporting the development and transition of materials from lab to mass production. The position offers the opportunity to work on long-term, impactful projects in a highly collaborative, cross-functional environment with strong potential for professional growth.

Responsibilities

• Manage area project schedules for new material trials, new model paint trials, cost reduction initiatives, and material performance improvements in the paint department.

• Lead planning, evaluations, and implementations for new colors and new materials in the Body Paint and Bumper Paint shops.

• Lead lab workability testing and on-line testing for new paint materials to ensure they meet production and quality requirements.

• Establish and document necessary process controls and parameters for new materials and technologies in a cross-functional environment.

• Lead materials-related problem-solving efforts across multiple divisions, coordinating with stakeholders to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.

• Lead CPU (cost per unit) impact assessments for new materials and make recommendations to optimize cost and performance.

• Assess the environmental impact of new materials and technologies and incorporate these considerations into material selection and implementation plans.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including production, quality, and engineering, to support new model color launches and paint application changes.

• Support the transition of materials from lab development to mass production, ensuring robust implementation and stable production performance.

• Utilize project management skills to coordinate timelines, resources, and deliverables across multiple functions and projects.

• Prepare and deliver clear reports and presentations using Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint to communicate findings, status, and recommendations.

• Troubleshoot paint application issues and support continuous improvement of paint processes and material performance.

• Apply knowledge of robotics, PLCs, and controls (where applicable) to support paint application equipment and process optimization.

• Use 3D CAD and related design tools to support mechanical or process design activities associated with paint systems and equipment.

Essential Skills

• Bachelors degree in an engineering field or equivalent related experience.

• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office, including strong Excel skills for analysis and PowerPoint skills for reporting and presentations.

• Ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams and collaborate with multiple departments.

• 3 years of project management experience working across multiple functions, preferably in materials or manufacturing-related projects.

• 2 years of experience in color and appearance evaluations.

• 1 years of experience in paint design.

• Hands-on experience in a paint shop or automotive manufacturing environment.

• Strong understanding of paint application processes, especially topcoat application.

• Experience with PLCs, troubleshooting, and programming in a production or automation environment.

• Experience with robotics and robot programming related to paint applications.

• Mechanical engineering or mechatronics background at the Associates or Bachelors level.

• Experience with 3D CAD tools and mechanical design, including software such as AutoCAD, CATIA, SolidWorks, or similar.

• Familiarity with controls engineering concepts and paint production equipment.

• Ability to assess environmental impacts of materials and technologies and incorporate these considerations into engineering decisions.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Engineering, or Material Science.

• Experience in automotive manufacturing in paint production engineering.

• Experience in paint application evaluation in a production environment.

• Experience in a paint lab performing workability evaluations.

• Experience with Kawasaki and/or FANUC robots in paint or related applications.

• background in Chemical Engineering or Materials Engineering.

• Automotive experience in any function such as production, materials, process, or supplier support.

• Exposure to production launch, scale-up, or change management activities.

• Experience working with VMS or large enterprise environments is beneficial.

• Strong communication skills for presenting technical information to diverse audiences.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize tasks effectively.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Georgetown, KY.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $40.00 – $60.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Georgetown,KY.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 12, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.