Project Engineer

Cohere Beauty; Omaha (NE); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Cohere Beauty is seeking a Project Engineer to drive capital projects and facility improvements in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. You will partner with Operations, Maintenance, R&D, and site leadership to enhance infrastructure and support growth initiatives.

Responsibilities include leading CAPEX projects from concept through implementation, improving OEE, reducing downtime, and ensuring safety and regulatory compliance across the site. A strong engineering background is essential.

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of engineering experience within manufacturing, pharmaceutical, personal care, consumer products, food manufacturing, or related environments
• Experience leading CAPEX projects and budget management.
• Experience managing facility and infrastructure projects.
• Experience in driving equipment reliability and operational performance improvements.
• Experience working within regulated manufacturing environments is preferred.
• CDMO, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, personal care, or FDA-regulated manufacturing experience strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead capital projects and strategic initiatives from concept through first production.
• Identify and execute opportunities to improve operational reliability, energy efficiency, productivity, and cost performance.
• Lead engineering studies, support risk assessments, and process improvement initiatives.
• Support continuous improvement efforts utilizing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and other operational excellence methodologies.
• Develop engineering solutions that improve operations and support future business growth.
• Drive initiatives to improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) across manufacturing and facility systems.
• Partner with Operations and Maintenance teams to reduce downtime, improve asset utilization, and increase production throughput.
• Utilize root cause analysis methodologies to address recurring equipment and facility issues.
• Ensure facility projects comply with applicable safety, environmental, regulatory, and company requirements.
• Partner with Site Leader, Operations Leadership, Maintenance, Quality, and other teams to align engineering initiatives with business priorities.
• Provide technical leadership and project management support across the facility.
• Communicate project status, risks, and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Participate in safety initiatives and promote a culture of safe work practices.
• Maintain accurate engineering documentation, drawings, specifications, and project records.

Skills

Reliability engineering

OEE improvement

Root cause analysis

Project management

Lean Six Sigma

Independent work

On-site work

Education

B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Engineering documentation systems

Job description

The Project Engineer is responsible for driving capital projects, reliability, and continuous improvement initiatives within a fast-paced Contract Development & Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) environment. This role serves as a key engineering partner to Operations, Maintenance, Research and Development (R&D)and Site Leadership to improve overall facility performance and enhance infrastructure to support strategic growth initiatives.

The Project Engineer will lead projects from concept through implementation, manage capital expenditure (CAPEX) investments, identify and execute continuous improvement opportunities, and implement facility systems that support safe, compliant, and efficient manufacturing operations. This position plays a critical role in maximizing operational performance while supporting business objectives related to safety, quality, delivery, and cost.

Please Note: ***This is an on-site, Omaha, Nebraska position - Relocation Assistance is not afforded***

Responsibilities

Capital Projects & Facility Improvements

• Owner & driver of capital projects and strategic initiatives from concept through first production
• Identify and execute opportunities to improve operational reliability, energy efficiency, productivity, and cost performance.
• Lead engineering studies, support risk assessments, and process improvement initiatives.
• Support continuous improvement efforts utilizing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and other operational excellence methodologies.
• Develop engineering solutions that improve operations and support future business growth.

Facility Performance and OEE Improvement

• Drive initiatives to improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) across manufacturing and facility systems.
• Partner with Operations and Maintenance teams to reduce downtime, improve asset utilization, and increase production throughput.
• Utilize root cause analysis methodologies to address recurring equipment and facility issues.
• Ensure facility projects comply with applicable safety, environmental, regulatory, and company requirements.
• Partner with the Site Leader, Operations Leadership, Maintenance, Quality, and other functional teams to align engineering initiatives with business priorities.
• Provide technical leadership and project management support across the facility.
• Effectively communicate project status, risks, and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Participate in safety initiatives and promote a culture of safe work practices.
• Serve as a trusted engineering resource supporting strategic site objectives.
• Maintain accurate engineering documentation, drawings, specifications, and project records.

Other Duties

• Perform other duties as required to support the Cohere Beauty business processes.
• B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of engineering experience within manufacturing, pharmaceutical, personal care, consumer products, food manufacturing, or related environments
• Experience leading CAPEX projects and budget management.
• Experience managing facility and infrastructure projects.
• Experience in driving equipment reliability and operational performance improvements.
• Experience working within regulated manufacturing environments is preferred.
• CDMO, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, personal care, or FDA-regulated manufacturing experience strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of Processing and Packing Equipment used in the consumer products industry
• Knowledge of facility systems including HVAC, compressed air, water systems, electrical distribution, and manufacturing utilities.
• Strong understanding of reliability engineering principles and OEE improvement methodologies.
• Experience with project management tools and engineering documentation systems.
• Proficiency in root cause analysis, risk assessment, and continuous improvement techniques.
• Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma
• Ability to maintain regular and predictable attendance.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to work on-site.

Travel & Working Conditions

• Primarily Manufacturing Environment
• Warehouse environment – some temperature extremes, dust, and noise.
• Manufacturing environment - some temperature extremes, dust, noise, and wet conditions.
• Labaratory and Office Environment – climate-controlled.
• Up to 25% travel needs for this position for equipment FATs and other potentially related trips