Project Engineer/Manager

Miller Resource Group; Elk Grove Village (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Miller Resource Group is seeking a dedicated Project Manager in Elk Grove Village, IL to oversee custom automation builds from order to final acceptance. You will coordinate customers, inside sales, engineering, and manufacturing to keep projects on schedule, ensure timely materials, and provide clear communication throughout the lifecycle.

In this role, anticipate and mitigate risks, manage procurement activities, and lead cross-functional meetings to align scope, timelines, and outcomes.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of project management experience in manufacturing or automation environments.
• Demonstrated success managing multiple concurrent projects to deadlines.
• Strong customer-facing communication and relationship management.

Responsibilities

• Project Planning & Execution: Develop and maintain detailed project schedules from kickoff through customer acceptance.
• Monitor progress, identify risks, and implement corrective actions to keep projects on track.
• Maintain accurate project status updates and reporting for leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Procurement & Material Coordination: Coordinate with inside sales and procurement to order components and long-lead materials on time.
• Monitor purchase orders and supplier delivery schedules to prevent production delays.
• Customer Communication: Serve as primary point of contact; manage expectations on scope, schedules, and deliverables.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Coordinate activities between engineering, manufacturing, sales and other stakeholders.

Skills

Project management

Scheduling

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Business

Tools

MS Project

Primavera

MS Office

Job description

We are seeking a Project Manager to oversee the successful execution of custom automation machine builds from customer order through final acceptance. This individual serves as the central point of coordination between customers, inside sales, engineering, and manufacturing teams to ensure projects remain on schedule, materials are available when needed, and customers receive clear, timely communication throughout the project lifecycle.

**No sponsorship is available for this role***

This is an individual contributor role reporting to the engineering or operations leadership team. Occasional travel (approximately 10%) is required for customer site visits, equipment installations, and factory/site acceptance testing.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Planning & Execution


• Develop and maintain detailed project schedules from kickoff through customer acceptance.


• Monitor project progress, identify risks early, and implement corrective actions to keep projects on track.


• Maintain accurate project status updates and reporting for leadership and cross-functional teams.

Procurement & Material Coordination

• Coordinate with inside sales and procurement teams to ensure components, subassemblies, and long-lead materials are ordered on time.


• Monitor purchase orders and supplier delivery schedules, resolving potential supply issues before they impact production.

Customer Communication

• Serve as the primary point of contact for customers throughout the project lifecycle.


• Manage customer expectations regarding project scope, schedules, and deliverables.


• Lead recurring project meetings to review action items, decisions, timelines, and outstanding issues.


• Proactively communicate schedule updates, design changes, and project milestones.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Coordinate activities between engineering, manufacturing/assembly, sales, and other internal stakeholders.


• Maintain organized project documentation, including meeting notes, action item logs, and decision records.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of project management experience, preferably within manufacturing, industrial automation, machine building, or custom equipment environments.


• Demonstrated success managing multiple concurrent projects while meeting deadlines.


• Strong customer-facing communication and relationship management skills.


• Experience coordinating procurement activities and collaborating with sales, purchasing, or supply chain teams.


• Proficiency with project management tools, scheduling software, and Microsoft Office applications.


• Ability to read and interpret basic mechanical and electrical drawings is preferred.


• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Operations, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.


• Ability to travel approximately 10% for customer visits and project support.

Core Competencies

• Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail and follow-through.


• Proactive problem solver who anticipates challenges and drives solutions.


• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with both customers and internal teams.


• Ability to manage multiple priorities while keeping stakeholders informed and aligned.


• Self-motivated with a strong sense of ownership and accountability for project success.