Senior Project Engineer

Socket.dev; Columbia Township (MO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Socket.dev is seeking a Senior Project Engineer to lead the development of next-generation gas detection instrumentation. The role bridges technical design and project execution from conceptual design through manufacturing launch.

The candidate will drive cross-functional collaboration, ensure regulatory and QMS compliance, and manage scope, cost, and timeline while guiding teams through prototyping, testing, and production transfer.

Qualifications

• BS in Engineering preferred.
• 5–7 years engineering experience.
• 3 years instrumentation development project management.
• Experience with sensor technologies or ruggedized devices.
• Familiarity with ISO-style QMS and safety standards.
• CAD/EDA tools experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams to deliver complex instrumentation projects on time and within budget.
• Translate field needs into product specifications and cost targets.
• Drive design, prototyping, testing, and validation within a QMS framework for gas detection systems.
• Create detailed project schedules, allocate resources, and manage risks and budgets.
• Conduct design reviews, FMEA, and root-cause analyses for engineering challenges.
• Collaborate with procurement and external vendors to transition from R&D to manufacturing.

Skills

Project leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical problem-solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering

Tools

Jira

MS Project

CAD

EDA tools

Job description

Description

We are seeking a Senior Project Engineer to lead the development of our next-generation gas detection instrumentation. This role bridges the gap between technical design and project execution and oversees the entire product lifecycle from conceptual design through manufacturing launch. This position requires a strong technical background, excellent project management skills, and experience in instrumentation design and development.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Project Leadership: Lead cross-functional teams (Product Management, Engineering, Testing, Manufacturing Engineer, Supply Chain and Quality…) including outside technical resources as needed to deliver complex instrumentation projects on time and within budget.
• Product Specifications and Project Objectives: Travel in the field in conjunction with sales and marketing to become familiar with the applications first-hand and perform competitive analysis and reverse engineering. Collaborate with the Product Manager and Sales and Marketing team to jointly develop product specifications and estimate product costs vs target margins. Work with Finance and the Product Manager to develop estimated development costs, margin, cash flow and ROI models to support project justification.
• Product Development: Drive the design, prototyping, testing, and validation of portable and fixed gas detection systems within a quality management system (QMS) framework. Ensure products meet all aspects of the product requirements document and the regulatory safety and performance standards (e.g., IIAR, UL, CSA, FM). Be capable of leading the team and, when needed, being directly responsible for some portion of the design and/or testing tasks.
• Timeline & Budget Management: Create detailed project schedules, allocate resources, manage risks, and track budgets using Project Management software.
• Technical Review and Validation Testing: Conduct and lead design reviews, FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis), and root-cause analysis for engineering and manufacturing challenges.
• Vendor & Lifecycle Management: Collaborate with Procurement and external vendors to source components and transition products from R&D to volume manufacturing incorporating process control.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor of Science (BS) in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, or Systems Engineering preferred).
• Experience: Minimum of 5–7 years of engineering experience, with at least 3 years directly managing instrumentation development projects.
• Industry Knowledge: Proven experience working with sensor technologies, instrumentation, or ruggedized electronic devices.
• Regulatory Familiarity: Experience in working in an ISO-style Quality System and understanding of safety and hazardous location standards and compliance testing.
• Tools: Proficiency with project management tools (e.g., Jira, MS Project) and familiarity with CAD software or EDA tools.
• Soft Skills: Clear, concise, and effective communication style for cross‑functional collaboration. Strong analytical problem‑solving and decision‑making capabilities. Ability to thrive in a hands‑on, agile engineering environment.