Senior Project Engineer (Research & Design)

NCSL International; Columbia Township (MO); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

NCSL International seeks a Senior Project Engineer to lead next-generation gas detection instrumentation from concept to manufacturing launch. You will bridge technical design and execution, oversee the product lifecycle, and coordinate across teams in a fast-paced, hands-on environment.

The role emphasizes strong project leadership, experience in instrumentation design, and the ability to balance technical detail with schedules, resources, and business goals.

Qualifications

• BS in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical or Systems preferred).
• 5–7 years of engineering experience, with at least 3 years leading instrumentation projects.
• Experience with sensor tech, instrumentation or ruggedized electronics.
• Familiar with ISO-style QMS and safety/hazard standards.
• Proficient with Jira or MS Project and CAD/EDA tools.
• Strong communication, analytical and hands-on skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams to deliver complex instrumentation projects on time and within budget.
• Collaborate with Product Management, Sales and Marketing to define specs and costs.
• Drive design, prototyping, testing and validation within a QMS framework.
• Create project schedules, allocate resources, manage risks, track budgets.
• Lead design reviews, FMEA and root-cause analysis for challenges.
• Coordinate with procurement and vendors to transition to manufacturing.

Skills

Project leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Instrumentation design

Problem solving

Communication

Agile mindset

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering

Tools

Jira

MS Project

CAD software

EDA tools

Job 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.

What Makes You Successful in This Role:

The successful candidate is an experienced, hands-on design engineer who enjoys turning technical ideas into products and is ready to take on greater project leadership responsibility. They have experience designing electrical instrumentation or related electronic products and are energized by the opportunity to coordinate people, solve problems, and keep a project moving forward. They naturally follow up, stay organized, communicate clearly, and take ownership of getting things done—even when that means working across multiple teams and navigating changing priorities. While they may already have project management experience or may be looking to grow in that direction, they should be comfortable stepping into the role of project leader, balancing technical details with schedules, resources, and business objectives. This person thrives in a fast-paced, hands-on environment where adaptability, initiative, and strong follow-through are essential to delivering successful products.

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.

• 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.