Project Engineer

Location: Niles, Illinois

Schedule: Full-time, on-site

Position Overview: We are seeking an experienced project engineer/project manager to lead several active capital-improvement projects within a food-manufacturing facility. This individual will be responsible for coordinating engineering, vendors, contractors, installation, commissioning, and project closeout while maintaining production, food-safety, budget, and schedule requirements. The ideal candidate combines hands-on plant engineering knowledge with strong project-management skills and can independently drive projects from design review through operational turnover.

Key Responsibilities: Manage multiple capital projects from planning and design through installation, commissioning, and closeout. Lead the expansion of a production system from three fillers to nine fillers. Manage the replacement and commissioning of a process aeration unit. Develop and maintain project schedules, budgets, milestones, and action-item lists. Coordinate equipment manufacturers, engineering firms, contractors, plant leadership, maintenance, operations, quality, and safety teams. Review equipment layouts, utility requirements, drawings, specifications, and installation plans. Manage contractor activity and ensure work is completed safely, correctly, and on schedule. Coordinate equipment delivery, site preparation, installation, startup, testing, and operational turnover. Plan project work around active production schedules and support shutdown preparation and execution. Identify project risks, resolve field issues, and communicate changes affecting cost or schedule. Facilitate project meetings and provide clear progress reporting to plant and corporate stakeholders. Ensure project documentation, training materials, punch-list items, and turnover packages are completed. Support procurement, vendor selection, quotation review, purchase orders, and change-order management.

Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Construction Management, or a related discipline. Five or more years of experience managing manufacturing capital projects. Experience delivering equipment installation, facility modification, or process-improvement projects in an operating plant. Strong contractor, vendor, budget, and schedule management