The Engineering Project Manager is responsible for leading and coordinating internal company improvement initiatives and research & development (R&D) projects. This role partners with Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Quality, and Business Development teams to define, plan, and execute programs that enhance products, processes, and organizational capabilities. This position requires strong technical judgment, project management discipline, and the ability to lead cross-functional teams through ambiguity. The role ensures projects are executed efficiently, deliver measurable improvements, and align with company strategic objectives.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Project Leadership:

• Lead and manage cross-functional projects focused on internal process improvements, capability development, and R&D initiatives.
• Drive projects from concept through implementation, including pilot, validation, and deployment.
• Establish clear project goals aligned with business and engineering strategies.
• Provide leadership in ambiguity, ensuring progress despite evolving requirements.

Project Management:

• Define project scope, objectives, deliverables, and success criteria in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, budgets, and resource allocations.
• Track progress against milestones and ensure timely completion of deliverables.
• Identify risks, constraints, and dependencies; implement mitigation strategies.
• Apply structured project management methodologies appropriate to R&D and continuous improvement work (stage-gate, agile, etc.).

R&D and Innovation Execution:

• Coordinate early-stage research, feasibility studies, and technology development efforts.
• Facilitate design iterations, testing, and validation activities.
• Support transition of R&D efforts into production-ready processes or products.
• Ensure documentation of technical learnings, design decisions, and lessons learned.

Internal Continuous Improvement:

• Lead initiatives to improve product design and definition, manufacturing processes, engineering workflows, and operational efficiency.
• Utilize data-driven approaches (Lean, Six Sigma, root cause analysis, etc.) to identify and implement improvements.
• Establish metrics to measure impact (cost, quality, throughput, cycle time, etc.).
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement across departments.

Cross-Functional Coordination:

• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and Operations teams.
• Facilitate communication, alignment, and accountability across functional groups.
• Remove barriers and resolve conflicts to maintain project momentum.

Quality and Compliance:

• Ensure all project activities comply with applicable industry standards and internal quality systems (e.g., AS9100).
• Support development and implementation of robust validation and verification plans.
• Maintain accurate and auditable project documentation.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Communicate project status, risks, and outcomes to stakeholders and leadership.
• Align expectations across technical and non-technical audiences.
• Build strong working relationships across the organization.

Continuous Improvement of Project Execution:

• Analyze project performance and execution effectiveness.
• Capture and implement lessons learned and best practices.
• Contribute to improving project management processes, tools, and standards.

Additional Duties & Responsibilities:

• Follow all safety policies and report hazardous conditions.
• Maintain organized and compliant work environments.
• Work independently with minimal supervision; demonstrate initiative and accountability.
• Perform other duties as assigned.