Engineering and Project Manager (1253)

The Engineer and Project Manager, will drive new product and technology adoption throughout the company by providing expert technical guidance and support to develop and Launch New Projects. This role leads the application strategy, and Product launch for our Plastics division at our Huntersville Location, including in-mold decoration and heat transfer foils, as well as general plastics decoration applications. It targets OEMs, specifiers, and plastics fabricators. It also involves managing projects from scope definition and quoting through implementation, including hot stamp machines and tooling. This role is a Key leadership position that will have daily interaction with external customers, vendors, and internal department managers. This person will also be reporting project status and technical data to senior leadership.

• Establish, develop, and lead the Engineering and Project Management team. Establishing and implementing engineering processes and best practices that improve efficiency and productivity. 
• Manage all aspects of project lifecycles; from planning/ development, overseeing timely program implementation, and ensuring sustained project success. Ensuring projects are on time, within budget, and within specification. 
• Provide expert technical guidance and support on products and applications, addressing customer inquiries and resolving technical challenges.
• Proactively respond to and resolve customer and project issues, providing clear and effective technical feedback and solutions.
• Cultivate and maintain strong technical and commercial relationships with customers, internal partners, suppliers, and other relevant organizations.
• Benchmark industry trends and competitive landscapes to identify opportunities for innovation and improvement.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the engineering team. To assist in the development of in-house and external testing protocols to ensure product quality and performance. 
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams on the feasibility of next generation products/ projects providing technical feedback on the feasibility of new opportunities, defining requirements, and objectives.
• Provide ESI (Early Supplier Involvement) reports from an engineering perspective to internal resources so estimates can be generated for new projects.
• Support sourcing and the engineering team on supplier selection for tooling and raw materials as it relates to new projects awarded.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in engineering technologies and industry trends.
• 15-25% Domestic and international travel to vendor, customer, intracompany sites is required, to provide expert engineering technical support to ensure successful project launches.
• Other duties as required.

Skills and Abilities

• Communication and Presentation Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical information clearly and concisely. Strong presentation skills, with the ability to engage and educate diverse audiences.
• Attention to Detail: Meticulous and organized, with a keen eye for detail.
• Collaborative work attitude: combines intelligence, experience, and self-confidence to lead by example, and direct others respectfully. Focused on a Clean, Safe, and professional work environment.
• Contextual Understanding: Understanding of how tasks interrelated in a bigger context. Ability to identify and implement improvements.
• Project Management: Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring deadlines and milestones are met.
• Technical Proficiency: Deep understanding of plastics decoration technologies, including in-mold decoration, heat transfer foils, and hot stamping. Including Intermediate to advanced computer skills, such as Solid works and 3D CAD.
• Problem-Solving: Identify root causes of issues & implement corrective actions. Strong ability to investigate product requirements, identify solutions, and optimize existing processes.

• 10+ years of experience in senior level operations management within an Engineering manufacturing organization (an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered). 
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, or related field) is required.
• A strong track record of technical problem-solving and customer satisfaction is essential.
• Proven experience with plastics decoration technologies (in-mold, heat transfer, hot stamping).