Project Engineer - Manufacturing

The Project Engineer– Manufacturing Projects supports the execution of new facility construction, manufacturing expansions, equipment installations, and modernization initiatives at our Houston and Mexico facilities. The Project Manager ensures all projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in full compliance with quality, regulatory, and operational requirements.

The position is based in Sugar Land, TX, yet may require travel to other Standex sites to support

What You'll Do

• Lead all phases of capital projects, including scope, schedule, cost, quality, and risk management.
• Develop project charters, execution strategies, detailed schedules, budgets, and resource plans.
• Monitor and report project performance through established KPIs and governance frameworks.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for internal stakeholders and external vendors/contractors.
• Provide clear, regular updates to leadership, including status, risks, mitigation plans, and performance insights.
• Oversee the capital equipment lifecycle: specification, vendor selection, procurement, installation, and commissioning.
• Ensure alignment with manufacturing requirements, capacity strategies, and operational goals.
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, EHS, Maintenance, Automation, and IT
• Drive stakeholder alignment and facilitate timely decision-making.
• Maintain transparent, consistent communication across all project stakeholders.

Manufacturing Facility Construction

• Support greenfield and brownfield projects, including new builds, expansions, automation, facility renovations, and layouts.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary activities across civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, automation, and utilities.
• Minimize disruption to ongoing operations during project execution.
• Support commissioning, qualification, and operational readiness activities.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental, and all applicable regulatory requirements.
• Conduct contractor safety reviews and oversee construction audits.

Equipment Installation, Commissioning & Startup

• Manage procurement, installation, and startup of manufacturing equipment.
• Coordinate OEMs, contractors, and internal technical teams.
• Lead and participate in Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT)
• Ensure adherence to production, quality, safety, and regulatory standards.
• Facilitate training, documentation, and handover to operations teams.
• Validate post-startup performance against project objectives and success criteria.

Budget & Financial Management

• Manage capital expenditures (CapEx), including project CERs (Capital Expenditure Requests), cost estimation, tracking, and forecasting.
• Manage scope, change orders, and contingencies.
• Identify cost optimization opportunities while maintaining project objectives.
• Support business case development and ROI analysis.
• Ensure compliance with financial controls and approved budgets.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, or a related technical field
• 4-6 years of experience managing manufacturing capital projects.
• Demonstrated success delivering mid- to large-scale projects.
• Experience managing EPC contractors and cross-functional engineering teams.
• Knowledge of manufacturing facility design and construction
• Experience with equipment installation and production line startup
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing and Operational Excellence principles
• Proficiency with project management tools and systems (PMP certification helpful)
• Experience with systems such as SAP, Oracle, MS Project, AutoCAD, and construction management platforms
• Exposure to Industry 4.0 / Smart Factory technologies is a plus.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally (25–50%, based on project portfolio)

What We Value

• Strong knowledge of project management methodologies (primarily Waterfall, with Agile or hybrid approaches as appropriate)
• Expertise in project planning, scheduling (e.g., MS Project), and cost control
• Solid understanding of manufacturing processes and industrial infrastructure
• Proven leadership, communication, and stakeholder management capabilities
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects and competing priorities.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Working knowledge of EHS standards, regulatory compliance, and construction practices