Mechanical Engineering Lead

All jobs at Southern Champion Tray (SCT) require Team members to act in accordance with the shared Core Values and Operating principles of the company as they perform specific job functions. These include:

• Trustworthy - We strive for our actions to match our words in all our relationships.
• Servant - Hearted - We enable and empower our team to serve the needs of customers, Team members, suppliers and the community.
• Relational - We aim to build healthy relationships while fostering an environment that promotes compassion, balance, and personal and professional growth.
• Resourceful - We value strategic insourcing, first looking to create solutions internally, and then looking to apply that knowledge to future opportunities.

SUMMARY

The Mechanical Engineering Lead is a senior technical contributor responsible for providing technical leadership, coordination, and outcome ownership for mechanical systems supporting production equipment, facilities, and utilities across all locations. This role combines hands-on mechanical engineering execution with leadership of the mechanical engineering group and responsibility for standards, alignment, and delivery across multiple projects.


ESSENTIALS DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Leadership and Execution

• Serves as the technical authority for mechanical systems supporting production and facilities, including equipment, material handling, utilities, and building-related mechanical systems
• Actively contributes to complex mechanical design, analysis, troubleshooting, and implementation
• Defines, maintains, and enforces mechanical design standards, methodologies, and best practices
• Leads and participates in mechanical design reviews; approves designs and documentation

Facilities and Utilities Support

• Provides engineering oversight for facility mechanical systems across all locations
• Supports evaluation, maintenance, and improvement of mechanical infrastructure enabling production operations
• Coordinates mechanical considerations for utilities and building systems affecting reliability, safety, and throughput
• Ensures compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements

Project Ownership and Delivery

• Owns outcomes for mechanical work across a portfolio of projects, including scope, execution, schedule, and delivery
• Leads complex or high-impact mechanical projects consistent with role expectations
• Supports root cause analysis and resolution of complex mechanical and equipment-related issues

Group Leadership and Coordination

• Leads and coordinates the mechanical engineering group, setting technical direction and priorities
• Participates in planning discussions and helps assign personnel resources across projects
• Ensures consistent application of mechanical standards and approaches

Coordination and Cross-Functional Alignment

• Coordinates mechanical engineering work across projects and locations to ensure consistency, quality, and reliability
• Serves as a core member of the engineering leadership team, aligning mechanical priorities with Electrical, R&D, PMO, Manufacturing, Facilities, and other functions
• Represents mechanical considerations in system-level discussions and planning

Partnership with Engineering Manager

• Provides clear, ongoing communication regarding mechanical portfolio status, facility needs, risks, and execution direction
• Partners on planning and prioritization through discipline-level insight

Development and Capability Building

• Leads day-to-day mentoring and development of Mechanical Engineers within the group
• Supports performance reviews, role alignment, and advancement readiness in partnership with the Engineering Manager
• Identifies skill gaps and supports targeted development and capability growth

SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supports operational troubleshooting, maintenance, and modification of mechanical systems
• Participates in continuous improvement initiatives to enhance equipment reliability, performance, and safety
• Maintains documentation, project files, and records for mechanical systems
• Provides mechanical expertise to Operations and Maintenance teams to resolve complex equipment issues
• Manages capital and repair projects from planning through installation and start-up, ensuring safety and quality compliance

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS

• Recognized authority in mechanical systems supporting production and facilities
• Proactively identifies and mitigates technical, safety, and execution risks
• Drives continuous improvement in mechanical design quality, reliability, and operational performance
• Balances innovation, reliability, and operational constraints

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline
• 6+ years of progressively responsible mechanical engineering experience in manufacturing or industrial environments
• Advanced expertise in mechanical design, equipment integration, and facility systems
• Experience leading mechanical teams or project groups
• Strong knowledge of industrial mechanical standards, codes, and safety regulations
• Professional Engineer (PE) license may accelerate advancement

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Eighteen (18) years of age or older
• Successful completion of pre-employment drug screen, physical and background check
• Dependability
• Valid driver's license
• Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle
• Willingness to travel occasionally by air and land

SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

• Strong interpersonal and excellent communication (both verbal and written) skills and ability to effectively deliver, reinforce consistent messages and influence others via communication to achieve desired results at all levels of the organization
• Proven problem-solving, decision-making, and risk-assessment skills
• Excellent planning, organizational, time-management and prioritization skills
• Ability to follow established engineering standards, procedures, and design practices
• Detail-oriented, organized, creative and innovative; self-motivated
• Ability to mentor and develop engineers and technical staff
• Ability to collaborate effectively within cross-functional engineering and manufacturing teams and communicate clearly with stakeholders at all organizational levels
• Ability to set, adjust and change daily priorities
• Ability to handle sudden changes in project/priority and multiple tasks simultaneously in a positive fashion
• Ability to manage conflict and resolve issues in the most positive fashion for all parties concerned
• Willingness to accept responsibility and take on new challenges
• Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment on a customary and regular basis

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Ability to read, understand, and communicate to others the meaning of complex documents including legal documents, letters, etc. and write legibly in English
• Ability to understand and speak clearly and communicate in English
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, customers, and the public

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide both fractions and decimals, solve equations, read measurements
• Ability to use formulas to calculate and analyze data

REASONING ABILITY

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form
• Strong analytical skills/logical reasoning ability, using data-driven reports

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a Team member successfully performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, but the essential functions cannot be eliminated or performed by others.


While performing the duties of this job, the Team Member is regularly required to remain in a stationary position a minimum of 25% of the time, move and regularly operate a computer and other office equipment and frequently required to communicate and exchange accurate information.


While performing the duties of this job, regularly required to walk, stand, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls and reach with arms and hands. Frequently required to climb, balance, twist, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.


Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.


May frequently lift/move twenty-five (25) pounds and occasionally transport up to fifty (50) pounds. Lifting devices must be used or help must be requested for anything over twenty-five (25) pounds.


Ability to occasionally travel by land and/or air for extended periods of time.


WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a Team Member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and cannot be eliminated or performed by others.

While performing the duties of this job, regularly exposed to a climate-controlled office environment and shop manufacturing environment.


Office environment exposures include frequent telephone and computer use. The noise level in the office is usually moderate consistent with an office environment.


Shop manufacturing environment exposures include exposure to moving mechanical parts, machinery, tools and equipment, heights, vibration, fumes or airborne particles, motorized vehicles, machining operations, and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the shop is usually loud consistent with an industrial manufacturing facility and may require hearing protection in certain areas.

Occasionally exposed to travel hazards associated with automobile and/or airplane travel.
1st Shift Monday - Friday 8am to 5pm
Downtown Plant - 220 Compress Street, Chattanooga, TN 37405