Technical Project Manager

We are hiring an Estimator / Project Manager to own custom fabrication projects from initial customer request through final delivery at our manufacturing facility in Oak Ridge, TN.

This is a true high-mix, low-volume job shop environment . Customers come to us with drawings, specifications, and unique fabrication needs. Your job is to determine:

• Can we build it?
• How should we build it?
• What will it cost?
• How long will it take?
• What needs to happen to get it delivered successfully?

From there, you will manage the project through machining, welding, electrical, and assembly , coordinating internal production, materials, outside vendors, schedules, and customer expectations. This is not a position where you estimate a job and hand it off. You will have ownership throughout the project lifecycle , serving as the link between the customer and the shop floor.

Why Join Us?

• Own Projects Start to Finish: Take projects from RFP and estimating through manufacturing and final delivery.
• True Job Shop Environment: Work on a constantly changing mix of custom projects rather than repetitive production.
• Technical Variety: Support projects spanning machining, welding, electrical, fabrication, and assembly.
• Customer Exposure: Build direct relationships with customers and become their primary point of contact.
• Cross-Functional Role: Work closely with engineering, purchasing, vendors, and skilled trades throughout the facility.

Compensation

• Starting Salary: Approximately $70k/yr
• M-F, ~7:00 A.M. - 3:30 P.M.

Requirements

Responsibilities

• Project Ownership: Manage multiple custom fabrication projects simultaneously from initial customer request through completion and delivery.
• Estimating: Develop labor, material, purchased component, outside-process, cost, and lead-time estimates for incoming projects.
• Manufacturing Planning: Determine how projects should move through machining, welding, electrical, assembly, and outside processes.
• Customer Management: Serve as a primary point of contact for assigned customers, communicating pricing, schedules, progress, questions, and changing requirements.
• Shop Coordination: Work directly with machinists, welders, technicians, assemblers, and engineers to answer questions and keep jobs moving.
• Scheduling: Manage project timelines and shop workflow while balancing multiple jobs with different priorities and delivery dates.
• Purchasing & Vendors: Coordinate with purchasing and outside suppliers to obtain pricing, materials, services, and accurate lead times.
• Technical Review: Review RFPs, drawings, blueprints, specifications, dimensions, and tolerances to understand project requirements and manufacturing feasibility.
• Problem Solving: Respond to changing drawings, material issues, vendor delays, shop constraints, and customer requests while keeping projects on track.
• Production Coordination: Participate in daily production meetings and provide updates on project status, requirements, bottlenecks, and delivery schedules.
• Inspection Support: Assist the machine shop with dimensional inspection and other technical project needs when necessary.

Qualifications

Required

• Manufacturing Background: Experience working in a manufacturing environment with an understanding of how parts move from drawings and raw materials through production and delivery.
• Project Management: Proven ability to manage projects, schedules, materials, customers, vendors, or production priorities.
• Customer Communication: Comfortable communicating directly with customers through both phone and email and taking ownership of follow-ups.
• Organization: Ability to manage numerous active projects and priorities without allowing deadlines, details, or customer commitments to fall through the cracks.
• Blueprint Reading: Ability to read and interpret manufacturing drawings, dimensions, tolerances, and technical specifications.
• Technical Aptitude: Working knowledge of manufacturing processes, materials, measuring equipment, and shop-floor terminology.
• Problem Solving: Able to adapt quickly when schedules, materials, drawings, or customer priorities change.
• Shop-Floor Communication: Comfortable working directly with machinists, welders, fabricators, technicians, engineers, and purchasing personnel.

Preferred

• Job Shop Experience: Experience in a high-mix, low-volume job shop or custom fabrication environment where every project may require a different manufacturing approach.
• Custom Fabrication: Experience supporting projects involving CNC machining, welding, fabrication, electrical work, and/or assembly.
• Estimating Experience: Experience developing manufacturing estimates involving labor, materials, purchased components, outside processes, and lead times.
• Engineering Background: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Technology, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical discipline. Equivalent manufacturing experience will also be considered.
• CAD Experience: Familiarity with AutoCAD, Inventor, SolidWorks, or similar 2D/3D CAD software.
• GD&T / Inspection: Understanding of geometric tolerancing, dimensional inspection, gauges, and precision measuring equipment.
• Vendor Coordination: Experience sourcing materials or outside manufacturing processes and managing supplier pricing and lead times.

Benefits

• Medical & Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Account: Employer HSA contribution
• 401(k): Generous company matching program
• Paid Time Off: Competitive PTO package that increases with tenure
• Paid Holidays: Multiple company-paid holidays throughout the year
• Additional Paid Leave: Bereavement and jury duty leave
• Schedule Flexibility: Flexible scheduling opportunities available with tenure
• On-Site Amenities: Employee fitness and recreational facilities