Project Engineer

Project Engineer Location: Akron, OH Work Arrangement: Onsite (Full-Time, Permanent) Reports To: Manager of Engineering Position Overview We are seeking an experienced Project Engineer to spearhead technical initiatives from early concept through full production release. In this role, you will act as the technical and operational bridge between cross-functional internal teams, external suppliers, and customer stakeholders. You will manage end-to-end project health—holding accountability for schedules, tooling budgets, design-for-manufacturability (DFM) reviews, and manufacturing launch readiness—while operating with high autonomy and an emphasis on robust engineering solutions. Core Responsibilities Project Leadership & Execution: Direct the full lifecycle of assigned new product introductions (NPI), establishing detailed milestones, project baselines, and resource plans using DELMIAWorks / IQMS. Technical Design & Tooling Analysis: Conduct rigorous reviews of customer designs and CAD models. Identify potential manufacturing bottlenecks, optimize steel conditions, enforce GD&T standards, and recommend design modifications that enhance quality and lower unit cost. Budgeting & Quoting: Formulate comprehensive cost estimates and proposals for molds, secondary tooling, and ancillary automation. Take direct ownership of the capital budget and profit margin performance for each assigned project. Stakeholder & Vendor Management: Serve as the primary technical liaison for clients and tooling vendors. Chair stage-gate reviews, manage scope creep through formal engineering change orders (ECOs), and resolve timeline discrepancies proactively. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with quality, tooling, maintenance, and production floor teams to validate tooling, resolve launch hurdles, and ensure compliance with safety and corporate quality standards. Continuous Improvement: Apply root-cause problem solving and process-control methodologies to drive scrap reduction, cycle-time optimization, and standard operating procedures. Required Qualifications Education: Bachelor’s degree in Plastics, Polymer, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline (equivalent hands-on industry experience will be considered). Technical Domain: Strong technical foundation in plastic injection molding principles, tooling design/construction, and polymer selection (both commodity and high-performance engineering resins). CAD & Drafting: Working knowledge of 3D CAD platforms to review, translate, and modify part models; solid command of 2D drafting and GD&T interpretation. Project Delivery: Demonstrated success managing technical project milestones, tooling timelines, and customer-facing engineering reviews. Tools & Systems: Proficiency in enterprise ERP/MES platforms (preferably DELMIAWorks/IQMS) and standard office productivity suites (Microsoft Office, Excel, Teams/SharePoint). Mindset: Strong ownership mentality, capable of prioritizing competing deadlines under minimal supervision with a commitment to plant safety. Preferred Qualifications 6+ years of applied engineering experience in injection molding and mold design. Hands-on background in mold making, mold repair, or machining. Formal training in Scientific Molding (e.g., RJG Master Molder or equivalent). Experience conducting or interpreting mold-filling simulations (e.g., Moldflow). Professional-level fluency in SolidWorks . Formal Project Management certification (PMP, CAPM) or Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt).