Project Manager

PROJECT MANAGER - VACUUM SYSTEMS/FURNACE EQUIPMENT - PLC/HMI INTEGRATION Project Manager will lead the planning and execution of complex, custom-engineered capital equipment projects from contract award through shipment, installation, commissioning, and final customer acceptance. We design and manufacture advanced vacuum and controlled atmosphere metal processing systems supporting customers in demanding industries, including aerospace and other high-performance materials markets. The Project Manager provides day-to-day coordination across engineering, manufacturing, and field service, driving accountability, clear communication, and disciplined follow-through. The successful candidate will bring experience with capital projects and a practical working knowledge of industrial equipment and system integration concepts such as PLC/HMI, sensors/instrumentation, hydraulics/pneumatics, and utilities interfaces. Familiarity with vacuum systems and furnace equipment is a plus. Primarily domestic but some international travel is expected to support key customer interactions and on-site installation/commissioning milestones. Experience working with or familiarity of US Government contracts, technical standards (such as NFPA, AWS, IEEE, etc.) industrial vacuum systems and furnace equipment is a plus. Primary Responsibilities Serve as the primary coordinator for day-to-day project execution, aligning internal stakeholders and customer expectations through clear communication and timely decision-making. Act as the primary customer interface for project execution; lead meetings and document decisions / action items. Develop, maintain, and communicate project schedules and milestone plans aligning engineering, procurement, fabrication, assembly, testing, shipping, installation, and acceptance activities; track progress against plans and highlight critical path items. Lead internal cross-departmental project meetings and drive action-item closure across Engineering, Manufacturing, and Field Service. Coordinate customer responsibilities and readiness planning to reduce risk and delays, including timeline, installation sequencing, site requirements, and contractor alignment. Manage execution to contractual scope; identify project risks, constraints, and issues (technical, supplier, manufacturing capacity, customer readiness, logistics / export considerations), develop mitigation plans, and elevate appropriately to internal parties. Support change control by coordinating the evaluation of impacts to cost, schedule, performance, and deliverables, and supporting formal internal and customer alignment when changes are required. Support the preparation and execution of Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), ensuring results and documentation are completed to achieve customer sign-off. Required Qualifications B.S. in Engineering or similar discipline (or equivalent combination of education and relevant industry experience). 3+ years of experience supporting or managing complex projects in an industrial/manufacturing/technical environment (capital equipment, engineered-to-order systems, automation, or similar). Experience coordinating cross-departmental execution across Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, and/or Field Service. Strong customer-facing communication skills, including the ability to lead meetings, document outcomes, and drive action-item accountability. Experience working with multinational teams on complex projects. Ability to interpret technical requirements, read CAD drawings, and work effectively with engineering and manufacturing teams. Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint). Experience using project schedule tools such as Microsoft Project (or similar Gantt charting software). Ability to work independently while contributing strongly within a collaborative team environment. Ability to work with U.S. Export Controlled products, processes, and information in accordance with company requirements. Ability to travel as required (primarily domestic; occasionally international). #J-18808-Ljbffr