Job Description

Project Engineer (Capital Projects)

Location: Greater Des Moines Area
Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite
Schedule: Monday–Friday | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Employment Type: Direct Hire, Full-Time
Travel: Periodic travel to regional facilities as projects require

Position Overview

A growing manufacturing operation is adding a Project Engineer to lead execution of facility and production-related capital initiatives. This role is centered on translating business needs into engineered solutions—overseeing equipment implementation, coordinating cross-functional teams, and ensuring projects move from concept through commissioning without disrupting production.

You will act as the bridge between operations, contractors, integrators, and leadership, owning timelines, budgets, and technical deliverables for automation and equipment-focused projects. This is a hands-on role expected to spend time both managing project workflows and supporting field execution during installation and startup.

Key Responsibilities

Capital Project Leadership

• Drive projects from early planning through design, procurement, installation, and operational handoff.

• Develop scopes of work, technical specifications, cost models, and execution schedules.

• Monitor progress against milestones, proactively addressing risks, change orders, and resource constraints.

Equipment & Systems Implementation

• Lead integration of new processing and packaging assets into existing production environments.

• Coordinate OEMs, system integrators, electricians, and mechanical contractors during installation activities.

• Oversee commissioning phases including I/O validation, functional testing, and site acceptance.

Automation & Controls Coordination

• Partner with internal automation teams to align PLC, HMI, and network integration strategies.

• Support troubleshooting and optimization of systems built on platforms from Rockwell Automation.

• Contribute to visualization and supervisory system deployment using technologies within the AVEVA ecosystem.

Technical Oversight & Continuous Improvement

• Review P&IDs, layouts, and control narratives to ensure designs meet operational and safety requirements.

• Identify opportunities to improve throughput, reliability, and maintainability across facilities.

• Provide technical guidance to maintenance, operations, and junior engineering staff.

Field Execution

• Serve as the on-site point of contact during construction and startup phases.

• Direct multi-discipline contractors and ensure adherence to safety, quality, and schedule expectations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline (or equivalent hands-on experience).

• At least 5 years of experience managing industrial or manufacturing capital projects.

• Demonstrated success delivering projects that include equipment installation, integration, and startup.

• Working knowledge of PLC-based automation environments, particularly Allen-Bradley architectures.

• Ability to interpret electrical, mechanical, and process documentation.

• Strong proficiency with project tracking and documentation tools (e.g., scheduling software, spreadsheets, reporting platforms).

Preferred Experience

• Background supporting processing or packaging operations in a manufacturing setting.

• Familiarity with industrial HMI/SCADA platforms and system-level integration.

• Exposure to CAD tools for layout review or minor design updates.

• Experience executing multi-site initiatives or supporting corporate engineering functions.

• Proven involvement in continuous improvement or plant modernization programs.

What Success Looks Like

• Projects are delivered safely, on time, and within budget.

• New systems are integrated with minimal production disruption.

• Operations teams are equipped with reliable, maintainable equipment and clear documentation.

• Engineering becomes a proactive partner in driving efficiency—not just reacting to problems.