Engineering Project Manager

Job Title: Engineering Project Manager III - Digital Manufacturing

Job Description

This mid-level Project Manager III role leads digital transformation initiatives focused on shop floor integration and manufacturing connectivity. The position centers on rolling out a Shop Floor Integration Layer (SIL) program using Inductive Automation's Ignition platform across multiple manufacturing sites. The Project Manager bridges global digital manufacturing goals with practical site-level execution, ensuring real-time data flow, automation, and efficiency through Ignition's SCADA/MES capabilities. The role focuses on coordination, planning, and issue escalation without the full weight of a traditional project manager, while remaining deeply grounded in site operations and change management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the rollout of the Shop Floor Integration Layer (SIL) program using Inductive Automation's Ignition platform across multiple manufacturing sites, ensuring seamless manufacturing connectivity and alignment with global digital transformation objectives.
• Build detailed project plans for each site, including milestones, resource requirements, and Ignition SCADA/MES configurations tailored to shop floor integration needs.
• Collaborate closely with site project managers to customize project plans based on local requirements, operational constraints, and site-specific challenges.
• Monitor project tasks on a daily and weekly basis using collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams and Ignition-generated reports to maintain schedule adherence and visibility.
• Prepare and distribute weekly status updates to global stakeholders, summarizing progress, risks, key integration metrics, and any emerging issues.
• Manage project scope changes formally by assessing their impact on timelines, resources, and system integrity, and communicating implications to relevant stakeholders.
• Identify, flag, and escalate technical and integration-related issues promptly to ensure timely resolution and minimize disruption to site operations.
• Track, coordinate, and prioritize support from global teams, including subject matter expertise and funding, to keep site-level implementations on track.
• Develop, document, and maintain standards for shop floor integration via the Ignition platform to promote consistency and best practices across all sites.
• Gather and analyze key requirements from individual sites through consultations, workshops, and surveys to inform project plans, integration standards, and configuration decisions.
• Drive work forward proactively by staying grounded in site realities, supporting practical implementation, and facilitating problem-solving at both local and global levels.
• Lead and support change management activities related to SIL deployment, helping sites adopt new digital workflows, data-driven processes, and automation capabilities.
• Support the management of global initiatives related to industrial automation and digital manufacturing, ensuring coordination between site teams and global stakeholders.
• Travel up to approximately 25% of the time to sites in the United States, including locations such as Illinois, Texas, Massachusetts, and other US facilities, to support implementation, coordination, and stakeholder engagement.

Essential Skills

• 5-7 years of experience in project engineering or project management, with a focus on industrial or automation projects.
• Proven project management experience, including planning, scheduling, risk management, and status reporting for complex, multi-site initiatives.
• Experience managing global initiatives, including coordinating across multiple sites, time zones, and stakeholder groups.
• Experience in automation project management within the pharmaceutical industry or closely related industrial environments.
• Hands-on experience with industrial automation, including SCADA and MES systems, particularly Inductive Automation's Ignition platform.
• Experience with shop floor integration and connecting manufacturing equipment, systems, and data sources to centralized platforms.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with site project managers, global teams, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Ability to manage scope changes, assess impacts on timelines and system integrity, and maintain control of project deliverables.
• Comfort using collaboration and reporting tools such as Microsoft Teams and system-generated reports to track progress and communicate updates.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, escalate, and resolve technical and integration issues in a timely and structured manner.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple site projects simultaneously.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working in digital manufacturing or digital transformation programs, particularly those focused on real-time data flow and automation.
• Familiarity with change management practices in manufacturing environments, including supporting adoption of new systems and processes.
• Exposure to or experience with pharmaceutical manufacturing operations, compliance considerations, and shop floor practices.
• Experience documenting standards, procedures, and best practices for integration and automation projects.
• Ability to facilitate workshops, requirement-gathering sessions, and cross-site discussions to align stakeholders on integration goals.
• Comfort working in a mid-level role without direct reports, influencing through collaboration and coordination rather than formal authority.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to approximately 25% of the time within the United States to support site implementations and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience working in hybrid or fully remote project environments with distributed teams.

Work Environment

This is a mid-level role positioned in the United States to maintain close alignment with key manufacturing sites and time zones. The role is structured as a 1-year contract with the possibility of extension based on business needs and performance. The position is primarily fully remote, providing flexibility in daily work location while requiring up to approximately 25% travel to US manufacturing sites, including locations such as North Chicago, Illinois, as well as sites in Texas, Massachusetts, and other US locations. The Project Manager works closely with site project managers and global teams but has no direct reports, operating in a collaborative, matrixed environment. Work involves extensive interaction with digital manufacturing technologies, including the Ignition SCADA/MES platform and other industrial automation systems, as well as regular use of collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams. The environment emphasizes coordination across global and local stakeholders, adherence to project timelines, and practical, site-grounded execution of digital transformation initiatives.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of North Chicago, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $90.00 - $94.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully remote position.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 10, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.