Project Engineering Manager

Job Title: Project Engineering Manager Beverage Manufacturing

Job Description

The Project Engineering Manager leads a diverse portfolio of capital, infrastructure, automation, utility, and safety projects within a beverage manufacturing facility. This role provides end-to-end ownership of projects, from initial concept and scope development through design, bidding, construction, installation, commissioning, and turnover to operations. The position offers long-term continuity, exposure to a wide range of utilities and process systems, and the opportunity to make a visible impact on a recognizable manufacturing operation.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage a varied portfolio of capital, infrastructure, automation, utility, and safety projects within a beverage manufacturing facility.
• Lead projects through the full lifecycle, including concept and scope development, budgeting, design, bidding, construction, installation, commissioning, and closeout.
• Develop clear and complete project scopes and bid packages suitable for contractor and design-firm proposals.
• Create and manage RFP and bid processes to solicit competitive proposals from qualified contractors and vendors.
• Review contractor and vendor proposals for technical scope, schedule, cost, exclusions, and constructability, and recommend award decisions.
• Coordinate and oversee external engineering and design firms, validating that proposed designs meet project objectives, operating requirements, and plant standards.
• Manage general contractors, specialty contractors, equipment vendors, and other project stakeholders throughout project execution.
• Track and report project schedules, budgets, milestones, risks, and field progress, taking corrective action when needed to maintain targets.
• Validate that reported field progress accurately reflects actual conditions and work completed on-site.
• Plan and coordinate construction and installation activities around an operating manufacturing facility to minimize disruption to production.
• Manage multiple simultaneous projects with differing disciplines and scopes, such as utilities, controls, packaging lines, facility renovations, and safety upgrades.
• Work closely with operations, maintenance, engineering, EHS/safety, automation, and external contractors to ensure alignment and smooth project execution.
• Participate in equipment startup and commissioning activities, including punch-list identification and resolution.
• Ensure successful turnover of completed systems and equipment to operations, including documentation, training coordination, and handover of responsibilities.
• Oversee and support specific project types such as installation of industrial air compressors, keg-line controls and automation upgrades, roofing and infrastructure work, cafeteria renovations, flash pasteurizer heat exchanger additions, and machine-guarding and plant safety projects.

Essential Skills

• Proven experience managing capital projects or working in project engineering within an industrial manufacturing or process environment.
• Demonstrated capability in front-end planning and project execution, including scope definition, estimating, and scheduling.
• Experience in construction and contractor management in an operating plant environment.
• Hands-on experience with scope development, RFP creation, and bid evaluation for engineering and construction projects.
• Proficiency in budget and schedule management, including tracking, forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Experience coordinating with engineering and design firms to develop and review technical solutions.
• Experience in food and beverage manufacturing capital projects or similar sanitary process industries.
• Experience with process equipment installation in a production or packaging environment.
• Exposure to packaging or keg-line engineering within brewery, bottling, canning, or high-speed production environments.
• Experience with controls and industrial automation projects, including PLC or control-system upgrade project management.
• Familiarity with industrial utilities, particularly compressed-air systems.
• Knowledge of heat exchangers, pasteurization systems, and sanitary process systems.
• Experience delivering machine-guarding projects and EHS-driven capital improvements.
• Exposure to facility renovation, roofing, and building or infrastructure projects.
• Hands-on startup and commissioning experience for new equipment or systems.
• Familiarity with sanitary manufacturing and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) environments.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Industrial, or a related engineering discipline is beneficial.
• Certification in project management or related disciplines is advantageous but not required.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects with differing scopes and technical disciplines.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills for working with operations, maintenance, engineering, EHS/safety, automation teams, and external contractors.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to assess technical proposals, identify risks, and develop practical solutions.
• Organized and detail-oriented approach to documentation, progress tracking, and project closeout.

Work Environment

This role is primarily based on-site in an industrial beverage manufacturing plant environment. The position involves regular presence on the production floor, utilities areas, and construction zones to oversee project work, validate progress, and coordinate activities around ongoing operations. The work includes interaction with process equipment, packaging lines, industrial utilities, and facility infrastructure. Project assignments are expected to extend from 12 months to an indefinite duration, offering long-term continuity. Dress and personal protective equipment must be appropriate for an active manufacturing and construction setting, with adherence to plant safety and GMP requirements.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Columbus, OH.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $65.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

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)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Columbus, OH.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 23, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Columbus,OH.

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.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

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.