Project Manager

A rapidly growing, well-established industrial equipment manufacturer located in the Chicagoland area is seeking a Project Manager to support its expanding engineered systems division, with a strong focus on large-scale data center enclosure projects and custom-built industrial machinery.

This organization has been in business for over 100 years and is currently experiencing significant growth driven by major new data center projects for global technology leaders. With strong revenue performance and a substantial increase in awarded work for the coming year, the company is expanding its facilities, investing in new equipment, and building out its leadership team.

This is a newly created position due to workload and growth and offers high visibility within the organization, strong long-term career growth, and the opportunity to lead complex, high-impact projects from concept through completion.

The Project Manager will oversee custom engineered equipment and enclosure projects from sales handoff through installation, startup, and warranty closeout. This role is responsible for ensuring customer requirements, engineering standards, schedules, and budgets are met while leading cross-functional teams across engineering, manufacturing, purchasing, and service.

• Manage full project lifecycle including scope definition, budgeting, scheduling, execution, and closeout

• Lead cross-functional project teams and coordinate internal and external design reviews

• Oversee customer approval drawings, BOMs, and release of documentation to manufacturing

• Track project financials including EACs, cost control, and change management

• Partner with manufacturing to resolve design and production challenges

• Support installation, startup, and warranty-related activities

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and contribute to new product development efforts

• Provide leadership and mentorship to engineers assigned to projects

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical discipline
  (Business degree with 8+ years of relevant experience considered)

• Minimum of 3+ years of Project Management experience in a manufacturing environment
  OR 5–10+ years of Project Engineering experience

• Experience in custom or engineered-to-order industrial equipment or OEM environments

• Strong understanding of mechanical and electrical systems (hydraulic and pneumatic a plus)

• Proven ability to manage schedules, budgets, and multiple concurrent projects

• Proficiency in SolidWorks and AutoCAD for reviewing drawings and BOMs

• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills

• Experience with data center systems, enclosures, or large engineered equipment

• On-site installation, startup, and commissioning experience

• Exposure to new product development

• Vendor and supplier management experience

• Familiarity with formal project management tools (MS Project or similar)

• PMP certification (preferred, not required)

• Over 100 years of company stability with strong financial performance

• Rapid growth driven by high-profile data center projects

• Newly created role offering visibility and career advancement

• Expanding facilities and continued investment in people and technology

• Collaborative engineering-driven culture with long-term opportunity