Automotive Project Manager Jobs in Columbia, SC (NOW HIRING)

SWJ Technologie specializes in providing engineering, planning, and project management services across various industries. We are currently seeking a Building / Project Manager / Industrial Engineer for a client in the automotive industry. This role is a contractor or direct hire position based in Blythewood/ Columbia SC that requires onsite presence. If you’re eager to grow your career and make a meaningful impact on exciting projects, we look forward to your application.
 
PURPOSE: 
The Building / Project Manager / Industrial Engineer manages building, facility, and infrastructure projects within an industrial automotive manufacturing environment. The role focuses on contractor management, project coordination, and field oversight to ensure safe, timely, cost-effective, and quality-compliant execution. The position requires strong mechanical engineering knowledge and practical field experience, with close coordination across engineering, maintenance, production, safety, logistics, contractors, and suppliers.
RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage and oversee building, facility, and infrastructure contractors and subcontractors.
• Coordinate daily site activities and monitor manpower, progress, quality, schedule, and compliance.
• Conduct site walks and inspections to verify work against approved drawings, specifications, and scope.
• Coordinate multiple contractors and resolve conflicts between construction, production equipment, utilities, and building systems.
• Track open items, deficiencies, corrective actions, and punch lists through completion.
• Plan and manage projects from concept through completion, including schedules, milestones, budgets, meetings, and action items.
• Review contractor proposals, scopes, schedules, change requests, and technical submittals.
• Coordinate projects with production, maintenance, engineering, logistics, safety, and other departments.
• Plan building modifications, expansions, renovations, and infrastructure improvements.
• Review architectural, structural, mechanical, and electrical drawings, layouts, and specifications.
• Coordinate space requirements, equipment locations, access routes, material flow, and installation areas.
• Apply mechanical engineering knowledge to HVAC, piping, compressed air, process water, cooling water, and other facility systems.
• Coordinate mechanical requirements between contractors, suppliers, and engineering teams.
• Analyze layouts, workflows, material flow, and space utilization to support efficient and maintainable solutions.
• Evaluate construction impacts on production and coordinate temporary layouts, construction zones, access routes, and shutdowns.
• Ensure contractors comply with site safety requirements, permits, OSHA requirements, building codes, and applicable regulations.
• Support safety planning for hot work, electrical work, work at height, confined spaces, LOTO, and other applicable activities.
• Monitor workmanship and installation quality and support inspections, testing, commissioning, and final acceptance.
• Ensure project documentation, updated drawings, manuals, and required records are completed and handed over.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Construction Engineering, Building Engineering, or related technical field.
• 3–5+ years of experience in industrial project management, facility engineering, construction coordination, contractor management, or related field.
• Strong mechanical engineering background with practical industrial experience.
• Industrial manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of industrial building systems, mechanical utilities, and facility infrastructure.
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical, architectural, structural, and electrical drawings.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, contractors, and priorities simultaneously.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Proven contractor and subcontractor management experience
• Strong project-management and organizational skills.
• Mechanical engineering and technical coordination expertise.
• Building and facility planning experience.
• Construction coordination and field-oversight experience.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, layouts, and specifications.
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
• Ability to identify and resolve technical and construction conflicts.
• Strong communication, coordination, and negotiation skills.
• Strong follow-up and time-management skills.
• Ability to work independently and make sound decisions in a fast-paced industrial environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Strong safety awareness and understanding of industrial work environments

PREFERRED SKILLS:

• Automotive or large-scale manufacturing experience.
• Experience with large industrial facilities and plant construction.
• Experience with HVAC, compressed air, process water, cooling water, piping, and other mechanical utilities.
• Experience supporting facility shutdowns and major infrastructure projects.
• Experience with AutoCAD, Revit, or other CAD/BIM systems.
• Experience with project-management, construction-management, or CMMS systems.
• Knowledge of OSHA, building codes, fire codes, and industrial safety requirements.
• Experience with commissioning, final acceptance, and project handover.
• Experience coordinating projects within an operating manufacturing facility.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Work is normally performed in an office, laboratory, manufacturing floor, or machine shop setting where physical work includes, but is not limited to sitting, standing, reaching, kneeling, bending, and lifting up to 25 lbs.
• Must be able to understand and comply with all relevant safety practices.

FLSA STATUS/WORKING SCHEDULE:

• Location: Blythewood/ Columbia, SC area
• Schedule: Day shift, 40h/w, weekend as required
• Overtime: as required
• Assignment Start: ASAP
• Duration: 6 months contract with the option to extend or to be hired directly.

DISCLAIMER:
This job description is a high-level overview of general expectations of this position. It is not intended to list every responsibility of the position, nor does it represent an employment contract of any kind.
 

SWJ TECHNOLOGY and all of its subsidiaries (i.e., SWJ MACHINING and ProjectOne US) are Equal Opportunity Employers and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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