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Contract Engineering Manager Jobs in Columbia, SC

Black & Veatch

Civil Engineer - Water

Columbia, SC · Hybrid

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Participation in scheduling, budgeting, and contract administration for infrastructure projects is ... Under the direction of the Engineering Manager, interface directly with the client or sub ...

Black & Veatch

Civil Engineer - Water

Columbia, SC · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Participation in scheduling, budgeting, and contract administration for infrastructure projects is ... Under the direction of the Engineering Manager, interface directly with the client or sub ...

VAC Magnetics LLC

Manufacturing Data & SPC Engineer

Sumter, SC · On-site

$65K - $83K/yr

Engineering Manager LOCATION: Sumter, SC JOB SUMMARY : The SPC / Data Engineer will play a critical ... It is NOT a contract of employment. Employment at VAC is voluntarily entered into and is subject to ...

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All JobsContract Engineering JobsContract Engineering Manager JobsContract Engineering Manager Jobs in Columbia, SC

Contract Engineering Manager information

See Columbia, SC salary details

$43K

$135.9K

$161K

How much do contract engineering manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract engineering manager in Columbia, SC is $135,873.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $107,800.00 and $160,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a contract engineering manager?

A Contract Engineering Manager is a professional hired on a temporary or project-specific basis to oversee engineering teams and manage technical projects. Unlike permanent managers, contract engineering managers typically work for a set duration or until the completion of a particular project. Their responsibilities include coordinating engineering efforts, ensuring project deadlines are met, managing budgets, and facilitating communication between team members and stakeholders. Companies may hire contract engineering managers to provide specialized expertise or to fill temporary leadership gaps. This role requires strong technical knowledge, leadership skills, and the ability to adapt quickly to different work environments.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract engineering manager?

To thrive as a Contract Engineering Manager, you need a solid background in engineering principles, project management, and team leadership, usually backed by a relevant degree and significant industry experience. Familiarity with project management tools (like Jira or Trello), engineering software, and often certifications such as PMP or Agile methodologies are highly valued. Strong communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills help you manage diverse teams and client relationships effectively. These competencies are crucial for delivering projects on time, within budget, and to client specifications in a dynamic contract-based environment.

What are some common challenges faced by a contract engineering manager, and how can they be addressed?

As a Contract Engineering Manager, one common challenge is integrating quickly with existing teams and understanding project context within a limited timeframe. Since contract roles often involve leading established engineering teams on short notice, building trust and aligning on goals efficiently is crucial. Effective communication, setting clear expectations, and leveraging strong project management skills help ensure smooth collaboration. Proactively identifying knowledge gaps and seeking input from team members can also accelerate onboarding and project delivery.

What is the difference between Contract Engineering Manager vs Project Engineer?

AspectContract Engineering ManagerProject Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, PMP or similar certifications often preferredBachelor's or Master's in Engineering or related field
Work EnvironmentOversees multiple projects, manages contracts, liaises with clients and vendorsFocuses on specific projects, coordinates engineering tasks, reports to project managers
Industry UsageCommon in construction, manufacturing, energy sectorsWidely used across engineering disciplines in various industries

The Contract Engineering Manager typically oversees multiple projects, manages contractual aspects, and liaises with clients, requiring leadership and contractual knowledge. The Project Engineer focuses on executing specific engineering tasks within a project, emphasizing technical skills and project coordination. While both roles require engineering credentials, the Contract Engineering Manager has a broader managerial and contractual scope compared to the more technical and project-specific Project Engineer.

What are popular job titles related to Contract Engineering Manager jobs in Columbia, SC?

For Contract Engineering Manager jobs in Columbia, SC, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Contract Engineering Manager jobs in Columbia, SC look for?

The top searched job categories for Contract Engineering Manager jobs in Columbia, SC are:

What cities near Columbia, SC are hiring for Contract Engineering Manager jobs?

Cities near Columbia, SC with the most Contract Engineering Manager job openings:

Contract Engineering Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contract Engineering Manager job openings in Columbia, SC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, and 8% Contract. Highlights an 77% In-person, 8% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $135,873 per year, or $65.3 per hour.

Plant Engineering Manager - R-549631

Best Infosystems LLC

Sumter, SC

$160K - $170K/yr

Contractor

Posted 18 days ago

Job description

Plant Engineering Manager_Sumter, SC_Full-Time(FTE)_Direct Hire

Hi,
Trust this finds you well!
We've spotted your impressive profile and have an exciting opportunity tailored to your skills and passions.

Position Title: Plant Engineering Manager
Job Type: Full-Time
Location: Sumter, SC
Base Salary: $160,000 to $170,000 + Best-in-class benefits
Industry: Medical Equipment / Devices
Job Category: Manufacturing - Plant Management

Job Description: 
Organizational Impact
* Member of Site Leadership Team / extended LT

* Leads managers, engineers, and technical specialists

* Accountable for multi-year engineering strategy aligned to site master plan

Direct impact on:

* Equipment reliability & OEE

* Cost structure and capital efficiency

* Engineering capability and bench strength

* Operates with broad influence across manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and Excellence teams

Core Responsibilities

1. Strategy Deployment ( Excellence Anchor)

* Lead engineering input into Strategy Deployment (SDD) and site master plan

* Cascade KPIs aligned to SQDC priorities across engineering teams

* Align engineering roadmap to Excellence roadmap and maturity expectations

Ensure integration of:

Asset strategy

Automation & digital roadmap

Reliability and maintenance excellence

2. Zero Loss & Continuous Improvement Leadership

Champion projects around Zero Loss mindset across engineering domains (safety, quality, downtime, cost)

Lead elimination of losses through:

Root cause problem-solving

Kaizen and focused improvement initiatives

Own engineering contribution to Cost-to-Win (CtW) portfolio

Deploy Lean tools:

Standard work

Visual management / Tier management

Problem-solving (7-step / A3)

3. Collaborates with Assess Manager around Asset Care, Reliability & Performance

Partnering to establish and execute site-wide asset care strategy

Ensure engineering resources to support:

High equipment uptime and reliability

Effective preventive and predictive maintenance

Optimal spare parts and lifecycle management

Drive engineering improvements that enhance:

OEE

Capacity utilization

Cost efficiency

4. Excellence Integration (Factory Blueprint)

Partner with Excellence leaders to:

Deploy Factory Blueprint standards

Build component-based excellence (FI, Quality, Maintenance, etc.)

Lead engineering participation in:

Focused Improvement teams

Kaizen events

Loss landscape analysis

Ensure engineering teams actively contribute to:

Tier Management routines

Visual performance tracking

Continuous improvement cadence

5. People & Capability Development

Build and lead a high-performing engineering organization

Develop talent aligned to skills matrices and capability strategy

Coach leaders and teams on:

Excellence behaviors

Problem-solving capability

Data-driven decision making

Own:

Succession planning

Technical pipeline and bench strength

Development of future JG4/JG5 leaders

6. Cross-Functional Leadership

Partner with:

Manufacturing (MU Leaders, Ops Managers)

Quality & Validation

Supply Chain & Planning

EHS

Provide engineering leadership in:

New product introductions (NPI)

Capacity expansion and capital projects

Regulatory and compliance activities

7. Governance, Compliance & Standards

Ensure adherence to:
* Quality Systems and policies
* Regulatory requirements
* Engineering and maintenance standards

Establish:
* Standard work within engineering
* Governance processes aligned to Excellence

Leadership Expectations (Excellence Behaviors)
* Demonstrates servant leadership and Gemba mindset
* Drives culture of accountability and continuous improvement

Promotes:
* “Problem finding before problem solving”
* Data transparency
* Daily management discipline
* Leads change effectively and influences at all levels

Builds a culture where:
* Associates are engaged in identifying and eliminating waste
* Continuous improvement is embedded in daily work

Key Performance Measures:
* Safety: TRIR, zero incidents
* Quality: defect rates, deviations, CAPA effectiveness
* Delivery: OEE, downtime reduction
* Cost: maintenance cost, CtW delivery
* People: capability maturity, engagement, succession coverage
* Excellence: maturity assessment progression

Qualifications

*Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or related)
*7-10+ years of engineering/manufacturing experience
*3-5+ years leadership experience managing managers or technical teams

Strong knowledge of:
* Lean / Continuous Improvement
* Reliability / Asset Care systems
* Manufacturing processes

Preferred:
* Six Sigma certification
* Experience with Excellence or similar Lean operating system
*For additional details regarding submission eligibility and payment terms, please refer to your contract. Only submissions from agencies with current service contracts in place will be considered.

Compensation:
*Full-time
*Benefits - Full
*Relocation Assistance Available - Possible for ideal candidate
*Interview Travel Reimbursed - Yes

Candidate Details:
*7+ to 10 years experience
*Seniority Level - Mid-Senior
*Management Experience Required - Yes
*Minimum Education - Bachelor's Degree
*Willingness to Travel - Occasionally
========
Screening Questions:

# Total experience:
# How many years have you worked in Plant/Manufacturing Engineering, and how many years have you managed engineering managers or technical teams?
# How many years of experience do you have implementing Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Kaizen, Six Sigma, TPM, or Operational Excellence programs?
# How many years have you been responsible for equipment reliability, Asset Care, TPM, preventive/predictive maintenance, and improving OEE?
# How many years have you led Automation, Process Engineering, CapEx projects, equipment installation, or New Product Introduction (NPI)?
# How many years have you worked in a regulated manufacturing environment such as Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology, or FDA/GMP manufacturing?
# What is the reason for seeking change from your current role?
# What is your annual base salary expectations (USD)?
# Are you open for Sumter, SC (Onsite):
# Current Location, State with zip code:
# Are you authorized to work in the USA without sponsorship?
# Work authorization for working in USA (USC / GC):