Engineering Project Manager Jobs in Charleston, IL

Plant Engineer
The Plant Engineer is responsible for supporting safe, reliable, and efficient plant operations through a combination of Manufacturing Engineering support and Maintenance group leadership. This role focuses on maximizing equipment uptime, improving manufacturing processes, and providing technical guidance to the Maintenance and production teams. The Plant Engineer serves as a key link between Engineering, Maintenance, and operations to ensure continuous improvement, equipment reliability, and compliance with safety and quality standards. Maintenance supervision and, by extension, the Maintenance technicians report to the Plant Engineer.
Major Areas of Responsibility
• Serve internal customers (Production and Maintenance teams) to ensure equipment and processes perform safely and efficiently.
• Provide leadership and guidance to Maintenance personnel and outside contractors.
• Support preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs to improve equipment reliability and uptime.
• Assist in Maintenance planning, prioritization, and coordination to support production schedules.
• Lead root cause analysis (RCA) efforts and implement corrective actions for chronic equipment issues.
• Work in tandem with the Facilities Manager to balance appropriate resource allocation between the grounds and the equipment.
• Identify, develop, and implement continuous improvement projects related to safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Support new equipment installations, process changes, and capital project launches both technically and procedurally.
• Champion the Maintenance team's usage of the computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) software.
• Develop and maintain documentation including SOPs, work instructions, preventive maintenance standards, and equipment specifications.
• Collaborate with Production, Quality, Safety, and Purchasing teams to resolve issues and support plant objectives.
• Ensure compliance with all company safety policies, regulatory requirements, and engineering standards.
• Participate in 5S, lean manufacturing, and other structured improvement initiatives.
• Document completed work and project updates using applicable systems and reports.
• Maintain a positive, professional, and safety-focused presence on the shop floor.
• Balance short-term Production and Maintenance needs with long-term reliability and improvement efforts.
• Effectively respond to unplanned equipment failures and production disruptions.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with hourly employees, supervision, and management.
• Stay current on manufacturing technology and Engineering best practices.
Requirements
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering strongly preferred.
• 3 to 5 years' experience in a manufacturing or industrial plant environment in a leadership role strongly preferred.
• 3 to 5 years' experience supporting or leading capital projects and equipment installations strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of industrial equipment, maintenance practices, and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to read and understand drawings, schematics, P&IDs, and bills of material.
• Understanding of lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office with the ability to learn plant-specific software systems.
• Ability to mentor, train, and work effectively with Maintenance and Production personnel.
• Strong organizational, communication, and documentation skills.
• Aptitude with 2D and 3D software, preferably AutoCAD and/or Solid Edge.
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
• Primarily office-based with a strong plant floor presence.
• Exposure to temperature extremes typical of a manufacturing environment.
• Requires walking, standing, bending, kneeling, climbing, and occasional lifting of equipment or tools.
• Must be able to safely navigate production areas and interact with operating equipment.
• Standard salaried work schedule with additional hours as required to support plant operations.
• Domestic and International travel required intermittently.
Pay & Benefits:
• The salary range consists of base pay and most recent profit sharing bonus amounts
• Medical, Vision, & Dental Insurance
• Employee Stock Ownership Program - we are an employee-owned company
• Profit Sharing Bonus - which is paid twice per year
• (k)larity Plan - Voluntary Employee Retirement Savings Plan
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Maternity and Paternity Leave
• Bereavement Pay
• Company Paid Basic Life Insurance equivalent to base salary, with option for Supplemental Life election
• Paid Sick Leave
• Long Term Disability
Pay Range: $96,000 - $144,000 per year