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Mechanical Project Manager Jobs in Merced, CA (NOW HIRING)

Joseph Farms

SR. PROJECT ENGINEER

Atwater, CA · On-site

$90K - $125K/yr

... Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field. • Demonstrated proficiency in engineering and project management software tools, including CAD and MS Office. • Working ...

Reed International

Mechanical Engineer

Hickman, CA

$45 - $50/hr

Write performance requirements for product development or engineering projects. * Provide feedback ... Evaluate mechanical designs or prototypes for energy performance or environmental impact.

Reed International

Mechanical Engineer

Hickman, CA · On-site

$45 - $50/hr

Write performance requirements for product development or engineering projects. * Provide feedback ... Evaluate mechanical designs or prototypes for energy performance or environmental impact.

Reed International

Mechanical Engineer

Hickman, CA

$45 - $50/hr

Write performance requirements for product development or engineering projects. * Provide feedback ... Evaluate mechanical designs or prototypes for energy performance or environmental impact.

Reed International

Mechanical Engineer

Hickman, CA · On-site

$45 - $50/hr

Write performance requirements for product development or engineering projects. * Provide feedback ... Evaluate mechanical designs or prototypes for energy performance or environmental impact.

Land O'Lakes

Maintenance Manager

Turlock, CA

$81K - $121K/yr

... plant mechanically, and in a managerial capacity. This position plans and manages the daily ... Coordinate functions, assignments, and projects of all maintenance staff, while supporting ...

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All JobsMechanical Project JobsMechanical Project Manager JobsMechanical Project Manager Jobs in Merced, CA

Mechanical Project Manager information

See Merced, CA salary details

$49.6K

$111.6K

$151.5K

How much do mechanical project manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for mechanical project manager in Merced, CA is $111,629.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $95,600.00 and $129,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a mechanical project manager?

A mechanical project manager coordinates activities on a mechanical construction project. As a mechanical project manager, you monitor the status of a project to ensure that it stays on schedule. You also make sure that the project is in compliance with all safety, labor, and zoning regulations. You typically spend less time on a work site than a construction manager and handle administrative duties such as budgeting and managing agreements with subcontractors. You may need a bachelor’s degree in engineering, building science, or a related field, but an associate degree and ample experience are often enough. Certification from the American Institute of Constructors or Construction Management Association of America is desirable.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a mechanical project manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Mechanical Project Manager, you need a solid foundation in mechanical engineering principles, project management methodologies, and relevant industry experience, often supported by a bachelor's degree and PMP certification. Familiarity with project management software (such as MS Project or Primavera), CAD systems, and budgeting tools is typically required. Exceptional organizational, leadership, and communication skills enable effective team coordination and client relations. These competencies are crucial for delivering projects on time, within scope and budget, and ensuring technical and safety standards are met.

What are some common challenges mechanical project managers face when coordinating multidisciplinary teams on large projects?

Mechanical Project Managers often encounter challenges when collaborating with electrical, civil, and architectural teams, especially on complex projects with tight deadlines. Effective communication and proactive conflict resolution are key, as misalignment between disciplines can lead to delays or budget overruns. Staying organized, understanding each team's workflow, and facilitating regular coordination meetings help ensure everyone is aligned and project milestones are met. Building strong relationships across teams can also foster a collaborative environment and smooth out potential friction points.

What is the difference between Mechanical Project Manager vs Mechanical Engineer?

AspectMechanical Project ManagerMechanical Engineer
ResponsibilitiesOversees entire projects, manages teams, coordinates schedules, and ensures project deliveryDesigns, develops, and tests mechanical systems and components
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Mechanical Engineering, PMP certification often preferredBachelor's or Master's in Mechanical Engineering
Work EnvironmentConstruction sites, manufacturing plants, project officesDesign offices, laboratories, manufacturing facilities
Industry UsageConstruction, manufacturing, energy projectsProduct design, R&D, manufacturing

The main difference is that Mechanical Project Managers focus on overseeing entire projects, coordinating teams, and ensuring timely delivery, while Mechanical Engineers concentrate on designing and developing mechanical systems. Both roles require a background in mechanical engineering, but their daily tasks and responsibilities differ significantly.

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Cities near Merced, CA with the most Mechanical Project Manager job openings:

Mechanical Project Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Mechanical Project Manager job openings in Merced, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $111,629 per year, or $53.7 per hour.

Dairy Manufacturing - Senior Project Design Engineer (Other levels & sites available)

Hilmar Cheese Company

Hilmar, CA

$105K - $138K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 17 days ago

Job description

Based on your experience, we may also consider you for our Project Engineer or Principal Project Engineer levels.

At Hilmar Cheese Company we improve lives around the world through wholesome dairy products. Since our founding in 1984, Hilmar Cheese Company has been committed to innovation and sustainability. Our state-of-the art production facilities convert an abundance of locally sourced high-quality milk into a variety of nutritious cheeses, whey protein and lactose. The Cheese and Ingredients that we produce create a wide variety of retail and food service products from sliced and shredded cheeses, to protein supplements and infant formula. We are a trusted partner to premier food and beverage brands in more than fifty countries helping bring their vision into reality.

Throughout our decades of success and growth we have remained committed to our mission and values and these principles unite our people and guide all that we do.

A Typical Day

The Senior Design Project Engineer is simultaneously a design engineer and a technical project manager responsible for managing capital projects that execute the strategic plan of Hilmar driven through Hilmar's Strategic Asset Management Plan (SAMP) and Hilmar's Portfolio Management Office (PMO) to accomplish the goals of the organization.  At the direction of the site engineering manager, the Senior Project Design Engineer is the supervising engineer on short and long-term asset management, reliability, and engineering projects.

Job Responsibilities
  • Manage large scale projects end to end simultaneously leveraging internal and external resources to ensure projects deliver business outcomes, and our asset decisions and investments deliver value.
  • Responsible for project scheduling, communication, costing, procurement, and budget creation, justification, and management for an average of 4-5 projects at one time and commissioning 10-15 projects annually with a total investment of up to $20 million.
  • Mentor and develop less experienced engineers by providing guidance and technical support.
  • Management of capital projects to include concept/solution development, communication and stakeholder plans, process and design optimization, technical and economic evaluation of alternatives, scope definition and control, budgeting, scheduling, detailed engineering and design, regulatory compliance (environmental, safety, USDA, TXDHS, CDFA, KDA, and FDA), project FAT/SAT, and commissioning for optimization
  • Design, develop, and engineer process and infrastructure systems and solutions, performing design calculations, equipment and component sizing and selections, ensuring systems are designed within code and compliance standards. Specify, calculate, and/or design utility consumptions.
  • Develop and maintain Process and Instrumentation Diagrams, Process Flow Diagrams, Equipment Models, Layouts, technical drawings, Bill of Materials, and engineering documentation. Review and track field changes, lead the execution of design and construction implementation as well as any changes.
  • Establish and maintain strong relationships with project teams, collaborating across departments to ensure business outcomes are delivered. Coordinated delivery through technical interfaces between mechanical, process, automation, and electrical disciplines
  • Interface with cheese and ingredients business units to address and resolve reliability, asset and engineering risks and issues through vendor engagement, design review against current state, performance guarantees, reliability-focused design recommendations, and asset integrity reviews.
  • Manage budget spend and forecasting within +/- 10% accuracy monthly; continually manage project schedule, risks and quality to meet project business outcomes needed.  
  • Accountable to ensure Hilmar's internal good engineering and project management practices are followed, including installation, operational, and performance qualification documentation, ensuring product and project quality by design.
  • Understand and apply to designs: Engineering principles (thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and process controls), theories, concepts, practices, and techniques, applying statistical analysis as necessary. Engage in and develop mathematical models, mass balances, and risk matrices for engineering designs and asset investment decisions, including whole-life asset costing to support strategic investment decisions.
  • Build and maintain strong vendor relationships, representing the company during vendor engagements, managing the RFP process, including obtaining pricing and defining equipment needs. Review and analyze vendor agreements, including terms and conditions and master service agreements, and provide recommendations for revisions to leadership.
  • Facilitate effective written communication and decision making and risk management meetings across the business to achieve project outcomes; lead, develop, and deliver presentations to leadership at all levels for project design and risk reviews as part of strategic asset management decisions and processes.  
What You Will Need
  • Bachelor's degree in engineering plus 5 years' related experience OR Master's degree in Engineering plus 3 years' related experience.
  • Demonstrates integrity in relationships and decision-making as well as in the handling of intellectual property or sensitive information. Be a self-starter that builds strong relationships, leads and collaborates effectively in teams, and consistently seeks excellence and improvement.
  • Strong communication skills with the ability to clearly convey complex technical and business concepts.
  • Applies engineering principles, good judgement and reasoning in technical decision making and problem solving.
  • Ability to envision imaginative and practical solutions to complex problems
  • Experience developing technical solutions and engineering system designs that deliver innovative and economical solutions in response to business needs.
  • Tactical knowledge of production operations management for quality, yield, and cost.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
What Will Put You Ahead
  • Bachelor's degree in engineering from ABET accredited university plus 7 years of related experience OR Master's degree in Engineering from ABET accredited university plus 4 years of related experience
  • Experience and knowledge in Dairy, Biotech, Pharmaceutical, Food or Manufacturing in process or project engineering, preferably infant formula, high-hygienic, sanitary facility experience and familiarity with 3A/EHEDG sanitary standards, USDA, FDA, PMO, and state dairy manufacturing regulations.
  • Certifications and practical experience in Project, Asset or Risk Management: PMP, PMI-RMP, IAM. Utilization of risk management, retrospectives, and lessons learned to drive actionable improvement.
  • Experience with sequential or agile project management tools such as Planview or MS Project.
Physical Demands & Work Environment

The role has periods of time when the work environment is sedentary and conducted in an office environment balanced with frequent occasions that require prolonged walking or standing, lifting/ carrying/handling moderate weight objects on a regular basis.   Is required to wear PPE and have a regular presence in manufacturing and warehouse environments in both temperature controlled and uncontrolled locations. Must frequently interact with people verbally.  Specific details of the essential functions of the position is available in the Job Safety Analysis, made available on request.

Food safety is a companywide responsibility and each employee must know their role in the manufacture and distribution of safe, wholesome, and high quality products.

This description is a general statement and does not include other duties as assigned

Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer/EEO. We participate in E-Verify.

English Information | Spanish Information

Salary Range: USD ($119,409.00 - $179,114.00) ANN 

The final compensation offered within this range will depend on factors including the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

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