Engineering Project Leader

Job purpose

The Engineering Project Manager will be responsible for leadership and management of internal and external project teams to facilitate delivery of products and bring designs from small scale prototypes to large scale production environments.

Duties and responsibilities

Build strong working relationships and collaborate both internally and externally:

• Collaborate with a team of Engineers, Planners, and Technicians in performing and coordinating the design and preparation of projects that evolve from proof of concept/prototype to production in a high-technology production agriculture setting.
• Gather information and data from equipment and field processes to pass along to the Operations and Biology Research/Development teams.
• Work collaboratively with strategic equipment partners, other strategic engineering partners and with customers and their technical field teams.
• Coordinate procurement, assist with scheduling and the development of scope of work with subcontractors, and assist in the preparation of monthly financial reporting related to engineering efforts.
• Support timely, controlled, and compliant design changes. Participate in multi-disciplinary collaboration with equipment designers, fabricators and soft/hardware engineers, and others to pursue and achieve business objectives, on time, at cost with optimal quality.
• Effectively assure understandable and continuous technical communication with internal and external stakeholders. Present material in a concise and professional manner to a wide variety of individuals including customers, leadership team, co-workers, other internal or external stakeholders as needed.
• Lead relationships with external fabricators, general contractors, and vendors to ensure equipment is built, installed, and maintained on time and to PowerPollen standards.
• Assist in establishing protocols and participate in product qualification, contract negotiation, manufacturing processes, and production-based support documentation.

Manage the development, implementation, and completion of complex design projects:

• Execute high priority projects to meet functional specifications, timelines, and budget while identifying, tracking, managing, and resolving project issues.
• Facilitate overall systems design, development, and integration of mechanical and structural systems. Progress designs all the way through detailed design, drawing generation, parts procurement, hands-on assembly, testing and
• Assures design planning, mechanical innovation, rapid prototyping, development of test plans for design validation, systems & sub-systems testing for design validation, documenting design with state-of-the-art technology.
• Design and analyze mechanical systems and equipment. Conducts feasibility studies and testing on new and modified designs. Ensure the designs have been validated and thoroughly documented prior to production release.
• Coordinate implementation of new designs and develop transition plans to bridge between design revisions.
• Lead projects involving internal and external engineering, fabrication, and installation teams.
• Manage expectations through the life of the project with documentation and communication to all stakeholders.
• Lead efforts for customization, technology selection, or design of systems to support specific customer equipment needs.
• Develop project value propositions and document engineering results in white papers, engineering reports, trade magazine articles, and conference papers.
• Stay up-to-date regarding your field of engineering and technology relative to agriculture, the production seed industry and PowerPollen.

Manage team of project engineers

• Provide guidance to team members and establish clear roles and responsibilities.
• Accountable for all people management including performance, development, and compensation.

Understand and conform to relevant industry, customer, and PowerPollen safety standards.

 Required Skills, Knowledge

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical or Agricultural engineering, with 5+ years’ experience in a technical or engineering related role, preferably in agriculture or agricultural services industry.
• Experience leading or participating in large scale agricultural/industrial projects.
• Experienced project manager with demonstrated product development experience.
• Experience managing outsource partners and activities with a focus on delivering a saleable product.
• Engineering aptitude with solid hands-on mechanical skills, a commercial focus and knowledge of production agriculture systems.
• Working knowledge of mechanical and/or hydraulic and/or electrical systems (including software).
• Experience developing, simulating and validating systems for agriculture or construction machinery.
• Aptitude for innovation and trouble-shooting.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work assignments to complete assignments/tasks on time.
• Ability to apply creative approaches and ideas to solve problems, maximizing the effective use of resources.
• Action-oriented, flexible, objective and an excellent communicator able to work effectively in both a team setting and individually with limited oversight.
• Available to travel approximately 30% of time including domestic and international travel.
• Ability to learn data systems and work remotely using mobile devices.

Working conditions

This position works primarily in a field or fabrication shop setting, with frequent interactions in stationary and mobile labs, outdoor agricultural fields environments, and office settings.

Physical requirements

The position involves physical activity including lifting objects up to 50 pounds, walking on uneven terrain, ability to tolerate heat and humidity conditions typical of agricultural outdoor field conditions in summer, with extended hours that will vary with crop development in different locales.

All applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, or status with regard to public assistance. Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status)