The Project Engineer will lead and coordinate the technical execution of global capital projects supporting the expansion of in-house and external molded fiber manufacturing operations across North America, Europe, and Asia.
This role is responsible for translating commercial and operational requirements into executable technical solutions, managing equipment vendors (primarily China-based OEMs), overseeing installation and commissioning, and ensuring projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to performance specification.
Fluency in Mandarin spoken and written is required due to frequent communication with Mandarin-speaking customers and business partners.
Responsibilities:
1. Technical Project Management (Front-End Planning):
- Lead front-end engineering of capital projects including:
- Molded fiber packaging forming lines
- Pulp preparation systems
- Drying systems (thermal, hot press, industrial ovens)
- Spray coating systems
- Automation and material handling
2. Develop and maintain:
- Technical specifications
- Equipment layouts
- Utility requirements matrices (water, power, gas, compressed air)
- Project Schedules and critical paths.
- Coordinate site readiness (foundations, utilities, infrastructure)
3. OEM Vendor Management:
- Serve as primary technical liaison with Mandarin-speaking equipment suppliers.
- Translate engineering requirements between company stakeholders and OEMs.
- Review general arrangement drawings, P&IDs, electrical schematics and PLC architecture
4. Commissioning & Ramp-up
- Oversee equipment installation and startup at internal and external factories.
- May require extended periods of time on-site at Footprint facilities in Mexico and Poland.
- Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, and process issues.
- Ensure throughput, scrap rate, and quality metrics meet design standards.
- Support handoff to operations and maintenance teams.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in engineering
- 5+ years of relevant project engineering experience
- Strong engineering fundamentals
- International project management experience
- Ability to bridge Western operations teams with Mandarin-speaking equipment manufacturers
IT Skills:
- Project Management Software
- AutoCAD (factory layouts)
Language:
- Advanced English level
- Mandarin Chinese required written and spoken
Top Skills
What We Do
Footprint is a materials science company that is focused on reducing or eliminating single-use plastics through the development and manufacturing of revolutionary technologies, initially focusing on bio-based reinforced polymers and the design, development and implementation of next generation manufacturing technologies for fiber based packaging solutions. Our primary focus is on delivering plastic replacement, reduction and elimination solutions that compete with plastic on cost and performance.
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