Lead Project Engineer Material Handling – We bring the muscle. The most complete lifting company in the world, Lanco represents four iconic, world-class heavy equipment manufacturers, mobile crane dealerships across US and Canada, the largest parts and service network in North America, and factory-authorized technician training. Our Material Handling Division, which spans across MiJack RTG cranes, Broderson industrial cranes, LiftKing forklifts, and Greenfield equipment, is hiring a Lead Project Engineer. As a project lead engineer, you will be responsible for an assigned project from conception to completion. You will ensure the key design deliverables are met for the program. The Lead Project Engineer (ME4) is responsible for the overall planning, execution, coordination, tracking, and successful delivery of complex engineering projects and product development initiatives. This position serves as the primary technical project leader, providing oversight of project scope, schedules, budgets, resources, risks, and deliverables while coordinating activities across engineering, manufacturing, quality, sourcing, service, and commercial teams. Based on the leadership and technical scope established in senior engineering roles, this position emphasizes project execution, cross-functional alignment, and business outcomes in addition to technical oversight. The Lead Project Engineer ensures that projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in accordance with technical, quality, safety, and customer requirements. The role requires strong technical knowledge, project management expertise, leadership skills, and the ability to effectively communicate with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
Essential Functions:
Lead multiple engineering projects and product development programs from concept through implementation and production release.
Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, milestones, resource requirements, and project deliverables.
Establish project scope, objectives, timelines, budgets, and success criteria in collaboration with stakeholders.
Coordinate activities across engineering, manufacturing, quality, sourcing, service, operations, and commercial teams.
Monitor project progress and proactively identify schedule, resource, technical, and business risks.
Lead project review meetings and communicate project status to engineering leadership and executive management.
Drive accountability for project deliverables, action items, and milestone achievement.
Facilitate technical discussions and decision-making to ensure project objectives are achieved.
Track engineering releases, engineering change notices (ECNs), testing activities, validation programs, and production readiness milestones.
Manage project issue logs, risk registers, mitigation plans, and escalation activities.
Support cost management activities including project budgets, engineering labor estimates, and capital expenditures.
Ensure project compliance with engineering standards, regulatory requirements, safety objectives, and company policies.
Coordinate prototype builds, testing activities, validation programs, and product launch activities.
Lead root-cause investigations and corrective action activities affecting project deliverables.
Support customer meetings, supplier reviews, and cross-functional program reviews as required.
Develop and present executive-level project reporting, dashboards, and performance metrics.
Identify opportunities for process improvement, standardization, and project execution efficiency.
Mentor project engineers and team members in project planning, execution, and reporting methodologies.
Protect organizational value by maintaining confidentiality of proprietary information.
Ensure compliance with all safety, health, and environmental regulations, policies, and procedures with a goal of zero incidents and injuries.
Perform special projects and other duties as assigned.
Competencies Required:
Project Leadership:
Leads large, cross-functional projects with minimal supervision.
Establishes priorities, milestones, and deliverables to support business objectives.
Drives teams toward successful project completion.
Planning & Execution:
Develops comprehensive project plans and resource strategies.
Effectively manages project scope, schedules, budgets, and deliverables.
Maintains focus on execution and results.
Risk Management:
Identifies technical, schedule, cost, and resource risks.
Develops mitigation plans and drives timely resolution of project issues.
Escalates risks appropriately to ensure project success.
Technical Knowledge:
Possesses strong understanding of engineering design, product development, manufacturing processes, and validation activities.
Able to evaluate technical tradeoffs and support engineering decision-making.
Understands engineering release, product lifecycle, and change management processes.
Communication & Influence:
Communicates effectively with engineers, managers, suppliers, customers, and executive leadership.
Presents project status, risks, and recommendations clearly and professionally.
Builds consensus and alignment across organizational boundaries.
Organizational Effectiveness:
Demonstrates exceptional planning, organizational, and time management skills.
Successfully manages multiple projects simultaneously.
Maintains attention to detail while focusing on overall business objectives.
Computer Skills:
Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Project.
Experience with project management software and reporting tools.
Working knowledge of CAD systems, ERP platforms, PLM/PDM systems, and engineering change management processes.
Additional Position Information
Travel:
Up to 20%. Domestic and international travel as required to support project execution, supplier development, customer meetings, product launches, testing activities, and manufacturing operations. Relocation assistance is available for this position. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Required Education & Experience:
Bachelor's degree in applicable engineering discipline from an accredited institution.
Strong understanding of product development processes, engineering change management, testing, and production launch activities. 7+ years' experience in the following:
Engineering, product development, or technical project leadership experience.
Demonstrated success leading cross-functional engineering projects from initiation through implementation.
Experience with engineering project planning, scheduling, resource management, and executive reporting.
Preferred Education & Experience:
Master's degree in Engineering, Engineering Management, or Business Administration.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
Experience in material handling equipment, cranes, industrial machinery, heavy equipment, manufacturing, or related industries.
Experience managing new product development programs and capital projects.
Experience leading geographically dispersed or multifunctional project teams.
Compensation/Benefits:
We foster a collaborative team environment that values innovation and encourages creative solutions to drive positive organizational impact. Our employees are the key to our success and help us stand out from our competitors. The final compensation offer may vary based on factors such as experience, education, skills, and location. We offer competitive pay, paid time off, and comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and a 401(k) plan. Lanco is an equal employment opportunity employer. All employment-related decisions, including but not limited to hiring, compensation, promotion, discipline (including termination), evaluation, training, and development opportunities, are made without discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender-related identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, military status, protected disability, citizenship, genetic information or any other category protected by applicable law. Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
