Project Engineer - Press & Automation

This is a long-term contract opportunity supporting major automotive manufacturing, press installation, and automation commissioning projects. The assignment will initially begin in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, before transitioning to Kansas City, Kansas, USA, as the project progresses.

Candidates must be willing and able to travel and relocate between project sites for extended assignments, supporting equipment installation, Final Acceptance Testing (FAT), commissioning, and production launch activities. This position offers the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with large-scale industrial automation and automotive stamping projects across multiple manufacturing facilities.

As a Project Engineer supporting the Press and Automation team, you will provide on-site field engineering and project coordination for industrial equipment installation, equipment commissioning, and production launch. Acting as the on-site extension of Press and Automation Manufacturing Engineers, you will follow press and automation equipment from supplier build shops through automotive stamping plant start-up, track Final Acceptance Testing (FAT) progress, and help ensure equipment is installed, commissioned, and ready for production on time and to specification.

Beyond field coordination, you will capture and organize lessons learned across projects to strengthen engineering knowledge management and improve future press and automation installations. This role reports to the Lead Press & Automation Engineer and partners closely with equipment suppliers, controls engineers, and plant teams.

Responsibilities

• Travel to supplier build shops and automotive stamping plants to coordinate and support industrial equipment installation and equipment commissioning for press and industrial automation systems.
• Monitor Final Acceptance Testing (FAT) of stamping press and automation equipment at supplier facilities, track open technical issues and punch lists through resolution, and confirm readiness for shipment and installation.
• Serve as the on-site field engineering point of contact during equipment installation, machine start-up, and commissioning, coordinating suppliers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), plant maintenance, controls engineers, and skilled trades.
• Track project schedules, project milestones, punch lists, and open action items during press installation and commissioning; escalate schedule or technical risks to the responsible Press and Automation Manufacturing Engineer and project leadership.
• Capture, document, and organize lessons learned from FAT, installation, equipment commissioning, and production launch activities to improve future press and automation engineering projects.
• Partner with Press and Automation Manufacturing Engineers to translate equipment design intent, engineering specifications, and technical requirements into practical on-site execution plans.
• Support equipment troubleshooting and control system diagnostics for industrial machinery, mechanical systems, electrical systems, and automation equipment during FAT, installation, or commissioning.
• Maintain accurate technical documentation and project records, including equipment installation records, FAT reports, punch lists, open-issue logs, and commissioning checklists.
• Support operator and maintenance training for plant and production personnel on newly installed stamping presses, automated manufacturing equipment, and press and automation systems.
• Coordinate design and construction activities to align equipment installation and manufacturing plant start-up with production schedules, project budgets, technical specifications, and quality requirements.
• Collaborate with OEMs, installers, and engineering teams to resolve industrial equipment installation, equipment commissioning, and production issues during plant launch.

Required Qualifications

• 2–5 years of experience in manufacturing engineering, project engineering, or field engineering support, preferably involving stamping press equipment or industrial automation systems.
• Ability and willingness to travel approximately 50–75% to supplier build shops and manufacturing plant sites, including extended stays during equipment installation, commissioning, and FAT events.
• Working knowledge of mechanical systems and electrical systems, including industrial mechanics, hydraulics, and pneumatics.
• Understanding of engineering principles, manufacturing methods, and industrial equipment operation.
• Experience coordinating engineering design, construction, industrial equipment installation, or equipment commissioning activities, preferably in automotive manufacturing facilities.
• Experience supporting engineering projects with changing production schedules, project budget constraints, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft tools, including Microsoft Project (MS Project), for project scheduling and coordination.
• Experience using CAD and engineering tools such as AutoCAD, Unigraphics, SOLIDWORKS, Teamcenter, or Teamcenter Visualization.
• Strong technical documentation, organization, and communication skills, including the ability to record and share technical findings and lessons learned.
• Strong equipment troubleshooting, problem-solving, and independent decision-making skills in fast-paced, changing manufacturing plant environments.
• High integrity and ability to work independently on-site, with regular project status reporting to the Press & Automation Engineering Group Leader.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience supporting industrial machinery installation, equipment commissioning, or Final Acceptance Testing (FAT) in stamping, body shop, or assembly plant operations.
• Demonstrated experience following or supporting Final Acceptance Testing (FAT) of stamping press or industrial automation equipment.
• Hands-on experience operating or troubleshooting industrial machinery or automation systems in manufacturing environments.
• Experience developing or maintaining a lessons-learned process or engineering knowledge-management system for industrial equipment projects.
• Advanced study or experience in a related STEM field.

Reporting Relationship

This role reports to and directly supports the team's Press and Automation Manufacturing Engineers, providing on-site coverage for equipment installation, equipment commissioning, and FAT activities while they focus on design, technical specifications, and system integration.

Project Engineer, Press & Automation, Field Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Equipment Installation, Equipment Commissioning, Industrial Automation, Automotive Stamping, Stamping Press, Final Acceptance Testing (FAT), Machine Start-Up, Production Launch, Industrial Machinery, Project Scheduling, Punch Lists, OEMs, Controls Engineers, Equipment Troubleshooting, Control System Diagnostics, Mechanical Systems, Electrical Systems, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Technical Documentation, AutoCAD, Unigraphics, SOLIDWORKS, Teamcenter, MS Project, Automotive Manufacturing, Lessons Learned, Plant Start-Up, CAD

Company Description

Hiring Transparency & AI Disclosure Statement
In compliance with applicable Canadian employment regulations, we confirm that this job posting represents a current, active vacancy within our organization.
We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to screen, assess, rank, or make hiring decisions. All applications are reviewed and evaluated by human recruiters and hiring managers.
If our hiring practices change in the future to include AI-assisted tools, appropriate disclosure will be provided in accordance with applicable laws.

Company DescriptionHiring Transparency & AI Disclosure StatementIn compliance with applicable Canadian employment regulations, we confirm that this job posting represents a current, active vacancy within our organization.We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to screen, assess, rank, or make hiring decisions. All applications are reviewed and evaluated by human recruiters and hiring managers.If our hiring practices change in the future to include AI-assisted tools, appropriate disclosure will be provided in accordance with applicable laws.