Engineering Project Manager (Houston)
19 hours ago
Houston
___ is partnering with a growing, environmentally conscious manufacturing company in Houston, Texas to place an Engineering Project Manager with hands-on experience in military aircraft hangar renovations, new build designs for ___ (Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command) or ___ (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), or commercial hangar and aviation infrastructure projects. This company doesn't need an Engineering Project Manager who simply keeps projects on track — they need one who drives them forward. On these projects, a missed milestone doesn't just shift a schedule; it threatens aircraft readiness and erodes client trust. The right Engineering Project Manager serves as the critical link between engineering, production, installation teams, and the client — catching misalignment early and escalating issues before they impact cash flow. When a subcontractor goes silent or an installation snag threatens the timeline, this Engineering Project Manager acts without being prompted. They communicate early, document clearly, and get the team back on pace — no excuses, no drama. They turn field lessons into smarter design reviews, tighter build schedules, and cleaner installations on every future project. This role demands someone who thrives in evolving environments, not just polished ones. The company's processes are strong but still maturing — and this Engineering Project Manager is expected to sharpen them. Success here isn't measured by how few mistakes occur, but by how quickly they get caught and how effectively they get eliminated. If this opportunity excites you — even if it also challenges you — you may be exactly the humble, driven Engineering Project Manager this team is looking for. Work Schedule: This is an onsite position in Houston, Texas. Travel: Flexibility to be prepared to travel at least 2-4 times per month. Travel increases significantly during installation phases. Expect to be on-site during critical milestones, especially commissioning. Early months will involve heavier travel to build system and field understanding. Education & Certification: • A bachelor’s degree in mechanical, fire projection, electrical, or civil engineering or Construction Management, • PMP (Project Management Professional) certification required Requirements: • 5+ years managing complex construction or infrastructure projects with experience with at least one:, • Government projects (NAVFAC, USACE), • Aviation or industrial construction, • Proven ability to manage multi-phase projects with overlapping timelines, • Strong understanding of construction sequencing, subcontractor coordination, and design review cycles, • Demonstrated ability to operate at both a detailed and strategic level, not just coordinate tasks, • Strong working understanding of how systems are designed, manufactured, and installed, with the ability to anticipate issues before they impact cost or schedule, • Comfortable making decisions with incomplete information and adjusting quickly as conditions change Responsibilities: • Own execution across design, manufacturing, and installation phases, • Maintain alignment between client schedule, production, and field activities, • Lead subcontractor and installation coordination during active project phases, • Identify risks early and drive resolution before they impact cost or timeline, • Ensure timely milestone billing and clear communication to protect cash flow, • Translate field lessons into improvements in design, manufacturing, and installation, • Accountable for protecting project margin by identifying cost risks early and driving mitigation, • Responsible for minimizing rework, delays, and inefficiencies that impact profitability Project Profile and Scope Project Value • Typical projects range from $2M to $10M+, • Multi-hangar programs can reach $20M+ Duration • Standard projects range from 9 to 24 months Multi-Project Responsibility • You will manage multiple projects simultaneously, typically at different phases, • Expect to shift focus daily between design coordination, manufacturing alignment, and active installations, • Prioritization across competing timelines is a core part of the role Project Types • Primarily new-build military and commercial aircraft hangars, • Retrofit and renovation projects, less frequent but significantly more complex and time-intensive Geography • Primarily United States and Canada, • Recent expansion into Australia, • Expected growth in Europe and the Middle East Project Phases and Workload Expectations Design Phase • Focus on coordination and alignment with engineering and client teams, • Workload per project is relatively light, • Lead Project Engineer drives technical integration, Project Manager ensures alignment and communication, • Responsible for maintaining schedule awareness and identifying risks early, even with limited day-to-day involvement Manufacturing Phase • Project Manager is responsible for aligning manufacturing with the client’s construction schedule, • Coordination between production and project timelines becomes the priority, • Expected to challenge schedules that do not reflect field or installation realities, • Accountable for preventing misalignment that leads to rework, delays, or inefficient production runs Installation and Commissioning Phase • Highest workload intensity for the Project Manager, • Direct coordination with subcontractors and installation crews, • Active management of schedule changes, site conditions, and issue resolution, • Increased travel required, • Presence during commissioning is critical to ensure system performance and project closeout, • Responsible for driving execution on-site and ensuring issues are resolved in real time, not after the fact Authority and Accountability • Own alignment across design, manufacturing, and installation phases, • Expected to escalate issues early and drive resolution across internal teams and external partners, • Authority to reprioritize, challenge assumptions, and push back when decisions put schedule, cost, or execution at risk, • Accountable for outcomes, not just coordination or communication Team Structure and Execution Expectations This company’s project team is built to execute. Projects are supported by: • Multiple Project Coordinators, • A Lead Project Engineer, • Experienced Installation Supervisors You are not operating alone. The expectation is that you leverage this structure effectively. Delegation is required, but not sufficient • You must distribute work across the team without losing control of outcomes You are expected to understand the system in depth • Most cost overruns come from small details, not big decisions, • You must learn how the system works, how it is manufactured, and how it is installed Anticipation and reprioritization are core to the role • You need to identify issues early and adjust priorities before they impact schedule or cost Ownership without detachment • You are accountable for results and cannot operate at a surface level, • This is not a role where you delegate and stay removed from technical or field realities Why this matters • Project managers who fail in this role typically rely too heavily on delegation without understanding the details, • Success comes from combining leadership with technical and operational awareness Soft Skills: • Communicates clearly and confidently in both written and verbal form, keeping teams aligned and clients informed at every stage., • Performs consistently under pressure and delivers results, even when the stakes are high and the timeline is tight., • Juggles multiple priorities with ease, managing time effectively so nothing falls through the cracks., • Learns fast, adapts faster, and stays steady when circumstances shift or plans change., • Shows up with the right aptitude, attitude, and work ethic — day in, day out, regardless of the challenge., • Pivots direction quickly and decisively when the project demands it, without losing momentum. Culture and Benefits: This company has about 80-85 team members and growing. Their most successful team members connect to their mission, thriv