Senior Project Engineer - CAPEX
Onsite- Gurnee, Illinois
The Role:The
Senior Project Engineer - CAPEX is responsible for leading the end-to-end execution of capital projects across multiple manufacturing sites within our PurposeBuilt Brands division. This role oversees the full project lifecycle-from concept development and facility layout through installation, commissioning, and final handover.
The ideal candidate is a results-driven project leader with deep technical knowledge in manufacturing operations, packaging automation, chemical formulation, and regulatory compliance. The role demands strong collaboration across cross-functional teams and external vendors, along with the ability to manage complexity, ambiguity, and competing priorities in a fast-paced consumer products environment.
What You Will Do:.
- Lead multiple capital projects simultaneously, ensuring alignment with operational goals and long-term business strategy.
- Develop project scopes, technical specifications, equipment requirements, facility layouts, and execution plans in collaboration with internal stakeholders.
- Prepare and manage Capital Expenditure Requests (CERs), from concept through closure, including budgeting, ROI analysis, and financial tracking (POs, invoicing, forecasting).
- Direct cross-functional teams and external vendors to ensure safe, efficient, and timely project execution.
- Model and analyze manufacturing capacity to support expansion, throughput improvements, and cost savings.
- Oversee equipment procurement, factory acceptance testing (FAT), installation, commissioning, and site acceptance testing (SAT).
- Ensure projects comply with safety, quality, regulatory, and environmental standards.
- Apply lean manufacturing and continuous improvement principles to project planning and execution.
- Provide engineering leadership, mentorship, and guidance to junior engineers and site teams.
- Drive validation protocols and process qualification efforts for new or modified systems.
What You Will Bring:- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
- Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible engineering experience in high-speed manufacturing environments (CPG industry preferred; bottle filling a plus).
- Proven success managing large capital projects ($300K-$2M+) from concept through startup in multi-site operations.
- Strong working knowledge of packaging automation, chemical batching, and liquid handling processes.
- High proficiency in AutoCAD for layout development and equipment design integration.
- Experience with project management software.
- Solid understanding of validation, process safety, and regulatory compliance (OSHA, EPA, FDA as applicable).
- Exceptional communication, leadership, and organizational skills.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, lean environment with shifting priorities and ambiguous situations.
- Experience in consumer goods, personal care, food, or chemical manufacturing.
- Familiarity with PLC-based control systems.
- PMP certification or formal project management training a plus.
Compensation Range: $92,600 - $113,200
Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by job related skills, experience, location, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specifics for each salary range.
Benefits:PBB offers a wide range of benefits because we understand no two employees are the same. We want our employees to feel empowered to set their day up for success, whether that's in the office or remote.
What We Offer:Flexible work options (fully remote, hybrid, onsite)
Generous paid time off
Competitive salaries and bonus incentives
401K company match
Competitive medical, dental, & vision insurance
Pet insurance
Annual fitness stipend
Unmatched employee discount on all products
Summer Hours
LinkedIn learning membership
