Position Summary

The Technical Projects Engineer serves as the Director of Engineering's principal technical advisor and engineering project leader, driving cross-functional engineering initiatives, solving complex technical problems, coordinating strategic projects, and strengthening execution across the engineering organization.

This role functions as the Director of Engineering's right-hand engineer, extending the Director's technical reach across multiple engineering disciplines while ensuring critical engineering initiatives receive the attention and technical leadership they require.

Unlike traditional engineering roles that focus on a single discipline or product line, the Technical Projects Engineer works across Design Engineering, FEA, Applications Engineering, Commercialization, Testing, Manufacturing, and Quality to solve complex technical challenges and keep strategic engineering initiatives aligned with company objectives.

Essential Functions

Technical Special Projects (40%)
Lead engineering initiatives that don't naturally belong to a single engineering discipline, owning technical execution from definition through implementation. Examples include:

• Root cause investigations

• Product architecture improvements

• New technology evaluations

• Material selection studies

• Manufacturing investigations

• Supplier technical evaluations

• Certification support

• Competitor benchmarking

• High-priority customer technical investigations

• Cross-functional engineering initiatives

Director's Technical Representative (30%)

• Participate in technical project meetings as the Director of Engineering's representative.

• Understand engineering challenges and constraints; challenge assumptions and identify technical risks.

• Recommend technically sound solutions.

• Keep the Director informed of project health and emerging issues.

• Escalate significant technical concerns before they impact schedules or product quality.

• Provide concise, technically focused project status updates.

This individual is expected to contribute as an engineer, not simply document project status.

Cross-Functional Engineering Leadership (30%)

• Coordinate technical activities between Design, FEA, Testing, Applications, Commercialization, Manufacturing, and Quality.

• Identify disconnects before they become project issues.

• Ensure technical decisions remain aligned across engineering disciplines.

• Help resolve conflicts involving priorities, resources, and technical direction.

• Facilitate technical collaboration on complex projects involving multiple engineering teams.

• Keep strategic engineering initiatives moving forward when multiple groups are involved.

What Success Looks Like

A successful Technical Projects Engineer increases the effectiveness of the entire engineering organization. Rather than saying "the dashboard has been updated," they say: "After reviewing the design with the FEA engineer and Manufacturing, we identified that the certification delay was caused by an incorrect structural assumption. We've corrected the model, updated the design, and testing remains on schedule." Their value comes from technical judgment, engineering leadership, and the ability to connect disciplines, not administrative coordination.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related engineering discipline.

• 5 years of Strong mechanical engineering fundamentals with demonstrated ability to work across multiple technical disciplines (design, FEA, testing, manufacturing).

• Systems thinker capable of understanding interactions across engineering functions.

• Excellent communicator, able to translate technical issues for leadership.

• Naturally curious, proactive, and comfortable working in ambiguity.

• Confident challenging assumptions using data and engineering reasoning.

• Track record of influencing outcomes through technical credibility rather than organizational authority.
• Self-directed and highly accountable; trusted by engineers because they contribute technically, not administratively.
• Experience in commercial building products, construction, or manufacturing environments required

Details

• The starting compensation range for this position is $90,000 - $120,000 USD and will be determined based upon a candidate's experience and location.
• The typical working hours for this position are in the NJ office, 8 am - 4:30 pm EST.
• This job position is exempt to overtime as determined by the FLSA standards.
• Travel is expected for this position up to 5-10% which is anticipated to be overnight in several domestic locations. International travel may be required in the future depending on business needs.

Key Success Indicators

• Engineering priorities are visible, current, and effectively managed.
• Weekly project updates are consistently collected and maintained.
• Risks, delays, and resource conflicts are identified early.
• Product development milestones are achieved according to plan.
• Communication between Engineering, RD, Sales, and Marketing is improved.
• Leadership has clear visibility into project status, priorities, and execution risks.
• Engineering staff spend less time on administrative tracking and more time on technical execution.
• Engineering resources are effectively utilized through improved planning, coordination, and communication.

Career Development: This position is designed to evolve into a broader Engineering Program Management role as the engineering organization and project portfolio continue to expand.

At RPH, we believe in taking care of our team on and off the job. That's why we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Employer covered premiums for Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance - 100% covered for employees, so you can focus on your health without the extra cost.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan & Employer Contribution - RPH contributes a fixed percentage of your pay automatically alongside your contributions to investing in your long-term success.
• Paid Time Off & Holidays - Enjoy a healthy work-life balance with generous PTO and paid holidays.
• Paid Parental Leave - We know the best teams are built by people with full lives outside of work.
• Life & Disability Insurance - Coverage to help protect you and your loved ones.