Lead Project Engineer

About the Company

Talent84 is delighted to be representing our client; a specialist engineering business arm of a larger regional group, in their search for a Lead Project Engineer based in South Tyneside.

About the Role

Reporting to the Global Supply Chain Manager, the Lead Project Engineer will be responsible for leading the end-to-end planning and execution of projects across the business. This includes coordinating with internal teams, suppliers and customers to ensure that projects are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget.

Main Responsibilities

• Implement top level project planning ensuring it aligns with business objectives and customer requirements, including implementation of key date principles. Monitor project milestones and deliverables.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams (engineering, production, procurement, and quality) to ensure smooth project execution.
• Act as the central point of contact between company sites, ensuring alignment between UK and Asia operations as well as the broader supply chain.
• Develop and manage a full suite of project deliverable KPIs.
• Manage pre-project planning and review capacity, and resource allocation across both sites.
• Support selection and evaluation of new suppliers globally.
• Support cost estimating and make decisions on manufacturing routes
• Improve On-Time Delivery performance through effective project planning and supply chain optimisation.
• Identify project risks and develop mitigation strategies to address potential impacts on timelines, costs, and quality.
• Balance and manage existing supply chain workload and monitor progress against project plans.
• Support cross-site planning and forecasting, ensuring smooth integration between UK and Asia operations.
• Conduct regular project reviews to assess progress and ensure that risks are being effectively managed.
• Coordinate the full implementation of IFS into Site 2, ensuring seamless integration and adoption across all departments.
• Assist in change management activities, particularly related to system integration, process optimisation, and cross-functional alignment.
• Support the development and expansion of our facility in India and its supply chain, ensuring it has the capacity to meet long-term business goals.
• Maintain strong relationships with suppliers, ensuring that business’ and customers’ needs are understood and met throughout the project lifecycle.
• Facilitate information flow between departments, ensuring all stakeholders are aligned with project objectives.
• Provide regular updates to senior management and stakeholders on project status, risks, and opportunities.

About you

To be considered for the role, it is essential that you possess demonstrable experience gained in project management coupled with supplier development/management expertise and planning experience.  Candidates must possess experience gained in a low-volume/high value engineering based manufacturing environment e.g. forging, motors, turbines, electromechanical assembly etc.

Key selection criteria

• Possesses a technical qualification (HNC and above) in a relevant discipline e.g. quality management, mechanical engineering, supply chain management etc.
• Prepared to travel for c. 3 days per month including international travel
• Proven track record in managing complex projects from conception to completion.
• Strong understanding of production planning, scheduling, and resource management.
• Experience in working with ERP/MRP systems (IFS preferable).
• Knowledge of hydrodynamic bearing technologies or similar industrial manufacturing processes is an advantage.
• Experience in the bearings or heavy manufacturing industry or other project based engineering business is desirable.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage and align cross-functional teams.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities to address project issues.
• Organisational skills to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively.
• Adaptability to work across global sites, balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders.