Best Practices, Budgeting, Business Development, Change Requests/Orders, Continuous Improvement, Cost Analysis, Cross-Functional, Customer Escalations, Customer Relations, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Engineering, Improvement Metrics, Leadership, Machining, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Management, Mentoring, Metrics, Negotiation Skills, Order Delivery, Performance Reviews, Problem Solving Skills, Process Improvement, Profit & Loss, Project Development, Project Execution, Project Lifecycle, Project Schedule, Project Tracking, Project/Program Management, Purchasing/Procurement, Team Lead/Manager, Willing to Travel
Program Manager / Projects Group Manager
Location: Dallas, TX (Onsite – no remote)
Compensation: $100,000-$120,000/year + 10% bonus
Position Overview
We are seeking a hands-on, customer-facing Program Manager to lead complex manufacturing projects from start to finish while building and overseeing a growing Project Management function. This role sits within the Engineering Project Group and is responsible for quarterbacking the entire project lifecycle — from contract handoff through execution, delivery, and closeout.
This is not a desk-only role. The ideal candidate is comfortable on a machining/manufacturing floor, thrives in fast-paced environments, and has the leadership presence and resilience to manage challenges as they arise. The Program Manager will lead by example, interface directly with customers, and establish scalable project management processes while mentoring and developing a team of Project Managers.
Key Responsibilities
Project & Customer Leadership
Own the full lifecycle of manufacturing projects from kickoff through completion, ensuring scope, schedule, budget, and quality objectives are met
Serve as the primary customer-facing escalation point for complex and high-visibility projects
Build and maintain strong client relationships, managing expectations and resolving issues proactively
Negotiate change orders, delivery schedules, and project adjustments on complex programs
Partner with Business Development and Estimating during pre-award and post-award project negotiations
Operational & Floor Engagement
Maintain a strong on-site presence, regularly engaging on the machining/manufacturing floor to support execution and problem-solving
Work cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, purchasing, and quality teams to ensure seamless project execution
Participate in high-level supplier and vendor discussions and negotiations as needed
Team Leadership & PMO Development
Lead, mentor, and oversee existing Project Managers while helping build and scale the Project Management team
Provide direct supervision to 2–3 Project Managers initially, with responsibility to grow the function over time
Partner closely with the PMO to align standards, tools, and reporting across projects
Hire, train, and develop project management staff, conducting performance reviews and supporting professional growth
Establish and standardize project management best practices across the organization
Process, Metrics & Continuous Improvement
Develop and implement project management processes that support consistent, high-quality delivery
Create systems to track project workloads, resource balancing, and team capacity
Establish and monitor key project and department metrics, including cost, schedule, and profitability
Conduct cost analysis and profitability reviews for assigned programs
Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to project execution and PMO effectiveness
Travel
Qualifications
Required
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Project Management, or a related technical field
5+ years of experience in project or program management within a manufacturing environment
2+ years of experience leading or supervising project management teams
Strong customer-facing skills with experience managing high-stakes projects and escalations
Comfortable working in a machining or manufacturing floor environment
Proven ability to lead through challenges and maintain composure when issues arise
Willingness to work fully onsite in Dallas, TX (no remote)
Preferred
Experience within the power, industrial, or heavy manufacturing industries
PMP certification or formal project management training (preferred, not required)
Experience building or scaling a PMO or project management function
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Sterling Engineering, Inc.
Sterling Engineering has been a trusted partner for engineering, project management, and staffing solutions for over five decades. We provide exceptional engineering/technical recruitment and engineering project services to clients nationwide:
- Engineering & Technical Recruitment - With our focus on engineering, technical, and IT, Sterling has the in-depth knowledge, industry expertise, and robust employee pipeline it takes to rapidly find talent for even the most difficult to fill positions. Sterling’s extensive recruitment methodology allows us to engage the most talented employees in the marketplace. We offer exciting work and career-building opportunities for our candidates, along with expert support at every step of the process.
- Engineering Project Services – Our experienced, multi-disciplined team of project managers, engineers, and designers, led by licensed Professional Engineers (PE), provide project management, engineering, design, and Commissioning, Qualification, and Validation (CQV) to manufacturing, OEM, and R&D customers. We work on complex, highly technical projects across a number of industry sectors, and our ability to scale and seamlessly integrate at multiple levels of your organization is what differentiates us.
Sterling offers a unique combination of engineering solutions and Best of Staffing level service to help our clients and talent achieve their goals.
500 to 999 employees
Staffing/Employment Agencies
http://www.sterling-engineering.com