Associate Technical Project Manager - Equipment Engineering and Integration

15000 Valmont Plaza Omaha Nebraska 68154

Why Valmont
 

We’re Here to Move the World Forward.

Valmont impacts millions of people around the world every day, yet they might not realize the many ways. Our technology is helping feed the growing population, supplying the world with more reliable energy and access to renewables, enhancing connectivity in remote and urban locations to create a sustainable future and so much more. Simply put, Valmont is advancing agricultural productivity and reimagining vital infrastructure to make life better.

 

Join a Fortune 1000 company that respects hard work, honors diversity and invests in our employees as we focus on creating the world of tomorrow, today. We are the modern workforce. Are you ready to move the world forward? Apply now.

A Brief Summary of This Position:

The Associate Technical Project Manager supports GEMS manufacturing equipment projects from the initial plant need through requirements, design, procurement, fabrication, integration, installation, commissioning, production validation, and plant handoff. This role coordinates defined project workstreams and may independently manage lower-complexity projects under the general direction of a senior project manager or functional leader. The role applies project-management fundamentals and technical understanding to connect mechanical, electrical, controls, software, safety, process, supplier, and plant activities. The role also partners with GEMS leadership and technical teams to build and improve repeatable systems for standardized equipment. The Associate Technical Project Manager does not replace disciplined experts; the role documents requirements, tracks commitments, coordinates interfaces, and escalates risks or decisions requiring additional technical or leadership support. Success is measured by accurate planning and reporting, timely issue resolution, and safe, reliable equipment performance within approved scope, schedule, cost, and quality expectations.

Essential Functions:

• Project Definition & Planning
• Assist in translating plant operating needs into clear project scope, requirements, deliverables, acceptance criteria, responsibilities, budgets, and resource plans with leadership, manufacturing engineering, operations, maintenance, safety, quality, and other technology functions.
• Document technical assumptions, interfaces, constraints, risks, and long-lead requirements, and escalate gaps before design, procurement, or other significant commitments are made.
• Develop and maintain integrated schedules for assigned projects or workstreams covering engineering, procurement, fabrication, controls development, testing, installation, commissioning, training, and production ramp-up.
• Support capital requests, cost estimates, business cases, resource plans, and project execution plans.

Technical Integration:

• Coordinate assigned interfaces and dependencies across mechanical design, electrical design, controls, software, fabrication, tooling, utilities, safety systems, manufacturing processes, internal teams, plant resources, and external suppliers.

• Organize and support design reviews, documenting technical decisions, changes, system impacts, open items, accountable owners, and due dates through resolution.

Equipment Build & Supplier Management:

• Coordinate assigned equipment design, fabrication, assembly, integration, and internal-testing activities.
• Coordinate technical communication and deliverables with equipment suppliers, integrators, contractors, and component manufacturers; track progress against requirements, milestones, costs, quality, and documentation expectations; and report significant deviations.
• Regularly review equipment build status on the fabrication and assembly floor, tracking critical decisions, long-lead components, and technical, material, resource, or schedule constraints requiring resolution.
• Support resolution of nonconforming components, design deviations, and supplier performance issues with technical and project leadership.
• Verify with technical leads that purchased equipment requirements address Valmont’s safety, controls, maintenance, operating, and data environments.

Testing, Installation & Validation

• Assist technical leads and the receiving plant in developing, commissioning, and validation plans with measurable factory acceptance test and site acceptance test criteria.
• Support testing that verifies production capability, including safety, throughput, quality, uptime, cycle time, and process capability, rather than only basic machine movement or functionality.
• Coordinate assigned installation, utilities, controls integration, safety validation, debugging, production-trial, and ramp-up activities.
• Track test results, exceptions, and open items through final resolution and formal acceptance, escalating unresolved concerns as needed.

Plant Readiness & Handoff

• Coordinate engagement with plant operations, maintenance, engineering, safety, and quality personnel throughout assigned projects or workstreams

• Track completion and delivery of required training, spare-parts recommendations, preventative maintenance plans, technical documentation, software backups, and troubleshooting knowledge.

• Document ownership and escalation paths and support the transition from project execution to sustained plant ownership and support.

• Compile evidence that performance is stable and acceptance criteria are met before project closure, escalating unresolved expectations as needed.

Project Controls & Communication:

• Maintain project controls for assigned projects or workstreams, including scope, schedule, budget, resources, risks, issues, actions, decisions, and changes.
• Prepare concise, fact-based reporting that connects technical progress and capital commitments to project business objectives and identifies material variances.
• Escalate decisions and constraints early, developing options and recommendations with guidance when needed.
• Facilitate routine cross-functional meetings and support complex reviews that produce decisions, accountable owners, and due dates.

Standardized Equipment Systems & Continuous Improvement:

• Partner with GEMS leadership and subject matter experts to develop, document, and improve repeatable execution systems for standardized equipment from project intake and quoting through design, procurement, fabrication, testing, installation, and plant handoff.
• Assist in building and maintain project templates, standard work, estimating, material planning tools, schedules, checklists, gate requirements, acceptance criteria, and documentation packages that enable consistent and scalable execution.
• Facilitate lessons learned reviews and translate outcomes into updated standards, tools, and requirements for future equipment builds.
• Support adoption of standardized processes by training users, monitoring use, identifying gaps, and recommending improvements based on project performance and plant feedback.

Other Important Details about the Role:

• Remain apprised of emerging equipment, automation, controls, and manufacturing technologies through supplier engagement, industry events, professional networks, and technical research.

• Support manufacturing plants and project leaders in developing site technology roadmaps that improve safety, quality, delivery, costs, and capacity.

• Consider equipment maintainability, reliability, obsolescence risks, and total cost of ownership when coordinating project decisions.

• Work independently on assigned responsibilities and collaborate across functions, plants, suppliers, and contractors, seeking guidance for high-risk or high-impact decisions.

• Travel up to 50%, including overnight domestic travel and occasional internation travel, with periods of concentrated travel during build, installation, and startup.

Required Qualifications of Every Candidate (Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, engineering technology, manufacturing, industrial technology, project management, or a related discipline; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.

• Two or more years of experience supporting industrial equipment, automation, manufacturing engineering, or capital projects; relevant internship or co-op experience may be considered

• Experience participating in or coordinating multidisciplinary technical work through one or more phases of design, build, installation, commissioning, or production ramp-up.

• Basic to working knowledge of industrial equipment design, fabrication, electrical systems, controls, automation, machine safety, and manufacturing processes, with the ability to learn across disciplines.

• Experience supporting project scope, schedules, budgets, resource plans, risk tracking, and objective acceptance criteria.

• Experience working with manufacturing operations and one or more of the following: equipment suppliers, system integrators, contractors, or component manufacturers.

• Ability to interpret technical drawings, equipment specifications, process requirements, and project documentation.

• Ability to understand technical problems sufficiently facilitate decisions and recognize when escalation or additional engineering analysis is required.

• Strong written, verbal, organizational, facilitation, problem-solving, and stakeholder-coordination skills.

• Ability to coordinate defined projects or workstreams and influence contributors without direct authority over all project resources.

• Ability and willingness to travel to Valmont facilities and supplier locations as required.

Highly Qualified Candidates Will Also Possess:

• Engineering degree in mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, industrial, automation, or a related field.
• Certified associate in project management, PMP certification, or comparable formal project-management training.
• Experience with custom or internally built manufacturing equipment from concept through completion.
• Familiarity with PLC’s, HMIs, industrial networks, robotics, machine safety, and manufacturing data systems.
• Experience with welding, cutting, forming, material handling, or other heavy-manufacturing processes.
• Familiarity with equipment risk assessments, design reviews, factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, and production validation.
• Exposure to capital appropriation, investment governance, and financial forecasting.
• Familiarity with reliability, maintainability, OEE, preventative maintenance, and continuous-improvement principles.

Benefits

Valmont offers employees and their families a comprehensive Total Wellbeing benefit package to ensure their individual and family’s overall wellness needs are met. Some offerings are dependent upon the role, work schedule, or location and can include the following:

• Healthcare (medical, prescription drugs, dental and vision)

• 401k retirement plan with company match

• Paid time off

• Employer paid life insurance

• Employer paid short-term and long-term disability including maternity leave

• Work Life Support

• Tuition Reimbursement up to $5,250 per year

• Voluntary programs like tobacco cessation, Type 2 diabetes reversal, one-on-one health coaching, mortgage services and more

Valmont does not discriminate against any employee or applicant in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

If you have a disability and require any assistance in filling out the application for employment email EEOCompliance@Valmont.com.