Mechanical Project Engineering Manager

Hitachi · Holland, MI

Level: Manager
Team: Reliability
Travel: 25%
Degree: Required
Experience asked: 8+ years
Industry: Industrial
Posted: Yesterday

The role in 30 seconds

A management reliability role at Hitachi (industrial) in Holland, MI. JR Automation, a Hitachi Group Company, is driven to deliver customer success worldwide.

They ask for: 8+ years · degree required
Tools it names: Automation, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, CATIA / NX
Day to day: about 25% travel

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of October 26, 2026

Reliability Engineer roles in Michigan: typical posted base $109k–$140k.

Median of the low and high ends of 4 live postings that list pay, out of 15 reliability engineer openings in Michigan, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

Michigan plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 14 other live reliability postings in Michigan.

Experience asked: More than usual (8+ vs 5+)

Skills these teams ask for most

✓ Team leadership 47%
✓ Automation 33%
Root cause 33%
SAP 27%
Union environment 27%
Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 20%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

Stands out: this posting asks for SolidWorks, AutoCAD, CATIA / NX, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.

It asks for 8+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Promotion path mentionedOvernight travel

Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.

How to get in at this plant

Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.

1
Pick 2–3 people on the Reliability team at Hitachi
We found 2 people at this company and state: 1 in this kind of role, 1 leaders. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Komalika → (free)
3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- The posting says about 25% travel. Between which sites?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.

This plant: Hitachi in Holland

2 other open roles at this site · 2 people we found in reliability roles at Hitachi.

Senior Controls Engineer · Controls · Senior
Controls Engineer II · Controls

Full description from HitachiAs posted on their careers site.Show

requirements

while applying sound engineering principles and industry best practices.

✓Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the engineering team to enhance efficiency, quality, and technical capability.
✓Provide technical guidance and support throughout the design, development, manufacturing, and installation phases of projects. Influences team, department, and business unit decisions.
✓Influential in assisting engineers in career development and advancement.
✓Direct supervision of mechanical engineers and other staff.
✓Manages staffing of projects, workload issues, and meeting project timelines.
✓Responsible for leading cross-functional technical teams throughout the lifecycle of various projects.
✓Exercises independent judgment, innovates, and works autonomously.
✓Recognizes and implements significant design and workflow improvements.
✓Collaborates with department leadership in executing and creating methods to develop technical talent.
✓Independently works with key talent in department to support career progression and personal development.
✓Assists the manager in developing the engineering department through leadership and training of other engineers.
✓Serve as a mentor/coach for developing engineers.
✓Able to lead discipline specific teams and influence project direction and progress.
✓Viewed as a technical expert and leader in the department.

Note: This list of

responsibilities

is by no means inclusive; however, it is intended to be a guideline for activities.

Show full description ↓

Location

Holland, Michigan, United States

Profession (Job Category)

Engineering & Science

Job Schedule

Full time

Remote

The Opportunity

JR Automation, a Hitachi Group Company, is driven to deliver customer success worldwide. We provide intelligent automated manufacturing and distribution technology solutions that transform how the world's leading manufacturers make and distribute products. Our strength is our people and we’re always looking to strengthen our team across the globe. Join us as a Mechanical Project Engineering Manager.

Location Type: The position is onsite in Holland, MI.

Why Join Us?

•Competitive wages, medical benefits starting your first day, and paid parental leave
•Opportunity to work on unique, custom automation projects
•A collaborative, engineering-driven environment
•Career growth and skill development opportunities
•A role where craftsmanship and quality truly matter

What You’ll Do

•Lead, mentor, and develop the Mechanical Engineering department.
•Provide direct supervision and performance management for mechanical engineers and support personnel.
•Manage staffing and workload allocation, including direct, indirect, and overtime hours, to meet project demands, budget requirements, and delivery schedules.
•Support the successful execution of assigned programs by ensuring objectives related to cost, quality, timing, and customer satisfaction are achieved.
•Collaborate with Applications Engineering teams during the project conception, proposal, and design phases to develop effective customer solutions.
•Design and develop mechanical equipment and systems that meet customer

What You’ll Bring

•Minimum Experience: 8+ years; 2+ years leading technical projects.
•Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or closely related discipline.
•Current or prior JR Automation experience, or experience in the automation industry is strongly preferred.
•Experienced with CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, Creo, NX, AutoCAD).
•Excellent oral and written communication skills with experience presenting to colleagues and company management.
•Speaks effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
•Demonstrates skills in persuasion and negotiation of critical issues.
•Proficient in the application of standard and advanced engineering principles, practices, and procedures.
•Recognized as an individual that has people centric skills.
•Demonstrated ability to positively influence engineer's development and progression.
•Able to quickly recognize and fix common engineering problems based on experience, including review / critique of others' work.
•Has experience leading technical projects.
•Travel up to 25% to visit customer sites, supplier sites, installation of equipment & other JR locations. Trips vary from overnight trips to international supplier and customer sites.

Company Overview

At JR Automation, A Hitachi Group Company, we discover potential, reimagine limits, and advance industry. When faced with a problem, we find a solution. Together, we push what’s possible to automate for tomorrow.

J oin our team of 2,000+ at one of our 20+ facilities around the world and be a part of the most experienced team of advanced automation integrators.

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