Project Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer

At Polaris Inc., we have fun doing what we love by driving change and innovation. We empower employees to take on challenging assignments and roles with an elevated level of responsibility in our agile working environment. Our people make us who we are, and we create incredible products and experiences that empower us to THINK OUTSIDE.

You will lead and execute large-scale manufacturing initiatives that enable reliable, efficient powersports vehicle production. As a Project Engineer on the Manufacturing Engineering team, you will own projects end-to-end—from defining scope and requirements to implementing process improvements, facility layout changes, new product introductions, and capital equipment. You will coordinate cross-functional teams and vendors, make technical decisions, mitigate risks, and ensure outcomes meet safety, quality, and schedule expectations.

This role offers meaningful ownership and impact through the scale and visibility of projects that directly affect production performance and operational outcomes.

• Lead major manufacturing initiatives from concept through implementation (process improvements and line reconfigurations, facility layout changes/expansions, lean/continuous improvement), ensuring safe, on-time delivery to specification.
• Own the capital equipment lifecycle: define requirements and scopes of work, evaluate supplier proposals and support selection, manage build and factory acceptance testing (runoff), oversee site installation and validation, and release equipment to production.
• Develop clear project scopes, schedules, resource plans, and risk mitigation strategies; drive execution and provide regular status updates to leadership, proactively addressing risks and obstacles.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams (Manufacturing, Quality, Maintenance, EHS, Supply Chain) and external vendors to align requirements, timelines, and responsibilities.
• Ensure equipment and processes meet reliability, maintainability, ergonomics, safety, and regulatory requirements; establish spare parts lists and critical spares strategies, create maintenance handoff documentation, and develop preventive maintenance schedules with Maintenance.
• Support day-to-day manufacturing operations by troubleshooting process, equipment, and layout issues; apply lean principles (standard work, waste reduction, flow, structured problem solving) to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Lead change management and operator adoption for new processes and equipment; ensure compliance with internal standards and applicable safety and regulatory requirements.

• Technical / Functional Expertise:
  You apply the required technical or professional knowledge to perform your role effectively and stay current within your area of expertise.
• Planning & Organization:
  You manage time, resources, and priorities effectively to meet deadlines and deliver consistent results.
• Problem Solving:
  You identify issues, assess root causes, and implement practical solutions that balance speed, quality, and risk.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field; or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of experience in a manufacturing or industrial engineering environment.
• Proven experience leading and executing projects in a manufacturing setting from concept through implementation.
• Hands‑on experience with capital equipment procurement and implementation, including defining technical requirements, supplier evaluation/selection, build, FAT/runoff, installation, validation, and production release.
• Strong working knowledge of manufacturing processes, line reconfiguration, and facility/layout design.
• Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional teams and vendors and drive results without direct authority; strong organizational, communication, and problem‑solving skills.
• Experience with New Product Introduction (NPI) and high‑volume discrete manufacturing (e.g., automotive or powersports) preferred.
• Lean manufacturing/continuous improvement experience (e.g., standard work, waste reduction, A3…