Process & Equipment Engineering Manager

Heighton; Castlemaine; On-site; AUD 162,000 - 198,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company vehicle

Relocation assistance

Rent/relocation support

Growth by Sharing program

Private health insurance

Job summary

Heighton seeks an experienced industrial engineering leader to act as the internal technical authority for manufacturing processes, equipment and operations. You will shape process flow, machinery strategy, factory layout and utility connections from feasibility through procurement, installation, commissioning and start-up.

You will test capacity, identify bottlenecks and ensure cleanability, maintenance access and live-site constraints are respected.

Qualifications

• Typically 12+ years in industrial, process, manufacturing or plant engineering
• Substantial practical experience with machinery and operating manufacturing facilities
• Food, beverage plus pharmaceutical/biotech cleanroom or controlled manufacturing experience
• Confidence developing process flows, capacity assessments and equipment layouts
• Experience selecting machinery and working with suppliers and OEMs
• Ability to review PFDs, P&IDs, equipment drawings and 3D models

Responsibilities

• Map manufacturing operations from raw-material receipt through production, packaging, storage and dispatch.
• Establish production rates, equipment capacity, line balance, bottlenecks and future demand.
• Research and compare machinery and OEMs.
• Assess equipment performance, cleanability, maintenance, automation and life-cycle costs.
• Develop factory layouts for efficient production, personnel and material flows.
• Address hygiene zoning, allergen separation, safe access, cleaning and expansion.
• Define equipment requirements for power, water, refrigeration, air, steam, drainage and controls.
• Coordinate equipment loads with the building team.
• Support procurement, installation, commissioning and ramp-up.
• Verify facilities meet process requirements.

Skills

Process flow design

Capacity assessment

Factory layout optimization

Equipment selection

Vendor collaboration

Project management

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent

Tools

PFDs & P&IDs review

3D models

CAD/CAE software

Job description

You will be Heighton's internal technical authority for manufacturing processes, equipment and operational functionality. Starting with what a client needs to produce, you will help shape the process flow, machinery strategy, factory layout, utility requirements and connections between equipment and the building. You will spend time understanding how each facility operates, from raw-material receipt through production, packaging, storage and dispatch. You will test capacity assumptions, identify bottlenecks and consider how equipment choices affect cleaning, maintenance, safety and future expansion. Your involvement starts during feasibility and concept development and continues through equipment procurement, installation, commissioning and production start-up.

Key responsibilities

Map manufacturing operations from raw-material receipt through production, packaging, storage and dispatch.

Establish production rates, equipment capacity, line balance, bottlenecks and future demand.

Research and compare machinery and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

Assess equipment performance, reliability, cleanability, maintenance requirements, automation, lead times and whole-of-life cost.

Develop factory layouts that support efficient production, personnel and material flows.

Address hygiene zoning, allergen separation, safe access, cleaning, maintenance and future expansion.

Define equipment requirements for power, water, refrigeration, compressed air, steam, drainage and controls.

Coordinate equipment loads, supports, penetrations and connection points with the building team.

Support technical procurement, installation, commissioning, production trials and ramp-up.

Check that completed facilities meet the agreed process requirements.

About you

Typically 12 or more years of relevant experience in industrial, process, manufacturing or plant engineering, or capital projects.

Substantial practical experience with machinery and operating manufacturing facilities.

Significant food and beverage experience, plus meaningful experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, cleanroom or similarly controlled manufacturing.

Confidence developing process flows, capacity assessments, equipment layouts and utility requirements.

Experience selecting machinery and working directly with equipment suppliers and OEMs.

The ability to review process flow diagrams (PFDs), piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), equipment drawings, technical data and 3D models.

A practical understanding of installation, maintenance access, live-site constraints and commissioning.

An operational mindset, sound commercial judgement and the confidence to challenge unsuitable technical choices.

AU$180,000+ base salary plus Australian superannuation, with scope to negotiate higher for an exceptional candidate.

Company vehicle.

Growth by Sharing, providing a percentage of business growth under agreed programme terms.

Up to AU$20,000 towards relocation costs and six months' rent under agreed arrangements.

Private health insurance support may be available where needed and agreed.

About us

Heighton delivers specialist design and construction for food and beverage, pharmaceutical, laboratory, cleanroom and controlled manufacturing environments. Our projects include production and processing areas, cold storage, high-care environments, packaging facilities and supporting spaces. Many involve upgrades within facilities that remain operational during construction. With more than 20 years of experience and over 300 completed projects, we take ownership from early planning and design through approvals, construction, commissioning and handover.