Process Improvement Project Engineer

Sanderson; Kildare; Hybrid; EUR 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading manufacturing company in Ireland is seeking a Process Improvement & Project Engineer to enhance operational efficiency and drive scalable growth. In this role, you will design and optimize manufacturing processes, lead projects, and implement Lean/Six Sigma methodologies. The ideal candidate has 3-5 years of experience in process engineering, strong skills in stakeholder management, and a solid academic background in engineering or project management.

Benefits

Negotiable salary

Laptop

Phone

P-card

Daytime role (M-F) 08:30 – 17:30

Qualifications

• 3-5 years in process engineering or operations management in manufacturing, preferably in the food industry.
• Strong operational, commercial awareness, judgment & decision-making skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, including working with employees, customers, auditors, & vendors.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, & optimize manufacturing processes.
• Lead process improvement projects from initiation to implementation.
• Drive the company’s continuous improvement program using Lean/Six Sigma methodologies.

Skills

Process Engineering

Lean Manufacturing

Project Management

Root Cause Analysis

Stakeholder Management

Education

BSc/BA in business, project management, or engineering

Tools

Automation tools

Data analysis software

Job description

Process Improvement & Project Engineer

Job Purpose: Reporting to the CEO, you will be designing, developing, & optimising manufacturing processes to unlock capacity, eliminate bottlenecks, & enhance operational efficiency. You will drive scalable growth while maintaining the highest standards of product quality, safety, & compliance, identifying barriers to growth, recommending improvements, & leading strategic process optimisation initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Process Documentation & Barrier Identification
• Lead the effort to document barriers to growth & operational inefficiencies within current production lines.
• Develop detailed process maps & identify areas for improvement, collaborating with cross-functional teams to implement solutions.
• Recommend future capital investment needs based on identified process constraints & opportunities for growth.

Process Design

• Work closely with R&D & Engineering teams to design sustainable manufacturing processes aligned with future business needs.
• Lead initiatives to grow manufacturing capability, including the design & development of new manufacturing facilities to support scalability.

Process Optimisation & Capacity Management

• Conduct in-depth analysis of current production processes to identify capacity constraints and inefficiencies across technologies.
• Develop & implement strategies to resolve capacity issues, improve throughput, reduce batch failures, & maximise yields & production output.
• Work with operations to optimize resource allocation & scheduling, reducing downtime.
• Lead initiatives to enhance plant capacity utilisation through process reengineering & Lean Manufacturing principles.

Continuous Improvement

• Drive the company’s continuous improvement program using Lean/Six Sigma methodologies.
• Design & implement process improvements to enhance product quality, reduce waste, & optimise yield.
• Monitor & report on KPIs to track the impact of improvements and ensure alignment with company goals.

Project Management

• Lead process improvement projects from initiation to implementation, ensuring timely, within-budget completion with minimal disruption.
• Manage project timelines, resources, & budgets effectively.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Management

• Collaborate with operations, engineering, maintenance, S&T & R&D teams to align on operational goals & process improvements.
• Communicate process changes and best practices effectively across all staff levels.
• Work with senior leadership to align strategies with broader business objectives.

Training & Development

Support training of operations staff on new processes, equipment, & procedures.

CapEx

Lead initiatives to expand manufacturing capability, including locating & designing new facilities, demonstrating financial discipline and compliance with CapEx policies.

Skills & Qualifications / Experience

• 3-5 years in process engineering or operations management in manufacturing, preferably in the food industry.
• BSc/BA in business, project management, or engineering.
• Experience with automation, digital manufacturing, data-driven process optimisation.
• Strong operational, commercial awareness, judgment & decision-making skills.
• Expertise in process mapping, root cause analysis, & reengineering.
• Knowledge of food safety, regulatory requirements, H&S, & environmental compliance.
• Ability to implement Lean Manufacturing & continuous improvement methodologies.
• Problem-solving skills for mechanical & process challenges, addressing root causes.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, including working with employees, customers, auditors, & vendors.
• Negotiation & influencing skills in complex environments.
• Strong communication skills (verbal & written).
• Data analysis & presentation skills for strategic decisions.
• Ability to challenge the status quo & drive change professionally.
• Proactive, strategic mindset with business acumen.
• Enthusiastic, energetic, & optimistic attitude.
• Work schedule: 4 days on-site, 1 day remote.

The Benefits include: Negotiable salary, laptop, phone, P-card; Daytime role (M-F) 08:30 – 17:30, with at least four days on-site.