Assistant Plant Engineer

Software Placement Group, SPG; Denison (IA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Software Placement Group, SPG, seeks an Assistant Plant Engineer for a Denison, IA food manufacturing facility. You will guide maintenance and engineering operations to keep lines running, reduce downtime, and improve efficiency.

You will own capital projects, partner with the Plant Engineer on scheduling, and drive TPM, preventive/predictive maintenance, and KPI development to boost safety, reliability, and plant performance. Strong leadership and clear communication are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 5+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment.
• 2+ years in a leadership position including team development and management.
• PLC and ammonia refrigeration experience is a must have.
• Food manufacturing background required.
• Advanced technical skills in mechanical and/or electrical fields.

Responsibilities

• Own capital project development and post-approval management, ensuring projects are delivered on time and on budget.
• Collaborate with the Plant Engineer to manage project scheduling and execution, meeting safety and environmental standards.
• Lead the Maintenance Department in TPM, preventive/predictive maintenance and continual improvement.
• Optimize resource scheduling to maximize output while minimizing downtime and costs.
• Lead the maintenance team by delegating tasks and ensuring clear responsibilities.
• Champion plant safety through training, procedures, and continuous monitoring.

Skills

PLC systems

Ammonia refrigeration

Leadership

Maintenance planning

Safety compliance

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

5+ years in manufacturing

Tools

CMMS

Microsoft Office

Job description

Location: Denison, Iowa | Schedule: Full-time, on-site, 1st shift | Compensation: $115K-140K plus bonus

Overview

An established food manufacturing plant is seeking an Assistant Plant Engineer to help lead its maintenance and engineering operations. Reporting to the Plant Engineer, this role ensures the building and equipment remain in top condition, minimizing mechanical downtime and keeping production lines running at peak efficiency.

What you'll do

• Own capital project development and post-approval management, ensuring projects are delivered on time, on budget, and with minimal disruption to plant operations
• Collaborate closely with the Plant Engineer to manage project scheduling and execution, ensuring all projects meet safety, food safety, and environmental standards
• Lead the Maintenance Department in developing and implementing cutting-edge systems aligned with High-Performing Manufacturing Organizations, including Preventive/Predictive Maintenance, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), and more
• Optimize resource scheduling to maximize work output while minimizing downtime, reducing costs, and boosting plant capacity to decrease unscheduled downtime and increase plant efficiency
• Lead the maintenance team by delegating tasks, enforcing policies, and ensuring clear work responsibilities are assigned
• Act as the champion of plant safety to drive and enforce safety standards through training, procedure implementation, and continuous monitoring
• Work with the Plant Engineer to develop and maintain Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to track and report maintenance performance, including supplier effectiveness, equipment reliability, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE)
• Lead a positive employee experience through leadership by way of employee development and coaching

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Engineering or related field and 5+ years of related experience in a manufacturing environment; or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• 2+ years' experience in a position of leadership including team development and management
• PLC and ammonia refrigeration experience is a must have
• Food manufacturing background required
• Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and CMMS systems
• Advanced technical skills in the mechanical and/or electrical fields (e.g. PLCs, instrumentation, mechanical systems, etc.)
• Ability to lead resource planning and management efforts in a large manufacturing environment
• Thorough knowledge of maintenance systems, work order process, preventive/predictive maintenance, TPM, etc.
• Ability to use exposure monitoring equipment, interpret and communicate results
• Ability to communicate and express ideas clearly and concisely, in both written and oral formats
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Strong interpersonal, technical and presentation skills required
• May be required to work long hours and weekends

Preferred qualifications

• Meat or kill floor/harvest floor experience a plus

Compensation and benefits

• Salary of $115K-140K plus bonus

Why this role

This is an opportunity to lead maintenance and engineering operations at a manufacturing plant, driving safety, efficiency, and capital project execution while developing a team.