Assistant Plant Engineer

Aspire Talent Solutions; Denison (IA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Aspire Talent Solutions in Denison, IA, seeks an Assistant Plant Engineer on 1st shift to lead maintenance and engineering operations. You will report to the Plant Engineer and drive capital projects, safety, and reliability to keep production lines at peak performance.

The role requires a engineering degree with 5+ years manufacturing experience, plus 2+ years of leadership. PLC and ammonia refrigeration skills, CMMS proficiency, and a strong mechanical/electrical background are essential for

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or related field and 5+ years of manufacturing experience.
• 2+ years leadership experience including team development and management.
• PLC and ammonia refrigeration experience is a must have.
• Food manufacturing background required; meat or kill floor/harvest floor a plus.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and CMMS systems.
• Advanced technical skills in mechanical and/or electrical fields; strong problem solving.

Responsibilities

• Lead maintenance and engineering operations to minimize downtime and keep lines running.
• Manage capital projects; ensure on-time, on-budget delivery with minimal disruption.
• Collaborate with Plant Engineer on scheduling, safety, and environmental standards.
• Drive TPM, preventive/predictive maintenance and continuous improvement.
• Develop KPIs for maintenance performance, supplier effectiveness, OEE.
• Mentor and develop maintenance team, foster a positive employee experience.

Skills

Leadership

Maintenance planning

Preventive/Predictive maintenance

OEE optimization

Problem solving

Communication

CMMS knowledge

PLC & electrical skills

Safety compliance

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Tools

CMMS

Microsoft Office

PLC programming

Instrumentation

Job description

Job Title: Assistant Plant Engineer – 1st shift

Location: Denison, Iowa

Salary: $115K – 140K plus bonus

Job Summary of the Assistant Plant Engineer: As the Assistant Plant Engineer, reporting to the Plant Engineer, you’ll take charge of managing the maintenance and engineering operations within the plant, ensuring the building and equipment remain in top condition. Your efforts will minimize mechanical downtime and keep production lines running at peak efficiency.

Job Duties & Responsibilities of the Assistant Plant Engineer:

• Responsible for 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 ensure maximum work output while minimizing downtime, reducing costs, and boosting plant capacity to decrease the 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.

Education & Experience Requirements of the Assistant Plant Engineer:

• 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, required.
• 2+ years' experience in a position of leadership including team development and management, required.
• PLC and ammonia refrigeration experience is a must have.
• Food manufacturing background required, meat or kill floor/harvest floor experience a plus.
• Possess thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and CMMS systems.
• Possess advanced technical skills in the mechanical and/or electrical fields (e.g. PLCs, instrumentation, mechanical systems, etc).
• Must be able 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.
• Capable of communicating and expressing 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.