Director Engineering Technical Support

Lamb Weston, Inc.; Kennewick (WA); On-site; USD 164,000 - 247,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance Benefits

Flexible Spending Accounts

Well-being programs

Paid Time Off

401(k) plan with company contributions

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Health Savings Accounts

Life and Accident insurance

Family-Friendly Employee events

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Lamb Weston is seeking a Director of Engineering Technical Support to lead the Technical Support SME teams across Electrical, Automation & Controls, Packaging, Utilities, and other systems. You will shape long-term strategies to improve asset reliability and plant performance while collaborating with IT, OT, and Global Engineering partners.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree and 15+ years in project or operations management, with strong leadership, budgeting, and communication skills to drive

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Management, or related field.
• Minimum of 15 years of experience in project, engineering or operations management.
• Ability to read and interpret safety rules, technical docs, P&IDs and drawings.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to communicate and present at all levels of the organization.
• Proficient in Windows-based systems including Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Understanding of Instrumentation, PLCs, SCADA and advanced control software.

Responsibilities

• Direct management of the Technical Support department teams.
• Develop reliability strategies, standards, and support processes.
• Create long-term strategic direction for technical areas of responsibility.
• Prepare department budget and forecast spending.
• Lead annual capital planning to address obsolescence and project challenges.
• Serve as liaison between Technical Support, IT/OT and Global Engineering.

Skills

Visionary Leadership

Oral Communication

Written Communication

Presentation

Judgment

Strategic Planning

Planning/Organizing

Education

Bachelor’s level degree in Engineering/Management

Tools

Instrumentation

PLC’s

SCADA

Job description

About Lamb Weston

You’ve probably enjoyed our fries without even knowing it! As a leading manufacturer in our industry, we inspire and bring people together with foods they love and trust. Our customer base includes international food service providers, restaurants, and households in over 100 countries around the world.

A highly innovative global corporation with a start-up mindset, we empower every individual to make a genuine difference. You’ll gain access to hands‑on training to fuel your growth and success, explore opportunities for new solutions, and you’ll join a winning team of 10,000+ people all dedicated to raising the bar – together.

If you have a strong drive for results, a desire to help us bring the world together through our fries, and are ready for a fresh challenge, we want to hear from you.

Job Description Summary

The Director - Engineering Technical Support shall demonstrate skills in managing Engineering Technical SMEs (Subject Matter Experts). This position requires knowledge of the technical engineering disciplines used in Lamb Weston manufacturing facilities (Electrical, Automation & Controls, Packaging, Boilers & Refrigeration, and Wastewater Treatment) as well as how those technical disciplines support operations and long-term growth.
This position is instrumental in creating asset management plans aimed at maintaining and updating aged technologies and equipment, ensuring proper maintenance, and setting strategies that properly respond to obsolescence, market trends and forces, and internal company initiatives. A major responsibility of this position is to bring the Technical Support team to bear to consult on design for strategic as well as plant projects to assure adherence to standards, promote technical strategic direction, and support execution of projects’ technical areas.
This position also provides leadership and direction for technical SMEs and other engineering disciplines, to develop and execute strategies that improve asset reliability, operational availability, and sustainable plant performance. The Technical Support organization serves as a key partner to plant operations by providing subject matter expertise, standards, troubleshooting support, and long-term reliability improvements that enable safe and reliable manufacturing operations.
This role works hand in hand with other internal business units as well as outside contractors and support groups. Strong interpersonal skills when working with non-technical partners is a must, as is the ability to communicate both horizontally and vertically throughout the organization.
In the area of strategic planning and development, this role directs the Technical Support team to discover, test, and implement new technologies aimed at improving manufacturing processes and efficiencies as well as engaging in ongoing support of existing legacy systems. Consulting, informing, and planning long term strategies in the capital improvement process is a critical function of this position

Job Description

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Direct management of the Technical Support department teams.
• Maintain the necessary levels of technical talent within the department. Prepare and maintain a talent succession plan to ensure business continuity as the workforce ages out and new talent fill positions.
• Direct Technical Support SMEs in developing reliability strategies, standards, and technical support processes that improve equipment uptime, reduce operational risk, and ensure reliable plant operations across Electrical, Automation & Controls, Packaging, Utilities, and other critical manufacturing systems
• Create and maintain long-term strategic direction for technical areas of responsibility.
• Prepare a department budget and be responsible for forecasting and spending within budgeted guidelines.
• Take a key role in the annual capital planning activities to develop phased approaches to solve plant technical obsolescence and project challenges.
• Serve as primary liaison between the Technical Support group, the I/T organization, and the rest of the Global Engineering team. IT-OT Convergence is an initiative for which this position plays a key role.

Essential Skills

• Visionary Leadership - Displays vision and inspiration to engender respect and trust and motivate others to fulfill the company’s vision. Exhibits confidence in self and others and leads to create a culture in which trust, individual purpose, and team building are core tenants.
• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively.
• Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively with the ability to vary writing style to match the audience.
• Presentation – Ability to present effectively to all levels of the organization. Must be able to present technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions and exhibits sound and accurate judgment. Supports and explains reasoning for decisions and includes appropriate people and ideas in the decision-making process.
• Strategic Planning - Keep abreast of technologies, timing, and adoption strategies. Maintain a running 5-year strategic plan for Technical Engineering disciplines.
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities and uses time efficiently. Ability to set goals and objectives, organize competing priorities, and develop realistic action plans.

Basic & Preferred Qualifications

Education/ Certifications: (Required & Preferred)

• Bachelor’s level degree in Engineering, Management, or a related discipline is required.
• Minimum of 15 years of experience with project, engineering or operations management is required.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, technical documentation, P&IDs, drawings, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to communicate and present effectively at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or visual form.
• To perform this job successfully, an individual should be proficient in the use of Windows based systems including Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Competent understanding of Instrumentation, PLC’s, SCADA systems and advanced control software such as statistical process control, simulation and modeling is required.

Other Requirements

• Passport, valid driver's license, and the ability to meet Lamb Weston’s driving record standards. Ability to travel to various plant and vendor locations as required. Ability for extended travel and time away from home to complete projects at various plant locations-20-25% of the time.

Industry-Competitive Benefits

• Health Insurance Benefits - Medical, Dental, Vision
• Flexible Spending Accounts for Health and Dependent Care, and Health Reimbursement Accounts
• Well-being programs including companywide events and a wellness incentive program
• Paid Time Off
• Financial Wellness – Industry leading 401(k) plan with generous company contributions, Financial Planning Services, Employee Stock purchase program, and Health Savings Accounts, Life and Accident insurance
• Family-Friendly Employee events
• Employee Assistance Program services – mental health and other concierge type services

Benefits may vary based on location, job role/level, job status, and/or the terms of any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Anticipated Close Date

The anticipated close date is a good faith estimate for when this job will be closed. Some jobs may be unposted or filled earlier or later than the Anticipated Close Date depending on interview processes and business needs.Anticipated Close Date: 12/01/2026

Pay Transparency

In compliance with applicable state and local laws, Lamb Weston has opted to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. This compensation is specific to this position and takes into account a number of variables. Actual compensation may be higher or lower in the range posted based on various factors, including, but not limited to, job duties, experience and expertise. A candidate's work location could also impact the actual compensation being outside of the range to reflect local cost of labor. A reasonable annual estimate of the range for this role is listed below.Pay Rate or Range: $164,470.00 - $246,710.00

Equal Opportunity Employer

Lamb Weston is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected factor under federal, state or local law

Education/ Certifications: (Required & Preferred)

• Bachelor’s level degree in Engineering, Management, or a related discipline is required.
• Minimum of 15 years of experience with project, engineering or operations management is required.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, technical documentation, P&IDs, drawings, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to communicate and present effectively at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or visual form.
• To perform this job successfully, an individual should be proficient in the use of Windows based systems including Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Competent understanding of Instrumentation, PLC’s, SCADA systems and advanced control software such as statistical process control, simulation and modeling is required.

Other Requirements

• Passport, valid driver's license, and the ability to meet Lamb Weston’s driving record standards. Ability to travel to various plant and vendor locations as required. Ability for extended travel and time away from home to complete projects at various plant locations-20-25% of the time.