Director of Engineering

Stellar Snacks; Carson City (NV); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Stellar Snacks is seeking a Director of Engineering & Maintenance to oversee mechanical and technical integrity across two production sites. This role combines hands-on engineering leadership with direct accountability for equipment reliability, safety, and performance, splitting time between locations to ensure consistent execution.

You will manage site Maintenance Managers, lead RCA and capital projects, and ensure compliance with food safety and safety standards while driving energy

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent hands-on experience.
• Extensive maintenance/engineering background in manufacturing.
• Proven leadership of multi-site maintenance teams.

Responsibilities

• Directly manage Maintenance Manager(s) at two sites to meet KPIs.
• Diagnose and troubleshoot complex mechanical and electrical issues.
• Lead RCMS/PM programs and capital project lifecycles end-to-end.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, OSHA, GMP and related codes.
• Travel between sites to maintain visibility and execution.

Skills

Mechanical troubleshooting

Electrical troubleshooting

PLC/Automation

CMMS/PM-PdM

Budget management

Communication

Leadership

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical/Electrical/Industrial Eng

Tools

CMMS

Job description

The Director of Engineering & Maintenance is responsible for the mechanical and technical integrity of Stellar Snacks' manufacturing operations across two production sites. This role combines hands-on engineering leadership with direct managerial accountability, overseeing and holding the site-level Maintenance Managers accountable for equipment reliability, safety, and performance. The Director splits time between both locations to ensure consistent execution.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Accountability

• Directly manage and hold the Maintenance Manager(s) at both sites accountable for KPIs including equipment uptime, PM compliance, work order closure rates, and down time to repair
• Conduct regular performance reviews and daily/weekly accountability check-ins with maintenance leadership at each location
• Set clear, measurable goals for maintenance teams and enforce corrective action when targets are missed
• Build and coach a bench of qualified maintenance technicians and mechanics across both sites; own hiring, training, and succession planning
• Standardize maintenance practices, SOPs, and safety protocols across both locations to ensure consistency

Hands-On Technical Ownership

• Personally diagnose and troubleshoot complex mechanical, electrical, PLC, and automation issues when escalated beyond site-level capability
• Serve as the technical authority on critical production equipment (fillers, packaging lines, conveyors, ovens/fryers, refrigeration, etc.) — able to get hands dirty, not just manage from a spreadsheet
• Lead root cause analysis (RCA) on recurring or catastrophic equipment failures and implement permanent corrective actions
• Review and approve engineering specs for equipment repairs, upgrades, and capital projects
• Step in on the floor during critical downtime events to drive faster resolution alongside the team
• Lead engineering evaluation, design, and specification for new equipment, process changes, and plant upgrades across both facilities
• Oversee the capital project lifecycle end-to-end: scoping, budgeting, vendor/contractor selection, installation, commissioning, and validation of new lines or equipment
• Read, create, and maintain accurate electrical schematics, P&IDs, and mechanical drawings for critical equipment at both sites
• Partner with production/process engineering to improve line speeds, reduce changeover time, and raise OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness)
• Evaluate and implement automation and controls upgrades (PLC programming, HMI, sensors, networked controls) to reduce manual intervention and unplanned downtime
• Oversee equipment lifecycle planning — make repair-vs-replace calls, plan for end-of-life equipment, and forecast multi-year capital needs across both sites
• Manage relationships and hold accountable equipment OEMs, engineering contractors, and integration vendors
• Ensure all new installations and modifications meet food safety, OSHA, electrical (NEC), and local code requirements
• Drive energy efficiency and utility cost-reduction projects (compressed air, refrigeration, steam, electrical distribution)
• Establish and enforce engineering documentation standards — equipment manuals, spare parts BOMs, and as-built drawings kept current at both locations

Preventive & Reliability Programs

• Oversee the preventive/predictive maintenance (PM/PdM) program across both sites, ensuring schedules are built, followed, and continuously improved
• Drive reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) initiatives to reduce unplanned downtime and extend asset life
• Establish and monitor spare parts inventory strategy, critical spares lists, and vendor relationships across both facilities
• Implement and audit CMMS (computerized maintenance management system) usage for accurate data, tracking, and reporting

Cross-Site Operations & Strategy

• Travel between both locations regularly to maintain visibility, consistency, and direct oversight of on-the-ground execution
• Align maintenance strategy with production schedules, plant management, and operations leadership at both sites
• Develop and manage the combined maintenance budget (labor, parts, contractors, capital) across both locations
• Lead capital equipment planning, installation, and commissioning projects for both sites
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, food safety (GMP/SQF), and environmental regulations across all maintenance activities
• Report site-level and consolidated maintenance performance metrics to senior leadership

Culture & Safety

• Champion a safety-first culture, including lockout/tagout (LOTO), machine guarding, and incident investigation
• Foster a culture of ownership and urgency within maintenance teams, eliminating a "that's not my job" mentality
• Drive continuous improvement (Lean/Six Sigma principles) in maintenance processes to reduce cost and downtime

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering preferred; equivalent hands-on experience will be considered in lieu of a degree
• 8+ years of progressive maintenance/engineering experience in a manufacturing environment, including 3+ years in a multi-site or department-head leadership role
• Proven track record of managing and holding maintenance managers/supervisors accountable to measurable performance standards
• Strong hands-on mechanical and electrical troubleshooting skills — must be able to work alongside technicians on the floor, not just direct from an office
• Working knowledge of PLCs, industrial automation/controls, hydraulics, pneumatics, and food/beverage processing or packaging equipment (or comparable industrial equipment)
• Experience managing a CMMS, PM/PdM programs, and maintenance budgets
• Demonstrated experience in food manufacturing environments preferred (GMP, SQF, HACCP familiarity a plus)
• Strong understanding of OSHA regulations, LOTO, and industrial safety standards
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly between two sites
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to give direct, candid feedback and hold people accountable

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

• Regular travel between both production sites required (frequency to be defined by leadership — e.g., weekly or biweekly rotation)
• Ability to work on the plant floor, including exposure to noise, temperature variation, moving machinery, and typical food-manufacturing conditions
• Ability to stand, walk, climb, bend, kneel, and lift up to 50 lbs when diagnosing or assisting with equipment repairs
• Availability to respond to urgent equipment failures outside normal business hours, including some nights/weekends
• Comfortable wearing required PPE and following all plant safety protocols
• Some office-based work required for budgeting, reporting, and administrative duties