Manufacturing Engineer

Rhino Foods, Inc.; Burlington (VT); On-site; USD 80,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

Rhino Foods, Inc. is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to join our engineering team in a fast-paced food production environment.

Reporting to the Manager of Maintenance & Engineering, you will drive process improvements, manage projects, and collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, R&D, Safety, and Quality teams to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and ensure top-quality products. You will apply Lean, Six Sigma, and Design of Experiments methodologies, work with AutoCAD and SolidWorks, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering required or preferred.
• 2+ years of experience in Food & Beverage, Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement process improvement initiatives to optimize equipment utilization, material flow, labor efficiency, waste reduction, and cost savings.
• Lead or support engineering projects from concept through implementation, including budgets, timelines, and quality standards.
• Improve equipment performance, reliability, and overall operational effectiveness through root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Create and maintain technical documentation, SOPs, troubleshooting guides, and specifications for manufacturing operations.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Design of Experiments

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

Smartsheet

Microsoft Office

Job description

Description

As a member of our team, you’ll have the opportunity to be part of something truly special: crafting delicious food that brings joy to people's lives. You’ll play a vital role in upholding stringent food safety standards, ensuring top‑note product quality, and collaboratively achieving our goals alongside our dedicated team. Moreover, as a family‑owned Certified B Corporation, you’ll actively engage with our broader community, with a strong focus on enhancing employee satisfaction and fostering community engagement. Join us on our journey not only to create exceptional food but also to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our employees and the communities we serve.

What You’ll Accomplish

We’re looking for a collaborative and solutions‑oriented Manufacturing Engineer to join our Engineering team. Reporting to the Manager of Maintenance & Engineering, you’ll play a key role in supporting and improving our food manufacturing processes, equipment, utilities, and facilities. This position partners closely with Operations, Maintenance, R&D, Safety, and Quality teams to drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, increase capacity, reduce waste, improve safety, and maintain the highest quality standards. You’ll have the opportunity to implement innovative solutions and contribute to the success of our production operations in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment.

Production & Process Optimization

• Develop and implement process improvement initiatives focused on optimizing equipment utilization, material flow, labor efficiency, waste reduction, and cost savings.
• Use key performance indicators and operational metrics to analyze equipment reliability, process yield, scrap, and efficiency trends and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Work closely with Operations and Maintenance teams to ensure successful integration and optimization of new equipment within existing manufacturing processes.

Project Management & Facility Improvements

• Lead or support engineering projects from concept through implementation, ensuring objectives, timelines, and quality standards are achieved.
• Coordinate and oversee third‑party vendors, contractors, and service providers for equipment maintenance, facility services, and project‑focused initiatives.
• Prepare business case analyses, project budgets, cost tracking, and performance evaluations to support continuous improvement efforts.
• Contribute to the development and execution of commissioning, qualification, and verification plans, including training and vendor support.

Equipment Reliability & Continuous Improvement

• Apply engineering principles and continuous improvement methodologies to improve equipment performance, reliability, and overall operational effectiveness.
• Support troubleshooting efforts, root cause investigations, and implementation of corrective actions that improve safety, quality, and productivity.
• Assist with trials, process validations, and implementation of new technologies and production methodologies.

Documentation & Compliance

• Create and maintain plant‑wide workflow and process diagrams utilizing AutoCAD.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, SOPs, troubleshooting guides, specifications, and other controlled documents that support manufacturing operations.

Requirements

What you’ll need to succeed:

• Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering field preferred.
• 2+ years of experience in Food & Beverage, Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, Technology, or another industrial environment.
• Experience utilizing Microsoft Office Suite, Smartsheet, and AutoCAD; SolidWorks experience preferred.
• Experience supporting manufacturing equipment, facility operations, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Applied knowledge of engineering principles as applied to electrical and mechanical systems.
• Understanding of manufacturing equipment, production environments, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience applying problem‑solving tools and improvement methods such as Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Design of Experiments.
• Ability to create and manage technical documentation, SOPs, troubleshooting guides, one‑point lessons, and specifications.
• Strong analytical skills with experience collecting, trending, and interpreting data to identify root causes and implement effective solutions.
• Ability to prepare reports, presentations, and business cases while clearly communicating technical information to diverse audiences.
• Strong collaboration skills and ability to work effectively within cross‑functional teams.
• Ability to manage changing priorities, support organizational change initiatives, and successfully execute projects from inception through completion.
• Flexibility to work outside normal business hours, including nights, weekends, or at other company locations, when business needs require.

Compensation & Employment Requirements

Salary Range: $80,000 - $98,000

The wage listed here reflects our best‑faith estimate for this role. We pay competitively and base compensation on a variety of factors, including skills, experience, industry background, and the evolving needs of the role. We remain committed to fair and equitable pay, and we’re happy to discuss during the interview process.

Rhino Foods is committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”). We support employment opportunities for all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.

Employment is subject to successful screening on national sex offender registries.

Working Conditions And Physical Requirements

This position involves working in an office, maintenance shop, and production setting. This environment includes exposure to variable temperatures including heat and temperatures as low as 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Requires use of power and fabrication tools, and exposure to metal, oil, electric currents, and allergens such as peanuts. Requires frequent standing, walking, bending, stooping, reaching, pushing/pulling; prolonged contact with water, detergents, and sanitizers; exposure to high levels of machinery, fabrication, and power tool noise. Requires repetitive motions and lifting up to 78 lbs. Compliance with OSHA and industry standards includes wearing required PPE such as steel‑toe production boots, nitrile gloves, face protection, hearing protection, and hair and beard nets. All jewelry and adornments on the hands, wrists, and above the neck must be removable and off while in production areas.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.