Manufacturing Performance Engineer

Catelli Brothers Family of Foods; Collingswood (NJ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Catelli Brothers Family of Foods in Collingswood, NJ is seeking an on-site Manufacturing Performance Engineer to drive plant performance by improving production capacity, productivity, and material utilization, translating data into actionable initiatives and ensuring floor execution.

The role emphasizes OEE, losses, yield, and Lean tools such as 5S, 5 Why, and SMED to deliver high-ROI improvements across operations, maintenance, and quality teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in industrial, Mechanical, Chemical, or Manufacturing Engineering with a focus on manufacturing operations.
• 7-12 years of experience in manufacturing environments with proven track record improving operational performance.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with Excel, Power BI, Tableau or similar tools.
• English required; Spanish is an asset.
• Strong presence on the plant floor and ability to drive execution with teams.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and analyze performance (OEE, losses, yield, capacity) to identify gaps and improvement priorities.
• Lead Top Loss identification and root-cause analysis to eliminate recurring issues.
• Improve material utilization and reduce giveaways through data-driven initiatives.
• Lead operational improvement projects focused on capacity, productivity, and process performance.
• Apply Lean tools (5S, Pareto, 5 Why, A3, SMED, standard work) to sustain results.
• Act as performance orchestrator across operations, maintenance, and quality teams.
• Support identification and prioritization of high-ROI improvement opportunities.

Skills

Analytical skills

Plant floor leadership

English proficiency

Spanish asset

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering

Related manufacturing engineering discipline

Tools

Excel

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

Manufacturing Performance Engineer (On-Site)

Basic Purpose - Catelli Brothers, based in Collingswood, New Jersey, is the U.S. meat division of Preval AG, North America’s largest veal and lamb packer and processor. The company operates state-of-the-art processing facilities in New Jersey and Massachusetts, distributing high-quality meat products to retailers and food service providers across the country and internationally.

Preval AG is a leader in veal production in North America, with 36 diversified agricultural companies (veal, beef, lamb, field crops, horticulture, grain processing).

The qualified candidate will drive plant performance by improving production capacity, operational productivity, and raw material utilization in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment. This role acts as a key orchestrator of plant performance, translating data into actionable initiatives and ensuring execution on the plant floor.

Manufacturing Performance Focus

This role is structured around three core drivers of plant performance:

• CAPACITY (OEE / Top Losses): maximize output and eliminate major losses impacting throughput
• PRODUCTIVITY (Methods / Flow): improve operational efficiency, line performance, and workflow execution
• MATERIAL (Yield / Giveaway): optimize raw material utilization and reduce processing and giveaway losses

Key Responsibilities:

• Monitor and analyze performance (OEE, losses, yield, capacity) to identify gaps and improvement priorities
• Lead Top Loss identification, root cause analysis, and elimination of recurring issues
• Improve material utilization and reduce giveaway through data-driven initiatives
• Lead operational improvement projects focused on capacity, productivity, and process performance
• Apply Lean tools (5S, Pareto, 5 Why, A3, SMED, standard work) to eliminate root causes and sustain results
• Act as a performance orchestrator across operations, maintenance, and quality teams
• Support identification, justification, and prioritization of high-ROI improvement opportunities

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in industrial, Mechanical, Chemical, or Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical discipline with a strong focus on manufacturing operations
• 7-12 years of experience in manufacturing environments with a proven track record of improving operational performance
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Experience with Excel, Power BI, Tableau or similar tools
• English required; Spanish is an asset
• Strong presence on the plant floor and ability to drive execution with teams

***EOE Race/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Gender Expression/National Origin/Protected Veteran/Disability Status***