Mechanical Engineer

GSF; Opelika, Northern (AL, KY); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extensive Benefits

Job summary

Golden State Foods (GSF) is seeking a maintenance-focused leader to drive equipment reliability and cost efficiency on a key site. You will own MP&S and BDE, plan PM activities, and coordinate with operations to maximize uptime and safety. The role blends data analysis with hands-on leadership to raise maintenance standards across the site.

You will develop reliability metrics, coach teams, and implement equipment improvements, aligning with GSF’s TPM/ODR journey and the site’s performance goals.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree required or significant relevant experience.
• 3+ years as maintenance or production supervisor in TPM/IWS environment.
• Experience with ODR/PM pillar concepts and daily directional setting (DDS).

Responsibilities

• Own two Daily Management Systems: MP&S and BDE.
• Manage maintenance plans, PMs, rankings and execution.
• Develop reliability metrics and dashboards (MTBF, MTTR, OEE).
• Lead ODR steps 0-3 and train associates.
• Coach operators and mechanics to sustain improvements.
• Ensure safety, quality, and food safety standards.

Skills

Mechanical knowledge

World Class Manufacturing

Reliability analysis

Root cause analysis

Project management

MS Office

Manufacturing concepts

Math and analytical skills

Predictive maintenance

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

MS Excel

MS Word

Job description

Description

ABOUT GOLDEN STATE FOODS

Golden State Foods is a distinguished leader in the food service industry, offering an extensive array of products and services to a diverse clientele. Rooted in the values of quality service and integrity, we are dedicated to creating a supportive and inclusive atmosphere where employees can advance, innovate, and contribute to our ongoing success.

ABOUT THE ROLE

A key leader, part of the line centric team, responsible for improving equipment reliability, optimizing maintenance strategies, and reducing unplanned downtime. The role combines data analysis, engineering principles, and hands-on collaboration with operations and maintenance teams to enhance overall plant performance, safety, and cost efficiency. A key member of the Progressive Maintenance (PM) pillar team that lead the journey for the site to maximize equipment availability in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. This role has ownership of 2 Daily Management Systems, Maintenance Planning & Scheduling (MP&S) and Breakdown Elimination (BDE). A partner with Operations to progress Operator Driven Reliability/Autonomous Maintenance (ODR/AM) across the site. A hands-on leader building capability of Mechanics and Operators to sustain improvements and systems.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

Essential Functions:

• Plays a critical role on a site Pillar typically PM and/or ODR, including planning and execution, able to strategize at the site level, coordinate at the supervisor level, and coach at floor level.
• Responsible for the execution and health of two Daily Management Systems; Maintenance Planning and Scheduling (MP&S) and Breakdown Elimination (BDE).
• Own the maintenance plans for relevant zones – ensuring appropriate PMs, equipment ranking, the quality of PMs, PM execution, PM Tracking and Continuous Improvement.
• Develop and maintain reliability metrics and dashboards (MTBF, MTTR, OEE, UPDT etc.) to communicate reliability performance and improvement projects.
• Develop, coach and audit equipment standards, including Preventive Maintenance (PMs), Centerlines (CL), Clean-Inspect and Lube (CIL), defect handling (DH) and rate improvement.
• Ensures calibration across the site on PM & ODR systems & standards to maximize equipment availability, extend component life in an efficient and cost-effective way.
• Evaluate equipment design and recommend modifications for improved reliability.
• Personally lead, facilitate, & coach teams through ODR Steps 0-3, delivering training to associates to build capability & qualifying others to be able to lead the step process as the journey progresses.
• Supports ODR teams as they seek to reduce losses & make improvements through equipment design work. This includes benchmarking with other plants and aligning standard design improvements. Help develop the technical capability of Operators.
• Conduct root cause analysis and build capability of team members to conduct regular In-Depth Analyses on breakdowns to identify root causes and improve standards to prevent recurrence.
• Identify and eliminate chronic equipment issues using data-driven methods.Track breakdowns, PMs and equipment performance for relevant areas and drive improvement in systems and standards.
• Conduct regular health checks to coach the floor execution and identify opportunities for improvement in systems.
• Ensure safety, quality, and food safety condition issues are resolved quickly.
• Participate and coach healthy Operational Reviews (shiftly, daily, weekly)
• Performsotherrelatedandassigneddutiesasnecessary.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Education & Experience:

Engineering degree preferred from an accredited college or significant relevant experience.

Experience:

• Minimum 3-year experience as a maintenance or production supervisor, preferably in a mature TPM / IWS environment.
• Participation in & understanding of daily directional setting (DDS) / Operational Reviews from floor to plant level.
• ODR(AM) / PM pillar experience preferred, i.e., ODR steps 0-3 and PM steps 1 and 2 methodologies.
• Systemic results improvement through leadership of people & ownership of systems.

Knowledge,SkillsandAbilities:

Knowledgeof(B/basic;J/journey;E/expert):

• Mechanical knowledge (E)
• World Class Manufacturing Systems (E)
• Statistical analysis and reliability modeling (J)
• Root Cause Analysis (E)
• Project Management (J)
• PCwordprocessing/spreadsheetsoftware(J)
• Manufacturingconceptsandtechniques(E)
• Mathandanalyticalskills(J)
• Relevantdepartmentconcepts,policies,andregulations(B)
• Predictive maintenance technologies (J)

Skilland A bility to:

• Manage projects on time and to budget
• Hands on leadership – on the floor, coaching associates
• Excellent communication and cross functional teamwork
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Improve capability across a diverse team of people
• Influence, coach, & build capability in leaders at all levels
• Motivateassociatesinateam-basedenvironment
• Good problem-solving skills
• Improve equipment design
• Identifyproblemsorirregularities (defects)forearlyresolution
• Communicateandcoordinateeffectivelywithassociatesverballyanin writing
• Communicateandcoordinateeffectivelywithinternaland externalcustomers
• Travelviaairplaneand automobile
• Workeffectivelyinageneralbusinessenvironment,withafocusonhighlevelsofqualityandcustomerservice
• ActinaccordancewithGSF’sCreed and Values

PerformanceCategories

• Productivity/qualitystandards:Healthy Daily Management Systems
• Maximize equipment availability
• Extend equipment component technical life
• Efficient, cost-effective maintenance
• In-depth Analysis completion, coaching and quality
• GPS Phase progression
• Project/assignmentstandards
• Costcontainment – maintenance spend (parts & labor)
• Capital spend monitoring
• Teamworkwithinthedepartmentandacrossdepartments
• Customer­satisfaction
• Vendorrelations

WHY JOIN US

Golden State Foods (GSF) is one of the largest diversified suppliers in the food industry, manufacturing a range of products including sauces, dressings, condiments, syrups, and toppings for leading restaurant and retail brands.

Join GSF and grow your career with a global food industry leader who:

• People First: At Golden State Foods, we're not just a company; we're a dynamic community where your talents are celebrated, and your ambitions are nurtured.
• Values Driven: Our core values drive everything we do, creating a culture of innovation, integrity, and excellence. But we're not content with just being great; we strive for greatness in every aspect of our work.
• People Development: At GSF we strive to continually develop our people to prepare us all for the needs of tomorrow.
• Philanthropy & Sustainability: We're committed to making a difference beyond our walls through philanthropy and sustainability efforts across all our locations around the globe.
• Extensive Benefits: Golden State Foods believes in a holistic approach to wellness focusing on the whole person with benefits that support those needs.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Our company values diverse perspectives and is committed to creating an inclusive and respectful workplace where every person is supported and empowered to thrive.