Plant Engineer

Arena Family of Companies; Jefferson City (MO); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Annual bonus

Medical, dental, and vision

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Job summary

Arena Family of Companies in Missouri seeks a seasoned Plant Engineer to lead maintenance and engineering at a high-volume production facility. You will oversee a team of supervisors and drive reliability across ammonia refrigeration and utilities.

This hands-on leadership role values people development, structured maintenance programs in SAP, and strong problem-solving skills to reduce downtime. Expect extended hours as needed.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive industrial maintenance experience in regulated production.
• Deep ammonia refrigeration, air compressors, and VFD motor controls expertise.
• Proven ability to lead maintenance leaders, planners, and teams.
• PSM/RMP experience is a strong plus.
• Bachelor's in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage maintenance and engineering for site, leading a six-person supervisor team.
• Oversee SAP-based preventive maintenance program and ensure adherence.
• Develop supervisors and technicians through formal training and recruitment.
• Lead root cause analysis, continuous improvement, and FMEA.
• Plan startups and equipment projects, including parts and training.
• Collaborate with Operations, Quality, Procurement, Shipping, and EHS to hit KPIs.
• Partner with Corporate Engineering to standardize processes.

Skills

Ammonia refrigeration

Maintenance leadership

Preventive maintenance

Root cause analysis

FMEA

VFD motor controls

Team development

Communication

People leadership

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Tools

SAP

PSM/RMP

Job description

Picture walking into a plant where the equipment runs well because of the systems you built, and the maintenance team is sharp because you took the time to develop every one of them. That's what this role is about. I'm partnering with a large, well established manufacturer on a Plant Engineer search for their high-volume production facility in Missouri, and this is a seat where a seasoned maintenance leader can really put their fingerprints on an operation.

You'll run the full Maintenance and Engineering function for the site and lead a team of six supervisors (five maintenance supervisors plus a planning supervisor). This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who knows ammonia refrigeration inside and out, gets as much satisfaction from building people as from solving equipment problems, and wants the backing of a corporate engineering group that values standards and shared best practices.

What you’ll own

• Maintenance execution across plant operations and utilities, including the ammonia refrigeration system
• A strong preventive maintenance program in SAP, with the follow-through to make it stick
• Growing your supervisors and technicians through a structured maintenance training program, and recruiting great people onto the team
• Leading root cause analysis, continuous improvement, and FMEA so problems get solved for good
• Startup planning and new equipment projects, from labor needs and spare parts lists to documentation and training
• Working with Operations, Quality, Procurement, Shipping, and EHS to hit plant KPIs and keep equipment and layouts safe
• Partnering with Corporate Engineering to standardize processes across the network

What you bring

• 10+ years of progressive industrial maintenance experience, with at least 5 years in a high-volume, regulated production environment
• Deep experience with ammonia refrigeration, air compressors, and VFD motor controls
• A track record of leading maintenance leaders, planners, and both direct and indirect reports
• PSM/RMP experience is a strong plus
• SAP experience is a plus
• Bachelor's in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering preferred, and equivalent hands-on experience counts too
• Clear communication and a people-first leadership style
• Comfort on a fast-paced plant floor with cold and hot areas, and the flexibility for extended hours or weekends when the operation needs you

Why this one

• Competitive base salary plus an annual bonus
• Medical, dental, and vision, paid time off, and a 401(k) with company match
• Relocation assistance available for the right person
• A real leadership seat with the scope to build a team and a maintenance culture that lasts