Plant Engineer

Tom Trese; Mason City (IA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

Tom Trese is seeking a Plant Engineer in Mason City, Iowa, to lead their maintenance and engineering department. This role involves maintaining top-tier building and equipment performance while implementing cutting-edge maintenance systems.

The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in capital project management, team leadership, and food manufacturing processes. The position offers a competitive salary and bonus structure, emphasizing innovation and continuous improvement within a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 8+ years’ experience in Engineering or related field.
• Demonstrated experience in team management or project leadership.
• Advanced technical skills in mechanical/electrical fields.

Responsibilities

• Lead capital projects from concept to completion.
• Develop and implement maintenance systems for peak performance.
• Manage and schedule all project elements to minimize disruption.

Skills

Team management/development

Project leadership

Mechanical engineering

Analytical reasoning

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

PLC instrumentation

Job description

Job Title: Plant Engineer

Location: Mason City, Iowa

Salary: $125K – $155K plus bonus

Job Summary of the Plant Engineer

As the leader of the maintenance and engineering department in a fast‑paced plant, the Plant Engineer will maintain top‑tier building and equipment performance, reduce mechanical downtime, and ensure seamless product flow. The role focuses on developing and implementing cutting‑edge maintenance systems—including Preventative and Predictive Maintenance, TPM, and other high‑impact strategies—to keep the plant operating at peak efficiency while driving innovation and continuous improvement. The engineer will manage capital projects, lead the engineering team, and keep the facility state‑of‑the‑art for food manufacturing processes.

Job Duties & Responsibilities of the Plant Engineer

• Responsible for capital projects from concept to completion.
• Manage and schedule all project elements to ensure minimal disruption to plant operations, delivering projects on time, on budget, and without compromising safety, food safety, or environmental standards.
• Lead the charge in developing and implementing cutting‑edge maintenance systems that keep the plant operating at peak performance.
• Help drive Preventive and Predictive Maintenance, TPM, and other high‑impact strategies, ensuring optimal scheduling that maximizes task completion with minimal downtime.
• Manage the maintenance team by delegating tasks, enforcing policies, and guiding work assignments.
• Provide both short‑term fixes and long‑term solutions to everyday operational challenges, ensuring smooth daily operation with minimal recurring issues.
• Drive continuous improvement by developing and tracking Key Performance Indicators that measure the success of the maintenance function.

Education & Experience Requirements of Plant Engineer

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four‑year college or university in Engineering or related field and 8+ years’ relevant experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2+ years of demonstrated experience in team management/development or project leadership.
• Food Manufacturing experience.
• Change Management experience.
• High level of leadership skills, organizational planning, teamwork, analytical reasoning, and adaptability.
• Advanced technical skills in the mechanical/electrical fields (e.g., PLCs, instrumentation, mechanical engineering) and ability to lead resource planning in a large manufacturing environment.
• Thorough knowledge of maintenance systems, work order process, preventive/predictive maintenance, TPM, etc.
• Ability to use exposure monitoring equipment, interpret and communicate results.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel and Word.
• Capability to communicate and express ideas clearly and concisely, in both written and oral formats.
• Strong critical thinking and problem‑solving skills.
• Strong interpersonal, technical and presentation skills.