Compensation: $120,000–$140,000 annually
Company Overview
An established food manufacturing organization specializing in flavor development, juice processing, and ingredient solutions. The company is committed to quality, innovation, food safety, and continuous improvement while supporting customers across a variety of food and beverage markets.
Job Summary
The Plant Engineer is responsible for supporting manufacturing operations by improving process performance, equipment reliability, product quality, safety, and overall operational efficiency. This role partners closely with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Engineering teams to solve complex challenges and implement sustainable improvements that drive business success.
Key Responsibilities
- Optimize manufacturing processes to improve safety, quality, throughput, consistency, and cost performance.
- Analyze production, process, and equipment data to identify trends, root causes, and improvement opportunities.
- Lead troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and corrective actions for process issues, equipment failures, quality concerns, and production interruptions.
- Develop and maintain process documentation, operating procedures, equipment specifications, process flow diagrams, and technical standards.
- Support capital projects from concept through design, installation, commissioning, startup, and implementation.
- Support new product introductions, process validations, equipment qualification, scale-ups, and process changes.
- Evaluate equipment performance, reliability, uptime, maintenance costs, and process capability; recommend improvements, upgrades, or replacements.
- Design, specify, and support installation of mechanical equipment, piping systems, utilities, and manufacturing support systems.
- Develop and support process control strategies that promote consistent product quality and reliable manufacturing performance.
- Partner with Maintenance and Operations to support preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
- Lead or support equipment reliability, asset performance, waste reduction, productivity, and cost savings initiatives.
- Train operations personnel on process changes, equipment operation, troubleshooting, and best practices.
- Review equipment layouts, piping systems, mechanical designs, and related technical documentation.
- Coordinate with vendors and contractors to complete projects safely, effectively, and in alignment with operating requirements.
- Ensure work complies with applicable safety, environmental, regulatory, engineering, and company standards.
- Perform other duties as assigned based on business needs.
Qualifications
Required
- Knowledge of manufacturing processes, mechanical systems, utilities, process controls, equipment reliability, and continuous improvement methods.
- Familiarity with safety, environmental, regulatory, and engineering standards applicable to manufacturing operations.
- Experience working with cross-functional teams, vendors, and contractors.
Preferred
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field.
- Manufacturing experience; food and beverage, consumer products, pharmaceutical, or industrial production experience is a plus.
- Experience with capital projects, equipment installation, commissioning, process improvement, production support, or technical troubleshooting.
Skills and Abilities
- Strong analytical, technical, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to interpret data, identify trends, and turn findings into practical actions.
- Clear communication skills with the ability to explain technical information to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, and deadlines in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Strong attention to detail in documentation, specifications, procedures, and project execution.
- Collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively across departments and with external partners.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and applicable engineering, maintenance, or data analysis tools.
- Must report to any company facility according to company needs, sometimes with same-day notice.
- This position works in both office and manufacturing environments and requires regular interaction with production equipment and cross-functional teams.
- Occasional extended hours, off-shift support, or project-related work may be required based on business needs.