Plant Engineer

Food Management Search; Wilson (NC); On-site; USD 140,000 - 172,000; Full time

Job summary

Food Management Search, Inc. is seeking a Plant Engineer in Wilson, NC to lead the maintenance and engineering department of a fast-paced food manufacturing operation.

You will drive capital projects, implement advanced maintenance systems, and ensure safety, food safety, and environmental standards are met while maintaining peak production efficiency. You will oversee a team, develop and track KPIs, and lead continuous improvement initiatives across equipment reliability and process

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field with 8+ years’ experience
• 2+ years of team management or project leadership experience
• Strong leadership, planning, teamwork, analytical reasoning, and adaptability
• Advanced technical skills in mechanical/electrical fields (PLCs, instrumentation, etc.)
• Thorough knowledge of maintenance systems, work order, preventive/predictive maintenance, TPM
• Ability to interpret exposure monitoring results and communicate findings
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Excel and Word
• Clear written and oral communication; strong presentation skills
• Strong problem-solving and interpersonal skills

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of capital projects from concept to completion, delivering on time and budget while ensuring safety and compliance
• Develop and implement cutting-edge maintenance systems (Preventive and Predictive Maintenance, TPM) for peak performance
• Manage the maintenance team, delegate tasks, and guide work assignments safely and efficiently
• Provide short-term fixes and long-term solutions to daily operational challenges and equipment failures
• Develop and track KPIs to measure maintenance performance, reliability, supplier performance, and overall equipment effectiveness

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Analytical reasoning

Adaptability

Mechanical skills

Electrical skills

Maintenance systems knowledge

Excel

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Interpersonal skills

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering

Tools

PLCs

Instrumentation

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Title: Plant Engineer

Location: Wilson, North Carolina

Salary: $140-172K plus bonus

Job Summary of the Plant Engineer:

As the leader of the maintenance and engineering department in a fast-paced plant, you'll be at the foreground of maintaining top-tier building and equipment performance. By reducing mechanical downtime and ensuring seamless product flow, you’ll keep our production lines running at peak efficiency. You'll lead the charge in developing and implementing cutting-edge maintenance systems, including Preventive and Predictive Maintenance, TPM, and more, driving our plant to new heights as part of a High-Performing Manufacturing Organization. As the leader of engineering activities, you will ensure our facilities remain a state-of-the-art food manufacturing process, developing and executing highly innovative technology projects

Job Duties & Responsibilities of the Plant Engineer:

• Take ownership of capital projects from concept to completion! You’ll 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 our plant operating at peak performance. You'll be the driving force behind 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. Your ability to organize, plan, and follow through ensures work is completed efficiently and safely.
• Provide both short-term fixes and long-term solutions to everyday operational challenges. Whether troubleshooting, conducting problem analysis, or addressing equipment failures, you’ll ensure the smooth daily operation of the plant with minimal recurring issues.
• Drive continuous improvement by developing and tracking Key Performance Indicators that measure the success of the maintenance function. From equipment reliability to supplier performance and overall equipment effectiveness, your insights will be crucial for maintaining peak performance across all areas of the plant.

Education & Experience Requirements of the 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, required.
• 2+ years of demonstrated experience in team management/development or project leadership is required
• High level of leadership skills, organizational planning, teamwork, analytical reasoning, and adaptability.
• Possess advanced technical skills in the mechanical/electrical fields (e.g. PLCs, instrumentation, mechanical engineering, etc.) and is able to lead resource planning efforts 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.
• Capable of communicating and expressing ideas clearly and concisely, in both written and oral formats.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Strong interpersonal, technical and presentation skills required.