Plant Engineer

Essenti Talent; Wilson (NC); On-site; USD 140,000 - 172,000; Full time

Job summary

Essenti Talent in Wilson, NC seeks a Plant Engineer to lead the maintenance and engineering team in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment. You will drive capital projects from concept to completion, reduce downtime, and ensure product flow across production lines.

The role emphasizes preventive/predictive maintenance, TPM, and advanced technology projects. Strong leadership, PLC/instrumentation skills, and solid MS Office proficiency are required to optimize equipment reliability and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field with 8+ years of experience.
• 2+ years of team management or project leadership.
• Strong leadership, planning, and communication skills.
• Advanced mechanical/electrical skills including PLCs and instrumentation.
• Experience with preventive/predictive maintenance and TPM.
• Proficient in MS Office, especially Excel and Word.

Responsibilities

• Own capital projects from concept to completion with on-time, on-budget delivery.
• Develop and implement maintenance systems: Preventive, Predictive, TPM.
• Lead and develop the maintenance team.
• Troubleshoot and solve daily plant operations issues.
• Track KPIs for maintenance performance and improve OE.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Teamwork

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

PLCs

Instrumentation

Excel

Word

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 forefront 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.