Plant Engineering Manager

schwans; Deer Park (TX); On-site; USD 91,000 - 151,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual incentive bonus

Total Rewards package

Health benefits

Job summary

Schwan’s Company is seeking an Engineering Manager for our Houston-area frozen food manufacturing facilities, including Pasadena and Deer Park. You will lead capital project evaluation and execution, acting as the gatekeeper for budgets, scopes, and timelines across two sites to deliver products safely and efficiently.

Ideal candidates bring 10+ years in process/packaging infrastructure or maintenance, with PM best practices, subcontractor management, and a track record in Food & Beverage

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical or Process preferred).
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in Process, Packaging equipment, Infrastructure, and/or Maintenance.
• Experience with Food and Beverage or Consumer Packaged Goods.
• Experience budgeting in a manufacturing multi-site environment.
• Significant experience with project cost controls and conformance to PM best practices.
• Experience executing bid processes and managing subcontractors.

Responsibilities

• Scope, plan, and execute capital projects across multiple sites, ensuring budget, schedule, cash flow, procurement, and risk mitigation.
• Serve as capital approval gatekeeper, reviewing scopes and execution plans for feasibility and standards compliance.
• Coach on vendor selection, engineering standards, and resource planning; support talent development.
• Ensure adherence to project management best practices and mitigate high-risk issues.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to align operational needs with project plans.
• Collaborate with Finance to review capital allocation and cash flow forecasts; ensure proper closeouts.
• Support capital planning by providing project performance insights and long-term investment strategies.
• Lead select capital projects from concept to completion.

Skills

Project cost controls

Vendor selection

Cross-site collaboration

Budgeting experience

Education

Bachelor/Master in Engineering

Job description

Schwan’s Company, a U.S. affiliate of the global lifestyle brand CJ CheilJedang Corporation, is a leader in manufacturing and marketing quality foods enjoyed nationwide. We have beloved brands likeRed Baron®, Tony’s®, Big Daddy’s®, Villa Prima™ and Freschetta® pizzas; bibigo®, Pagoda® Asian-style snacks and we can’t forget Mrs. Smith’s® and Edwards® pies! We bring families and communities together through great food. Join our team and see the opportunities are real, and the sky is the limit; this isn’t just a job, it’s a seat at the table!

As theEngineering Managerat our frozen food manufacturing facility in theHouston, TX area (specifically Pasadena and Deer Park)you will play a pivotal role in driving operational excellence across two food manufacturing facilities by leading the evaluation and execution of capital projects.From infrastructure upgrades to critical EHS and food safety improvements, you'll serve as a strategic gatekeeper—ensuring project scopes, budgets, timelines, and outcomes align with business priorities.

Responsibilities:

• Partner with Plant Project Engineers across multiple sites to scope, plan, and execute capital projects, ensuring alignment on budget, schedule, cash flow, procurement, and risk mitigation.
• Serve as the capital approval gatekeeper, reviewing project scopes and execution plans to ensure feasibility and compliance with standards.
• Provide coaching on vendor selection, engineering standards, and resource planning; support talent development and succession planning.
• Ensure adherence to project management best practices and escape high-risk issues as needed.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams (Production, Maintenance, Sanitation, HR, Logistics) to integrate operational needs into project plans.
• Collaborate with Finance to review capital allocation, validate cash flow forecasts, and ensure accurate project closeouts.
• Support capital planning by providing project performance insights and developing long-term investment strategies with site leadership.
• Lead select capital projects directly, managing execution and deliverables from concept through completion.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science or Master’s degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical or Process preferred).
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in Process, Packaging equipment, Infrastructure, and/or Maintenance. Previous experience with Food and Beverage or Consumer Packaged Goods companies required. Previous experiences with budgeting in a manufacturing multi-site capacity required.
• Significant experience and skill related to project cost controls and measuring conformance to project management best practices.
• Prior experience executing bid process, defining sub-contractor performance criteria and managing subcontractors, required.

Compensation and Benefits:

The base salary range for this position is $90,750 to $151,250 annually with eligibility for a 15% annual incentive bonus, that is based on organizational performance. The pay range represents the numerous factors considered in the hiring decisions including, but not limited to educations, skills, work experience, certifications, geography etc. As such, starting pay for the successful candidate(s) could fall anywhere within the stated range.

Beyond base salary, we offer a competitive Total Rewards package focusing on your overall well-being. We are proud to offer a strong foundation of health benefits, retirement and financial wellbeing, time off programs, wellbeing support programs.

The employing subsidiaries of Schwan's Company are Equal Employment Opportunity Employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, age, race, color, religion, gender, vet status, national origin, or other protected class.

.