Project Engineer

JSK Recruiting, Inc; Illinois; On-site; USD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Job summary

JSK Recruiting, Inc. presents a hands-on Project Engineer role in Oak Lawn, IL, on-site at a fast-growing food processing facility. You will own capital projects, coordinate contractors, and help scale a major capacity expansion.

The role requires a degree in a related field, 5+ years of project engineering, and a penchant for solving problems on the processing floor. Competitive compensation ($125,000–$150,000) plus bonus awaits the right candidate.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical, Chemical, Biology, Chemistry, or related; 5+ years of project engineering in a similar environment.
• 3+ years of project engineering in industrial plant operations, food processing, or chemical environments.
• Experience managing capital projects including scoping, budgeting, scheduling, and contractor coordination.
• Familiarity with conveyors, material handling, or packaging equipment valued.
• Problem-solving skills with a data-driven approach.
• Comfortable on the processing floor as well as at a desk.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage capital projects from scoping and budgeting through contractor coordination.
• Lead on-site construction coordination with electrical, mechanical, and general contractors.
• Troubleshoot conveyor, packaging, and processing modifications and upgrades daily.
• Develop and update standard operating procedures for equipment changes and new system integrations.
• Lead root cause analysis for recurring equipment failures using CMMS data.
• Collaborate with the Plant Manager and maintenance team to drive continuous improvement.
• Manage environmental permits, regulatory reporting, and compliance requirements across applicable agencies.
• Conduct internal audits to ensure adherence to permit conditions and SOPs.

Skills

Capital projects

Contractor coordination

Data-driven problem solving

Education

BS in Mechanical, Chemical, Biology, Chemistry or related

Tools

CMMS

Conveyor systems

Packaging equipment

Job description

Job Description

Project Engineer
Oak Lawn, IL (On-site)
Compensation: $125,000 to $150,000 + bonus

About the Role

A fast-growing, mission-driven food processing facility on Chicago's south side is looking for a hands-on Project Engineer to help bring third-party engineering in-house, optimize processes, and support a major capacity expansion that is already underway. This is not a desk job. You will be equally comfortable on the processing floor as you are reviewing drawings or managing a contractor. The facility is doubling its capacity and needs an engineer who can own capital projects, troubleshoot daily, and help build the technical foundation the operation needs to scale.

If you are someone who thrives in an entrepreneurial environment, wants to do meaningful work, and is energized by the idea of building something new, this is worth a serious look.

About the Company

The facility sits on a 9-acre campus with a 30,000 square foot building and is currently in the middle of a major capacity expansion. The culture is entrepreneurial, fast-moving, and open to lean thinking, 5S, kaizen, and anyone who wants to make things better. The organization is mission-focused on sustainability, job creation, and healthy communities.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage capital projects from scoping and budgeting through contractor coordination and completion
• Lead on-site construction coordination with electrical, mechanical, and general contractors
• Troubleshoot conveyor, packaging, and processing modifications and upgrades on a daily basis
• Develop and update standard operating procedures for equipment changes and new system integrations
• Lead root cause analysis for recurring equipment failures using CMMS data
• Collaborate with the Plant Manager and maintenance team to drive continuous improvement
• Manage environmental permits, regulatory reporting, and compliance requirements across applicable agencies
• Conduct internal audits to ensure adherence to permit conditions and SOPs

Requirements

• BS in Mechanical, Chemical, Biology, Chemistry or related is required or an equivalent of 5+ years project engineering in a similar environment
• 3+ years of project engineering experience in industrial plant operations, food processing, or chemical environments preferred
• Demonstrated experience managing capital projects including scoping, budgeting, scheduling, and contractor coordination
• Familiarity with conveyor systems, material handling, or packaging equipment is strongly valued
• Excellent problem-solving skills with a data-driven approach
• Equally comfortable on the processing floor as behind a desk

Compensation and Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance and retirement plans
• Entrepreneurial culture where your engineering contributions directly shape the future of the operation
• A facility in active growth mode with real opportunity to expand your role as the company scales
• Mission-driven organization with meaningful environmental and community impact

This is a role for someone who wants to own their work, solve real problems on the floor, and be part of a company that is building something worth being a part of.

Company Description

The team at JSK Recruiting, Inc. prides itself on providing boutique-level services combined with the resources of a larger recruiting firm. We forgo the traditional nine-to-five workday model in favor of complete accessibility. We are here for our clients and candidates when they need us most.

With 12 years of experience in the field of supply chain and manufacturing recruiting, we maintain the relationships that employers are looking for in the recruiting firm as well as those that talented professionals need when they are ready to make a career change.

At JSK Recruiting, we provide complete recruiting services, from sourcing candidates to organizing the interview process. Finding both long-term employees and rewarding careers across manufacturing and supply chain positions has never been easier.