Project Engineer

FRESHPACK; Town of Monticello (WI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual KPI bonus opportunity up to 10%

Medical, dental, vision, life coverage

Referral program

401(k) program

Pay for Performance program

Get paid every Friday

Job summary

Family Fresh Pack Inc. in Monticello, Wisconsin, is seeking a Project Engineer to lead capital projects from concept to commissioning, improving safety, quality, yield, and performance.

You will partner with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Finance to deploy new equipment and processes, optimize layouts, and expand manufacturing capabilities while ensuring GMP, HACCP, and FDA compliance. Excellent communicator with strong project management skills encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, or related).
• 3-5 years of engineering experience in manufacturing.
• Experience managing capital projects, equipment installations, or facility expansions.
• Experience in food manufacturing, packaging, or consumer packaged goods preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to manage capital projects from concept through commissioning.
• Knowledge of equipment design, project management, and manufacturing systems.
• Knowledge of sanitary equipment design principles and hygienic integration in food manufacturing.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; work across departments and with vendors.
• Analytical mindset with data-driven decision making.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and CAD software (AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or similar).

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering projects from concept through implementation, commissioning, and startup.
• Develop project scopes, equipment specifications, timelines, budgets, and technical requirements.
• Assist with new product introductions and packaging innovations by equipment/process options.
• Evaluate needs and recommend equipment, automation, and technology solutions for growth.
• Collaborate with Operations and Maintenance to design and optimize production layouts and material flow.
• Support development of plant CapEx plans, budgets, and financial analyses with Finance.
• Manage capital projects including budgeting, scheduling, vendor coordination, installation, commissioning, startup.
• Serve as primary contact for equipment vendors, contractors, and integrators.
• Participate in equipment acceptance testing, commissioning, and performance validation.
• Monitor costs, schedules, and risks to ensure delivery within budgets and timelines.
• Coordinate with stakeholders to integrate new equipment and systems into operations.
• Ensure compliance with GMPs, HACCP, SQF, FDA, OSHA, and environmental regulations.
• Incorporate safety, ergonomics, machine guarding, and hygienic design into planning and design.

Skills

Analytical mindset

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Data-driven decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

Microsoft Office

Job description

Project Engineer

Family Fresh Pack Inc, Monticello, Wisconsin, United States

About this position

Description: Want to see your projects make a lasting impact? At Freshpack, you'll lead initiatives from concept through implementation, helping expand capabilities, introduce new technologies, and support the company's continued growth.

We have an opening for a Project Engineer to join our team. The Project Engineer is responsible for leading capital projects that improve safety, quality, yield, and operational performance. This role manages projects from concept through commissioning, including project scoping, equipment selection, vendor management, installation, and startup. The Project Engineer partners with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Finance to successfully deploy new equipment, support new products and processes, and expand manufacturing capabilities.

Freshpack is a custom cheese packaging company that develops and innovates cheese products and packaging. Our products can be found in all 50 states and in most major retailers. Over the past 25 years, our team has grown from 15 to 280+ employees. It is an exciting time to join our team, as we are poised for substantial growth over the next 3-5 years.

Responsibilities

Project Engineering & Technical Ownership

• Lead engineering projects from concept through implementation, commissioning, and startup.
• Develop project scopes, equipment specifications, timelines, budgets, and technical requirements.
• Assist with new product introductions and packaging innovations by identifying and implementing equipment and process solutions.
• Evaluate manufacturing needs and recommend equipment, automation, and technology solutions to support business growth.
• Collaborate with Operations and Maintenance to design and optimize production layouts, material flow, and equipment placement for new lines and facility improvements.

Capital Planning & Deployment

• Support development of plant CapEx plans, project justifications, and financial analyses in partnership with Finance.
• Manage assigned capital projects including budgeting, scheduling, vendor coordination, installation, commissioning, and startup.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for equipment vendors, contractors, and integrators throughout project execution.
• Participate in equipment acceptance testing, commissioning, and performance validation to ensure project objectives are achieved.
• Monitor project costs, schedules, and risks to ensure successful delivery within approved budgets and timelines.
• Coordinate with stakeholders to ensure smooth integration of new equipment and systems into operations.

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure all projects, equipment installations, and process modifications comply with applicable food safety, environmental, and occupational safety requirements.
• Design and implement solutions that support compliance with GMPs, HACCP, SQF, FDA, OSHA, and applicable environmental regulations.
• Partner with Quality, Operations, Maintenance, and EHS teams to identify and mitigate regulatory and operational risks during project planning and execution.
• Incorporate personnel safety, ergonomics, machine guarding, food safety, and environmental considerations into equipment selection, facility layouts, and process design.
• Support audits, inspections, and compliance initiatives by providing technical expertise and project documentation as required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, or related discipline preferred).
• 3-5 years of engineering experience in a manufacturing environment required.
• Experience managing or supporting capital projects, equipment installations, or facility expansions required.
• Experience in food manufacturing, packaging, or consumer packaged goods environments strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to manage capital projects from concept through commissioning.
• Knowledge of equipment design, project management, and manufacturing systems.
• Knowledge of sanitary equipment design principles and hygienic system integration within food manufacturing environments.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work effectively across departments and with external vendors.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to make data-driven decisions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and CAD software (AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or similar).

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

• Typical work schedule: M-F during standard business hours.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to walk or stand for long periods of time while on production floor and warehouse.

Benefits

• Annual KPI bonus opportunity of up to 10% of base salary, paid quarterly.
• Medical, dental, vision, company-provided life insurance & more!
• Referral program
• 401(k) program
• Pay for Performance program
• Get paid every Friday!