Project Engineer

J&J Snack Foods; Vernon (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

J&J Snack Foods Corp. is seeking a Project Engineer for a large-scale food manufacturing facility.

You will plan, coordinate, and execute engineering projects alongside Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Food Safety, EHS, and Supply Chain to deliver safely, on schedule, and within budget. Responsibilities include equipment installation, process improvements, packaging systems, capital planning, and ensuring compliance with GMP, sanitation, and regulatory standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field and 3+ years of engineering or project experience.
• Experience managing multiple projects from concept through implementation.
• Strong reading of engineering drawings, specifications, and documents.
• Ability to work with cross-functional teams, contractors, and leadership.
• Commitment to safety and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects from concept through design, procurement, installation, commissioning, and closeout.
• Develop scopes, schedules, budgets, and capital expenditure estimates.
• Coordinate with Operations and Maintenance to improve safety, reliability, quality, and efficiency.
• Review drawings, equipment specs, layouts, process diagrams, and technical docs.
• Manage contractors, consultants, suppliers, and external partners.
• Coordinate installation, startup, and acceptance with minimal production disruption.
• Ensure compliance with building codes, electrical/mechanical regs, environmental, and food safety standards.
• Incorporate hygienic design into equipment and facilities.
• Support equipment qualification, commissioning, startup, and validation activities.
• Conduct risk assessments and embed safety controls in designs.
• Track costs, schedules, risks, and change orders; report to plant/corporate leadership.
• Maintain project docs: scopes of work, RFQs, specs, drawings, commissioning records.
• Lead or support continuous-improvement on throughput, OEE, waste reduction, energy use, and reliability.
• Collaborate with Maintenance to improve spares, PM, and asset reliability.
• Support root-cause analysis for production and equipment issues.
• Participate in CAPEX planning and multi-year facility/equipment plans.
• Ensure contractor/personnel follow safety, GMP, sanitation, and LOTO rules.

Skills

Project management

Engineering problem-solving

Contractor management

Manufacturing process improvement

Safety and risk management

Cross-functional collaboration

Budget and schedule management

Technical communication

Root-cause analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

PLC programming

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Project Engineer is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing engineering projects within a large-scale food manufacturing facility. This role works closely with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Food Safety, EHS, Supply Chain, and external contractors to deliver projects safely, on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with applicable food manufacturing and regulatory requirements.

Projects may include equipment installation and upgrades, process improvements, facility modifications, utilities, automation, packaging systems, capacity expansions, energy reduction initiatives, and capital improvement projects.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Lead engineering projects from initial concept and scope development through design, procurement, installation, commissioning, and project closeout.
• Develop project scopes, schedules, budgets, capital expenditure estimates, and project documentation.
• Coordinate with Operations and Maintenance to identify opportunities for improved safety, reliability, quality, capacity, efficiency, and cost performance.
• Prepare and review engineering drawings, equipment specifications, layouts, process flow diagrams, and technical documentation.
• Manage contractors, engineering consultants, equipment suppliers, and other external partners.
• Coordinate equipment installation, construction, commissioning, startup, and acceptance activities while minimizing disruption to production.
• Ensure projects comply with applicable building codes, electrical and mechanical requirements, environmental regulations, food safety standards, and company engineering standards.
• Incorporate hygienic design principles into equipment, piping, facility, and process modifications.
• Partner with Food Safety and Quality teams to ensure projects meet sanitation, allergen-control, product-quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Support the development and execution of equipment qualification, commissioning, startup, and validation activities as applicable.
• Conduct project risk assessments and ensure appropriate safety controls are incorporated into project designs and execution plans.
• Track project costs, schedules, risks, issues, and change orders; communicate status and escalations to plant and corporate leadership.
• Develop and maintain project documentation, including scopes of work, RFQs, equipment specifications, drawings, commissioning records, and as-built documentation.
• Lead or support continuous-improvement initiatives involving throughput, OEE, labor efficiency, waste reduction, energy consumption, and process reliability.
• Work with Maintenance and Reliability teams to improve equipment maintainability, spare-parts requirements, preventive maintenance, and asset reliability.
• Support troubleshooting and root-cause analysis for engineering-related production and equipment issues.
• Participate in capital planning and help develop multi-year facility and equipment improvement plans.
• Ensure contractors and project personnel follow plant safety, GMP, sanitation, lockout/tagout, and site-specific requirements.
• Participate in project post-mortems and implement lessons learned on future projects.

TYPICAL PROJECT AREAS

The Project Engineer may support projects involving:

• Production and processing equipment
• Packaging and material-handling systems
• Conveyors and automation
• Robotics and controls
• Refrigeration and HVAC
• Steam, compressed air, water, and other utilities
• Wastewater and environmental systems
• Electrical distribution and power systems
• Facility expansions and building modifications
• Sanitary piping and process systems
• CIP and sanitation systems
• Energy and water reduction projects
• Safety and ergonomic improvementsCapacity expansion and new production lines
• Equipment replacement and modernization

COMPETENCIES

• Project management
• Engineering problem-solving
• Contractor and vendor management
• Manufacturing process improvement
• Safety and risk management
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Budget and schedule management
• Technical communication
• Root-cause analysis

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 3+ years of engineering or project engineering experience, preferably in food, beverage, consumer products, pharmaceutical, chemical, or other process/manufacturing environments.
• Experience managing multiple engineering projects from concept through implementation.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing equipment, industrial processes, and facility systems.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and equipment documentation.
• Strong project management, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, contractors, vendors, and plant leadership.
• Demonstrated commitment to workplace safety and regulatory compliance.

Preferred

• Experience in a high-volume food or beverage manufacturing facility.
• Experience with capital projects and CAPEX budgeting.
• Knowledge of GMPs, HACCP, sanitation, hygienic design, and food safety requirements.
• Experience with automated production and packaging equipment.Familiarity with PLCs, industrial controls, robotics, or manufacturing automation.
• Experience with CAD and project management software.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous-improvement experience.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license or Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification.

Education and Experience

• BA/BS Engineering and 5 years related experience or 10 years related experience in bakery plant engineering position.
• Strong engineering skills and mechanical aptitude.
• Excellent planning/organizational skills.
• Able to read and draw electrical schematics (line)
• Ability to troubleshoot, diagnose, and make programming changes to AB PLC500, PLC5, PanelView, PanelView+
• Ability to work effectively with regulatory agencies.
• Familiar with AutoCAD, Machine Design, and Parts Drafting.
• Ability to work with deadlines/schedules.

Only US citizen or alien that have legal right to work in the US are eligible for employment. Can you if hired, provide documentation establishing your identity and eligibility to be legally employed in the United States without the need for H1B Sponsorship now or in the future?

US Salary Pay Range

$80,000 - $110,000 USD

Disclaimer:This position description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the team member. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

EEO Statement:J&J Snack Foods Corp.is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discriminatory employment actions against, and treatment of, employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived Federal, State and local laws that prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, national origin, ethnicity, alienage, religion or creed, gender, gender identity, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, genetic disposition or characteristics, disability or veteran's status, sex offenses, prior record of arrest or conviction, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristic, status as a victim or witness of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking and unemployment status.