Project Engineer (MET)

Maker's Pride; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 86,000 - 129,000; Full time

Job summary

Maker's Pride in Grand Rapids, MI, is seeking a MET Project Engineer to drive maintenance and reliability programs across multiple facilities. You will partner with plant teams to deploy strategies, reduce downtime, and standardize practices that improve asset performance and uptime.

This role requires 3–5 years in manufacturing reliability, CMMS experience, and strong analytical, root-cause, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent technical degree is required.
• 3–5 years of relevant engineering or reliability experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably food/cGMP.
• Working knowledge of CMMS and maintenance management principles; proficiency with MS Office and familiarity with SharePoint; exposure to AutoCAD is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Program Execution & Site Support across facilities
• CMMS implementation, data integrity & standardization
• Reliability analysis to identify trends and improvement opportunities
• Root cause analysis and corrective/preventive action implementation
• Training plant teams on reliability tools and best practices
• Coordinate cross-functional projects; track timelines and milestones
• Develop dashboards and site-level reliability metrics and reports

Skills

Analytical skills

Root cause analysis

Data interpretation

Cross-functional teamwork

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

CMMS

MS Office

SharePoint

AutoCAD

Job description

The (MET) Project Engineer is responsible for executing and supporting the implementation of maintenance and reliability programs across assigned manufacturing facilities. This role partners closely with plant teams to deploy corporate strategies, improve equipment reliability, and drive consistency in maintenance practices. The Project Engineer focuses on site-level execution, including identifying asset reliability risks, supporting CMMS adoption, analyzing performance data, and implementing solutions that improve uptime and operational efficiency. This role plays a critical part in translating enterprise strategy into practical, sustainable actions at the plant level while driving measurable improvements in reliability performance.

Location: Position will be based out of the Grand Rapids, MI area. Travel: 50%-80% travel annually associated with the position.

Key Responsibilities

• Program Execution & Site Support

  Implement corporate maintenance and reliability strategies, standards, and processes across assigned facilities

  Support 3-5 plants simultaneously to drive consistency in reliability practices and program execution

  Partner with Plant Maintenance and Operations teams to identify and address equipment reliability gaps

  Execute reliability improvement initiatives, including loss elimination and failure reduction

  Travel to manufacturing sites on a regular basis to ensure adherence to budget, schedule and deliverables.

• CMMS Implementation & Utilization

  Support implementation, adoption, and consistent use of CMMS systems at assigned sites

  Ensure accuracy and integrity of maintenance data, including work orders, asset hierarchy, and preventive maintenance plans

  Monitor CMMS compliance and drive adherence to established standards

• Reliability Analysis & Continuous Improvement

  Analyze equipment performance data to identify trends, recurring failures, and improvement opportunities

  Conduct root cause analysis and support corrective and preventive action implementation

  Apply reliability tools such as FMECA, MTBF/MTTR analysis to improve asset performance

  Support continuous improvement initiatives using Lean and Six Sigma methodologies

• Training & Capability Development

  Train and coach plant maintenance teams on reliability tools, CMMS usage, and best practices

  Support development of maintenance capabilities at the site level through knowledge sharing and hands‑on guidance

  Reinforce standardized processes and drive adoption of best practices

• Project Execution

  Manage and execute assigned reliability and maintenance-related projects from planning through completion

  Coordinate with cross‑functional teams (Operations, Quality, Food Safety, Planning) to ensure successful implementation

  Track project timelines, milestones and results; elevate risks or delays as needed

• Metrics & Reporting

  Track and report site-level reliability metrics, including asset performance and maintenance effectiveness

  Support development of dashboards and reports to monitor performance against targets

  Participate in facility‑level and regional metric reviews, providing insights and action plans

• Collaboration & Communication

  Work cross‑functionally to align maintenance activities with production and operational priorities

  Communicate progress, challenges, and results to plant leadership and MET leadership

  Support knowledge sharing across facilities by documenting and promoting best practices

• Budget & Planning Support

  Assist in development of site‑level maintenance budgets and forecasting efforts

  Identify cost‑saving opportunities through improved asset performance and maintenance practices

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent technical degree required; preferably in Industrial or Mechanical Engineering

• Experience: Minimum 3 years in the food industry or equivalent cGMP manufacturing environment 3-5 years of relevant engineering or reliability experience, preferably in a manufacturing environment Hands‑on experience with equipment reliability, maintenance practices and continuous improvement initiatives

• Technical Skills: Working knowledge of CMMS systems and maintenance management principles Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) and familiarity with SharePoint Exposure to AutoCAD and equipment layout/design concepts preferred Understanding of equipment center‑lining, SMED, and maintenance optimization methodologies

• Skills: Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, including root cause analysis and data interpretation Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast‑paced environment Effective communication skills with the ability to work cross‑functionally across plant teams Demonstrated ability to drive results through influence in a non‑direct authority environment Knowledge of preventative, predictive, and total productive maintenance practices Ability to translate strategy into actionable execution at the site level

The pay range for this full‑time, salaried position is $85,788 -$128,682/year. Individual base pay depends on work location and additional factors such as experience, job‑related skills, and relevant education or training. The position is eligible for a discretionary annual incentive based on company and individual performance.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, 401k and wellness benefits beginning on the first day of employment.

Sponsorship for work authorization is not available for this position. It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure they are legally authorized to work in the location to which they apply.

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