Project Engineer (MET)

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

Job summary

MET seeks a Project Engineer to lead maintenance and reliability programs across designated facilities, focusing on site-level execution and partnering with plant teams to improve uptime and efficiency.

You will apply reliability tools, support CMMS implementation, analyze performance data, and drive continuous improvement, including Lean and Six Sigma approaches, across multiple plants in a travel-intensive role.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent; Industrial/Mechanical preferred.
• Minimum 3 years in food industry or equivalent cGMP environment; 3-5 years in engineering/reliability.
• Hands-on equipment reliability, maintenance practices and CI experience.

Responsibilities

• Implement corporate maintenance and reliability strategies across facilities.
• Support 3-5 plants to drive consistency in reliability practices.
• Identify and address equipment reliability gaps with plant teams.
• Execute reliability improvement initiatives including loss elimination and failure reduction.
• Travel to manufacturing sites regularly to ensure adherence to budget, schedule and deliverables.
• Support CMMS implementation, adoption, and data integrity at sites.
• Analyze performance data to identify trends and improvement opportunities; conduct root cause analyses.
• Provide training on reliability tools, CMMS usage, and best practices.
• Manage and execute reliability and maintenance projects from planning to completion.
• Track site-level reliability metrics and develop dashboards and action plans.
• Communicate progress and results to plant leadership and MET leadership.
• Assist in development of maintenance budgets and forecasting; identify cost savings.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Project management

Cross-functional communication

Influence without authority

Maintenance best practices

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

CMMS

MS Office

AutoCAD

SMED

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

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

Pay Range

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. This information is provided per the relevant state and local pay transparency laws for the location in which this position will be performed. Base pay information is based on market location.

Work Authorization

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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