Senior Dairy Plant Engineering Leader

Socket.dev; Blair (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

401(k) matching

Short-term disability

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Flexible spending accounts

Employee assistance programs

Job summary

AMPI is seeking a transformative Engineering leader for its Midwest manufacturing network. The role drives safety, quality, and process improvements across engineering and operations, leading capital projects and CI initiatives to enhance reliability and product quality.

The position requires deep industry experience in dairy operations, strong supervisory skills, and a proven ability to manage budgets while collaborating across cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field OR a proven track record of 10+ years of progressive technical experience in manufacturing operations.
• Minimum 5 years of supervisory or leadership experience (required).
• 10+ years of experience in a dairy operations environment (preferred).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Basic accounting knowledge, including accounts payable and receivable (preferred).
• Knowledge of SQF, HACCP, GMPs, OSHA, and loss control programs (highly desirable).

Responsibilities

• Safety & Quality Responsibility - report safety, food safety, or product quality concerns.
• Elevated safety & quality leadership ensuring engineering solutions and facility designs meet high food safety standards.
• Provide daily engineering support to optimize plant operations and drive continuous improvement.
• Promote a safety-first culture and investigate concerns with engineering-focused corrective actions.
• Manage engineering and maintenance budgets and identify cost-saving improvements.
• Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Sanitation teams to align priorities.
• Develop engineering strategies aligned with long-term business needs.
• Adapt engineering approaches to changing conditions while supporting teams.
• Lead structured problem-solving with data-driven, team-based solutions.
• Support a positive, collaborative culture and open communication.
• Lead engineering and capital projects with clear plans and progress updates.
• Drive process/equipment improvements to enhance quality and reduce variability.
• Lead CI engineering efforts to lower costs and improve efficiency.
• Understand financial impact of engineering decisions and support leadership decisions.
• Apply sound judgment, involve team members in decision-making, deliver timely solutions.
• Develop realistic engineering plans and secure resources.
• Provide coaching and development to Maintenance and CI teams.
• Participate in customer complaint investigations to identify root causes and actions.
• Use feedback to strengthen equipment performance and practices.
• Maintain professionalism under pressure and ensure team support during urgent situations.
• Ensure safety/compliance with all regulations and proper use of equipment.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership experience

Supervisory experience

Problem solving

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field

10+ years progressive technical experience in manufacturing operations

Minimum 5 years of supervisory or leadership experience

10+ years in a dairy operations environment (preferred)

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Basic accounting knowledge (accounts payable/receivable)

Knowledge of SQF, HACCP, GMPs, OSHA, loss control programs

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

AMPI is seeking a transformative Engineering leader for its Midwest manufacturing network. The role drives safety, quality, and process improvements across engineering and operations, leading capital projects and CI initiatives to enhance reliability and product quality.

The position requires deep industry experience in dairy operations, strong supervisory skills, and a proven ability to manage budgets while collaborating across cross-functional teams.