Senior Engineer, Process

The J.M. Smucker Company; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The J.M. Smucker Company invites a Senior Process Engineer to lead continuous improvement across Sandwich Making and Bakery Operations at the Uncrustables Manufacturing site in McCalla, AL. You will mentor engineers, drive safety and productivity, and deliver capital projects and new process implementations.

You will partner with Operations, Engineering, and R&D to evaluate new products and technologies, while shaping the site Master Plan and building technical capability across teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Industrial or related Engineering discipline.
• Manufacturing experience required; food or consumer packaged goods experience preferred.
• 3+ years of project management and/or capital project experience.
• Demonstrated success leading continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead Continuous Improvement Drive safety, quality, productivity, and reliability improvements across manufacturing operations.
• Analyze performance gaps and lead root cause investigations using Operations Excellence tools.
• Develop, execute, and track site and department Master Plan initiatives.
• Lead troubleshooting efforts and implement sustainable process improvements.
• Deliver Technical & Business Results; partner with Operations, Engineering, and R&D to evaluate and implement new products, processes, and technologies; coordinate plant trials, process validations, and startup activities.
• Lead capital projects from concept through startup, including funding requests and project execution.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for critical manufacturing systems and processes.
• Develop People & Build Capability: lead onboarding and mentoring for Process Engineers, Interns, and Co-Ops; coaching and career development.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Engineering fundamentals

Continuous improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Industrial/Chemical Engineering

Job description

Your Opportunity as a Senior Process Engineer

Join one of Smucker's fastest-growing businesses and help shape the future of the Uncrustables® brand. As a Senior Process Engineer, you'll lead manufacturing improvements across Sandwich Making and Bakery Operations, drive continuous improvement initiatives, develop engineering talent, and deliver projects that improve safety, quality, productivity, and plant performance. This is a highly visible leadership role with opportunities to influence strategy, mentor engineers, and make a lasting impact on a growing operation. Location: McCalla, AL | Uncrustables® Manufacturing

In This Role You Will

• Lead Continuous Improvement Drive safety, quality, productivity, and reliability improvements across manufacturing operations.
• Analyze performance gaps and lead root cause investigations using Operations Excellence tools.
• Develop, execute, and track site and department Master Plan initiatives.
• Lead troubleshooting efforts and implement sustainable process improvements.
• Deliver Technical & Business Results Partner with Operations, Engineering, and R&D to evaluate and implement new products, processes, and technologies. Coordinate and lead plant trials, process validations, and startup activities. Identify and execute cost savings, efficiency, and capacity improvement projects.
• Lead capital projects from concept through startup, including funding requests and project execution.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for critical manufacturing systems and processes.
• Develop People & Build Capability Lead onboarding and mentoring for Process Engineers, Interns, and Co-Ops. Coach engineers through performance management, career development, and skill growth. Build technical capability within operations teams and foster a high-performance culture. Provide leadership across cross-functional teams to deliver key business objectives.

What we are looking For

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Industrial or related Engineering discipline.
• Manufacturing experience required; food or consumer packaged goods experience preferred.
• 3+ years of project management and/or capital project experience.
• Demonstrated success leading continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives.

Additional skills and experience that we think would make someone successful in this role

• Experience with food processing, packaging, or ingredient technologies.
• Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis capabilities.
• Ability to lead projects and influence teams across multiple functions.
• Excellent communication, coaching, and relationship-building skills.
• Familiarity with capital project delivery and manufacturing startup activities.
• Ability to support occasional off-shift or weekend activities.
• Willingness to travel up to 30% for vendor and Smucker site visits.

Why Uncrustables®?

Make a direct impact at one of Smucker's newest and fastest-growing manufacturing facilities.

Lead high-visibility projects that drive business growth.

Work with advanced manufacturing technology and automation.

Accelerate your career through leadership development and technical growth opportunities.

Join a collaborative culture focused on innovation, continuous improvement, and employee development.

Help bring America's favorite frozen sandwich to life while building a rewarding career with The J.M. Smucker Company.

The Right Place for You

We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs, and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs.

Stay connected with us on LinkedIn®

We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status.

We’re a community of passionate, talented professionals dedicated to creating food people and pets love—while supporting the communities in which we work and live. We value what makes each person unique, champion growth and development, and foster collaboration that fuels productivity and drives our shared success.

Learn more about our Thrive Together purpose

At Smucker, we’re passionate about creating a workplace where you truly belong. With a culture rooted in our Basic Beliefs and a competitive Total Rewards program, we aim to support every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs.

Learn more about working at Smucker

Our culture is sustained and brought to life every day by the people of Smucker and our hiring process is designed to identify the right candidate for every position at our company.

Learn more about our hiring process

The J. M. Smucker Co. (the “Company”) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. No person will be discriminated against in hiring or in any other aspect of their employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status, marital status, familial status, disability, genetic information, protected veteran/military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law.