Senior Manager, Food Systems Engineering

my7elevenhr; Irving (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

7-Eleven seeks a Senior Manager, Equipment, Packaging & System Design to lead the technical innovation strategy for Fresh Food & Beverage operations across the store network. You will own the lifecycle from concept to commercialization, ensuring integration of product, equipment, and packaging requirements for efficient, profitable delivery of F&B products.

You will partner with Product Development, Operations, Design, Supply Chain, QA and external manufacturers to deliver scalable solutions,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field such as mechanical/industrial/packaging engineering or food science.
• 10+ years of relevant work experience with 5+ years in leadership roles.
• Experience leading equipment, packaging and system design initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of food safety regulations, HACCP, and retail foodservice standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end lifecycle for equipment, packaging, and system design across store networks.
• Set technical standards, specifications, testing protocols, and qualification processes.
• Partner with Product Development, Operations, Design, Supply Chain, QA, and external manufacturers.
• Drive a technology roadmap and automation opportunities to transform store operations.
• Manage capital budgets, vendor relationships, and procurement with ROI focus.
• Coach and develop engineering talent and translate business needs into technical plans.
• Monitor performance data and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Equipment design

Packaging engineering

Leadership

Automation technologies

Food safety compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

Industrial Engineering

Packaging Engineering

Food Science

Tools

Automation platforms

Packaging machinery

Job description

7-Eleven is an iconic family of brands with over 86,000 locations, surpassing every retailer in the world. We revolutionize convenience, restaurants and fuel through cutting edge innovation - working hard to be the customer's first choice. 7-Eleven empowers our employees to "activate awesome" and make a meaningful impact in their stores and communities every day. If you're ready to grow, lead and make a difference, come join our team and help shape the future of convenience.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Senior Manager, Equipment, Packaging & System Design leads the technical innovation strategy for 7-Eleven's Fresh Food & Beverage operations, driving the development and optimization of equipment, packaging, and operational systems across the entire store network. This role owns the end-to-end technical solution lifecycle from concept through commercialization, ensuring seamless integration of product, equipment, and packaging requirements that enable consistent, efficient, and profitable delivery of food and beverage products. The position requires strategic partnership with Product Development, Operations, Design, Supply Chain, and external manufacturers to deliver scalable solutions that transform store operations and enhance customer experience. This leader will build organizational capability while establishing technical standards and driving automation opportunities that redefine convenience retail foodservice.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team of engineers and technical specialists in creating innovative equipment, packaging, and system solutions for fresh food and beverage operations across all store formats
• Own the complete technical solution lifecycle including concept development, prototyping, testing protocols, pilot validation, commercialization planning, and post-launch optimization to ensure successful implementation
• Establish and maintain comprehensive technical standards, specifications, testing protocols, and qualification processes that ensure seamless integration of product, equipment, packaging, and system requirements
• Partner strategically with Product Development, Store Operations, Design, Supply Chain, Quality Assurance, and external equipment manufacturers to deliver scalable solutions that improve consumer experience, product quality, store implementation, and operational execution
• Drive the strategic roadmap for Food & Beverage equipment engineering and operational innovation, identifying and evaluating emerging technologies, automation platforms, and smart kitchen solutions that transform the store operating model
• Manage capital project budgets, vendor partnerships, and equipment procurement processes while ensuring cost-effective solutions that deliver strong return on investment and operational efficiency
• Conduct comprehensive equipment specification, testing, and validation activities across complex, multi-site operational environments to ensure reliability, food safety compliance, and operational scalability
• Build organizational capability by coaching talent, setting team priorities, allocating resources effectively, and fostering a culture of innovation, technical rigor, and continuous improvement
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to translate business objectives into technical requirements and actionable implementation plans that drive enterprise-scale transformation
• Monitor and analyze equipment performance data, store feedback, and operational metrics to identify optimization opportunities and drive continuous improvement initiatives
• Ensure all equipment and packaging solutions comply with food safety regulations, health codes, environmental standards, and corporate quality requirements
• Present technical recommendations, project updates, and strategic initiatives to senior leadership and executive stakeholders with clear business impact analysis

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, Industrial Engineering, Food Engineering, Packaging Engineering, Food Science, or related technical field required

YEARS OF RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE: 10+ years

YEARS OF MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE: 5+ years

SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Advanced knowledge of foodservice equipment design, specification, and integration including cooking equipment, refrigeration systems, food preparation tools, and packaging machinery
• Expertise in packaging engineering principles including material selection, sustainability considerations, food safety requirements, and supply chain optimization
• Proficiency in technical testing protocols, validation methodologies, and quality assurance processes for food contact equipment and packaging materials
• Strong understanding of food safety regulations, health codes, HACCP principles, and compliance requirements for retail foodservice operations
• Experience with automation technologies, IoT-enabled equipment, smart kitchen systems, and emerging foodservi