Senior Manager, Manufacturing Engineering

The Original Cakerie; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Dessert Holdings, a leading premium dessert company, seeks a Senior Manager of Manufacturing Engineering to lead engineering initiatives across its network of food facilities. You will drive capital projects, process optimization, and capacity expansion while aligning with Operations, Quality, and R&D to elevate performance.

The role partners with plant leaders to implement standards, validate equipment, and scale manufacturing for product commercialization, aiming for safety, quality, and cost

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering required; Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, Chemical, or related disciplines preferred.
• 8+ years of engineering experience in food/CPG manufacturing environments, with GMP/FSMA facility exposure preferred.
• 3+ years of leadership experience managing engineers or cross-functional initiatives.
• Experience leading complex, multi-site engineering programs and capital projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing Manufacturing Engineering team across multiple facilities.
• Establish and drive engineering standards, governance, and best practices for operational excellence.
• Partner with plant leadership to identify improvements and prioritize resources for strategic objectives.
• Serve as Manufacturing Engineering lead for major capital projects from scope to startup and validation.
• Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Supply Chain, and R&D to ensure project success and readiness.
• Drive product commercialization through feasibility assessments, process scale-up, and launch readiness.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Manufacturing engineering

Continuous improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Job description

Senior Manager, Manufacturing Engineering (Food/Bakery)

Dessert Holdings is the leading premium dessert company in the world. We craft artisanal, scratch-made desserts at scale, combining culinary innovation with the finest real ingredients. With a rich heritage spanning seven distinctive brands, we bring unmatched expertise and tailored solutions to our Retail and Foodservice partners.

Reporting to the VP of Engineering & Reliability, the Senior Manager, Manufacturing Engineering is responsible for leading manufacturing engineering initiatives across Dessert Holdings' network of food manufacturing facilities. The role provides technical leadership for major capital projects, manufacturing optimization, capacity improvement, engineering standards, and operational performance improvement initiatives.

The position partners closely with Operations, Reliability, Project Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and R&D to improve manufacturing performance, support successful project execution, enable product commercialization, and drive engineering excellence across the network.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead and develop a high-performing Manufacturing Engineering team, providing coaching, mentoring, and technical leadership across multiple manufacturing facilities.
• Establish and drive manufacturing engineering standards, best practices, methodologies, and technical governance to ensure consistency and operational excellence.
• Partner with plant and business leaders to identify improvement opportunities, prioritize engineering resources, and support strategic business objectives.
• Serve as the Manufacturing Engineering lead for major capital projects, guiding scope development, design reviews, equipment selection, commissioning, startup, and performance validation.
• Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, Quality, Supply Chain, R&D, contractors, and OEMs to ensure successful project execution and operational readiness.
• Lead product commercialization efforts, including manufacturing feasibility assessments, process scale-up, validation activities, and launch readiness planning.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, throughput, yield, labor efficiency, quality, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Analyze manufacturing processes, equipment performance, and operational constraints to identify root causes and implement sustainable performance improvements.
• Lead capacity planning, manufacturing studies, and network optimization efforts to support business growth, expansion strategies, and long-term operational planning.
• Develop manufacturing roadmaps, business cases, and technical recommendations for future capital investments and capacity expansion opportunities.
• Promote equipment standardization, process consistency, and replication of best practices across the manufacturing network.
• Act as a key cross-functional technical leader, supporting initiatives that improve safety, quality, service, cost performance, and long-term manufacturing capability.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering required; Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, Chemical, or related disciplines preferred.
• 8+ years of engineering experience within food, beverage, consumer packaged goods (CPG), or similar manufacturing environments, with a preference for experience in food and in prior GMP/FSMA facilities
• 3+ years of leadership experience managing engineers, technical teams, or cross-functional initiatives.
• Experience supporting manufacturing operations through process optimization, manufacturing engineering, capital project execution, continuous improvement, or operational excellence initiatives.
• Demonstrated success leading complex, multi-site engineering programs; preference for prior experience with large-scale capital projects, facility expansions, manufacturing start-ups, or product commercialization initiatives.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, production systems, and operational performance metrics
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement certification preferred
• Ability to travel up to 60 to 75%within North America (U.S. and Canada)

About Dessert Holdings

Dessert Holdings is a collection of premium dessert companies and brands: The Original Cakerie, Lawler's Desserts, Atlanta Cheesecake Company, Steven Charles, Dianne's Fine Desserts, Kenny's Great Pies, and Willamette Valley Pie Company. Dessert Holdings is owned by Bain Capital, is headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, employs more than 3,500 people across ten manufacturing facilities, and is continuing its journey of rapid growth.

EEO Statement

Dessert Holdings and its related entities provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or any other characteristics protected by law.