Senior Project Engineer

Griffith Foods Inc.; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 103,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) Plan with Company Match

ESOP

Job summary

Griffith Foods is seeking a Senior Project Engineer to lead capital projects and improvements at our Lithonia, GA facility. You will drive projects from concept to startup, manage budgets and schedules, and coordinate with cross-functional teams to deliver practical manufacturing solutions.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years in engineering/project management within food/manufacturing, strong budgeting and contractor management, and is willing to onsite in Lithonia with up to 10% travel.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of engineering/project management experience, preferably in manufacturing or food industry.
• Strong budgeting, scheduling, and contractor/vendor management skills.
• Experience leading capital projects in a live manufacturing facility.

Responsibilities

• Lead capital projects from concept through design, installation, commissioning, startup and handoff.
• Develop scopes, budgets, schedules, estimates and execution plans.
• Manage contractors, vendors, engineering partners and internal resources.
• Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Quality/Food Safety, EHS, and Supply Chain to deliver practical solutions.
• Improve capacity, efficiency, reliability, safety, quality and production flow.
• Oversee projects involving food processing equipment, packaging, conveyors, utilities, HVAC, electrical, controls and automation.
• Support installation, commissioning and startup; ensure compliance with food safety and engineering standards.
• Provide training and transition completed projects to plant operations.

Skills

Problem-solving

Budgeting

Contractor management

Cross-functional comms

Education

Bachelor's degree (Mech/Chem/Electrical)

Tools

PLC systems

Automation

Job description

Senior Project Engineer

Location: Onsite in Lithonia, GA

Salary Range: $103,000 - $140,000/year plus bonus

Griffith Foods is looking for an experienced Senior Project Engineer to lead capital projects and manufacturing improvements at our Lithonia, GA facility.

If you have hands‑on engineering experience in food, beverage, CPG, or process manufacturing and enjoy turning ideas into equipment, process improvements, and successful production startups, this could be a great opportunity for you!

Responsibilities

• Lead capital projects from concept through design, installation, commissioning, startup, and handoff.
• Develop project scopes, budgets, schedules, estimates, and execution plans.
• Manage contractors, vendors, engineering partners, and internal project resources.
• Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Quality/Food Safety, EHS, and Supply Chain to deliver practical manufacturing solutions.
• Improve capacity, efficiency, reliability, safety, quality, and production flow.
• Lead projects involving food processing and mixing equipment, Packaging and conveyors, Plant utilities, HVAC, and electrical systems, Controls and automation, Facility upgrades and expansions
• Support equipment installation, troubleshooting, commissioning, and startup.
• Ensure projects meet food safety, quality, safety, environmental, and engineering standards.
• Provide training and successfully transition completed projects to plant operations.

Position is well suited for you if you:

• Have a proven track record of successfully managing complex capital projects in a manufacturing or food industry setting.
• Excel at problem‑solving, decision‑making, and balancing multiple priorities.
• Communicate effectively with cross‑functional teams, contractors, and stakeholders.
• Bring innovative thinking to equipment, processes, and project execution.

Qualified candidates will have:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, Chemical or Electrical Engineering.
• 7+ years of engineering/project management experience, preferably in food manufacturing or a similar process industry.
• Willingness to work onsite in Lithonia, GA and travel up to 10% to other plants/vendor sites.
• Proven experience leading capital projects in an operating manufacturing facility.
• Strong project management, budgeting, problem‑solving, and contractor/vendor management skills.
• Experience with manufacturing equipment, plant utilities, automation, or process improvement.
• Food manufacturing experience is strongly preferred.
• Willingness to work onsite in Lithonia, GA and travel up to 10% to other plants/vendor sites.

What will set you apart:

• Experience dealing with but not limited to: Air handling, dust control, raw material and final product handling, warehousing and storage racks, electrical power and controls, flooring, conveyors, fire protection, bar coding/labeling, utilities, packaging equipment, structural issues, lighting, HVAC, mixing equipment, metal detection, check weighing, plant renovations, etc.
• Experience managing projects ranging from $10,000 to $1 million in scope.
• Experience working with a plant budget for $40,000 to 1.8 million in scope.
• Strong background in contractor management and technical integration.
• Familiarity with PLC systems and automation in manufacturing environments.

There is a 12% discretionary bonus associated with this role. This bonus is based on personal & company performance and is not a guaranteed bonus plan.

This role is affiliated with the Lithonia, GA location, and candidates for this role need to either reside within a commutable distance or be willing to self‑relocate, with a nominal relocation stipend, within 90 days of starting the role. You may be asked to travel to other locations periodically for meetings.

The Company offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: Medical, Rx, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending & Health Savings Accounts, EAP, Health Advocacy, Financial Planning, Parental Leave, Care.com, Adoption & Surrogacy Assistance, Education Assistance/Tuition Reimbursement, Safety Reimbursement, Lifestyle Spending Account, Group Life & AD&D, Voluntary Life Insurance, Short Term & Long Term Disability, 401(k) Plan with Company Match, ESOP, PTO, Holiday's & Leaves, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Hospital Indemnity, Home & Auto Insurance, Pet Insurance, Identity Theft Protection, Long Term Care + Life Insurance & Legal Assistance.

About Griffith Foods:

At Griffith Foods, you can be a member of a globally connected team that is known for true, collaborative innovation, guided by our purpose to Blend Care and Creativity to Nourish The World. We are a family‑owned business, founded in 1919 and headquartered in Alsip, Illinois USA. Our product capabilities range from seasonings and marinades to coating systems and sauces that are better for people and better for the planet.

Learn more about us at https://griffithfoods.com/careers/

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