Senior Project Engineer, Capital Projects (Food Manufacturing)

Helion Group; Niles (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

100Hires, Inc. is seeking an experienced Project Engineer for a high-volume, automated food manufacturing facility in Niles, IL. The role focuses on execution, installation, startup, commissioning, and handoff of multi-million dollar capital projects.

The ideal candidate has 8+ years in project engineering, strong mechanical background, and experience coordinating contractors and vendors in a live production environment. Food & beverage industry experience is highly valued.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of Project Engineering experience, preferably within manufacturing.
• Experience managing capital projects exceeding $1M.
• Hands-on experience with equipment installation, startup, and commissioning.
• Ability to review and understand AutoCAD drawings, equipment layouts, and engineering documentation.
• Experience coordinating installations around production in an active manufacturing facility.
• Strong communication, organization, troubleshooting, and project ownership skills.
• Food & beverage manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• Greenfield and/or brownfield project experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support capital project execution through installation, startup, commissioning, and final handoff.
• Manage contractors, vendors, suppliers, and cross-functional plant teams.
• Coordinate mechanical equipment installation while minimizing disruption to ongoing production.
• Review equipment layouts, AutoCAD drawings, specifications, and other engineering documentation.
• Track project schedules, budgets, milestones, contracts, and outstanding action items.
• Troubleshoot installation and startup issues and coordinate solutions with plant and vendor teams.
• Work closely with operations, R&D, maintenance, engineering, and programming/controls vendors.
• Support equipment testing, commissioning, and performance validation.
• Own day-to-day project details and follow-up to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
• Ensure projects remain on schedule while meeting safety, quality, and production requirements.

Skills

Project engineering

Mechanical engineering

Capital projects

AutoCAD

Startup & commissioning

Contractor management

Cross-functional coordination

Vendor coordination

Troubleshooting

Communication

Education

Mechanical Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Job description

100Hires, Inc. is seeking an experienced Project Engineer for a high-volume, automated food manufacturing facility in Niles, IL. The role focuses on execution, installation, startup, commissioning, and handoff of multi-million dollar capital projects.

The ideal candidate has 8+ years in project engineering, strong mechanical background, and experience coordinating contractors and vendors in a live production environment. Food & beverage industry experience is highly valued.