Senior Project Engineer: Manufacturing Capital Projects

Kerry Group; Harrisonburg (VA); On-site; USD 88,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

Kerry is seeking a Senior Project Engineer for our Harrisonburg, VA site to own high-impact capital projects from idea to start-up ($50K–$5MM). This hands-on, high-visibility role modernizes liquids processing, aseptic systems, automation, and safety improvements to deliver day-one performance.

You will lead cross-functional teams across Manufacturing, R&D, Finance, HSE, Quality, and Maintenance, manage scope, budget, and schedule, and drive right-first-time execution with vendors and

Qualifications

• B.S. in Engineering (Mechanical or Chemical) from an ABET-accredited university.
• 4+ years leading capital projects ($100K+) in a manufacturing environment.
• Project management training or certification (e.g., PMP) is a plus.
• Clear, confident communicator with strong technical writing and stakeholder management skills.
• Manufacturing experience in food, beverages, consumer goods, chemical, or pharmaceutical environments preferred.
• Exposure to aseptic bulk packing equipment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own capital projects end-to-end—from concept and scope through design, installation, commissioning, and handoff to Operations.
• Bring people together across Manufacturing, R&D, Finance, HSE, Quality, and Maintenance to define the need, align on priorities, and turn it into an executable plan.
• Build and drive scope, budget, and schedule—balancing speed, cost, and quality while clearing roadblocks and accelerating decisions.
• Create crisp engineering and capital-approval deliverables (charters, estimates, justifications, specifications) that set projects up for success.
• Lead vendors, contractors, and internal experts—coordinating procurement, construction, and installation to deliver right-first-time execution.
• Spot risk early and manage it proactively—ensuring safe execution and compliance with Kerry standards, OSHA/HSE requirements, and GMPs.
• Keep stakeholders aligned with clear updates, smart escalation, and change management that protects schedule, cost, and outcomes.
• Lead start-up and early equipment management to deliver stable, repeatable performance—and a confident ramp-up for the manufacturing teams.

Skills

Communication

Technical writing

Stakeholder management

Industry experience

Education

B.S. in Engineering (Mechanical or Chemical) from ABET-accredited university

4+ years leading capital projects ($100K+) in manufacturing

Tools

CAD software

MS Word/PowerPoint/Excel/Project

Job description

Kerry is seeking a Senior Project Engineer for our Harrisonburg, VA site to own high-impact capital projects from idea to start-up ($50K–$5MM). This hands-on, high-visibility role modernizes liquids processing, aseptic systems, automation, and safety improvements to deliver day-one performance.

You will lead cross-functional teams across Manufacturing, R&D, Finance, HSE, Quality, and Maintenance, manage scope, budget, and schedule, and drive right-first-time execution with vendors and