Sr. Manufacturing Process and Packaging Engineer - Chanhassen, MN

General Mills Operations, LLC.; Chanhassen (MN); On-site; USD 95,000 - 143,000; Full time

Job summary

General Mills is seeking a Sr. Manufacturing Process and Packaging Engineer (internally Sr. Systems Engineer) to lead and develop the plant’s packaging and processing systems. The role focuses on improving performance, product quality, and capacity while mentoring others and aligning with business goals.

The position requires hands-on floor time, strong collaboration with Engineering, Ops and R&D, and a proven track record in safety, reliability, and cost-saving initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field with applicable experience.
• Minimum 5 years of manufacturing experience.
• Knowledge of manufacturing systems and unit operations.
• Advanced data and statistical analysis capabilities.
• Analytical methods and problem solving.
• Strong financial acumen at the plant level for cost savings.

Responsibilities

• Lead safety and Food Safety initiatives through leadership practices and standards.
• Engage with site teams and leadership to drive system current and future state.
• Coach and develop junior engineers and plant personnel.
• Drive Continuous Improvement and loss elimination through structured problem solving.
• Improve data and information management to enhance model accuracy and decision making.

Skills

Manufacturing systems

Data analysis

Statistical methods

Mechanical aptitude

Continuous improvement

Financial acumen

Engineering principles

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Decision making

Manufacturing data systems

Excel

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering

Tools

SAP

Maximo/CMMS

Excel

Job description

Company Overview

We exist to make food the world loves. But we do more than that. Our company is a place that prioritizes being a force for good, a place to expand learning, explore new perspectives and reimagine new possibilities, every day. We look for people who want to bring their best — bold thinkers with big hearts who challenge one another and grow together. Because becoming the undisputed leader in food means surrounding ourselves with people who are hungry for what’s next.

Job Overview

The Sr. Manufacturing Process and Packaging Engineer (internally called a Sr. Systems Engineer) role provides technical leadership and serves as a system and product specialist. They are responsible to build the team’s packaging and processing technical skills through a hands‑on approach. They are accountable for the operational foundational systems across systems they own and to the plant to secure basic conditions and drive out losses with the platform team. The Sr. Manufacturing Process and Packaging Engineer plays a critical role to continuously improve by optimizing system performance and product quality while driving strategic productivity and capacity solutions for the platform and ultimately the business. This role showcases a Sr. Manufacturing Process and Packaging Engineer's knowledge and foundation to build the capability of others. This role centers on consistent manufacturing performance, problem‑solving, and improvement. It involves significant floor time to understand manufacturing processes, coupled with development of self and others. The primary focus is improvement and loss elimination activities aligned with system improvement targets and future state goals. This includes supporting team skill development inclusive of content development and talent assessments, advocating for system investments, and articulating their financial impact to plant leadership for annual planning. As knowledge expands, credibility as a strategic partner with Engineering, Ops and R&D will increase. This will allow more intentional focus on other systems and to engage in business plans.

Primary Job Duties

Safety: Lead Food and Human Safety through leadership principles and standards. Foster a culture that reduces risk to our people and communities by increasing capability to identify and control critical risk. Specifically, responsible ensuring safe system designs, managing procedure changes, partnering with site owner for reviews, and coaching best practices, while reinforcing accountability for execution and adherence at the operational level. Cultivate Food Safety Culture that is committed to manufacturing safe food that is compliant with policy and regulatory requirements.

People Leadership and Capability Building: Communicate and engage effectively with teams across the full site. Regularly engage with corporate engineering, R&D and business teams to advocate for their system current and future state. Provide early level coaching to early tenure Manufacturing Engineers and plant personnel (Junior Engineers, Operations Leaders, etc.). Support learning and development assessments and content development. At the site level partner with leadership to advocate for system investment.

Process Leadership and Ownership: Responsible to lead the execution of Continuous Improvement efforts, building team skills around system improvements. Execute loss elimination tasks to improve system and equipment reliability through use of continuous improvement processes and problem solving. Build learnings into training materials and coaching of the operating team members to increase capability of the broader team. Execute and identify of manufacturing cost savings initiatives. Actively improve the data and information of the system to increase the ability to model and predict opportunity areas (performance metrics, financial information, data history, maintenance management system). Accountable for the operational foundation systems across the platform to secure basic conditions and drive out losses (Clean-Inspect-Lubricate, Equipment settings, and functional descriptions of equipment). Execute project support (planning, start-up).

Know your Operation, Data and Technology: Advanced expertise in the 4M's (machine, materials, methods, human) through a physical presence on the manufacturing floor to build capability in others understanding of interdependency of inputs. Secure material flow rates and unit operation expertise on the system(s) to ensure optimal production rates, parameters, and formulas. Engage with R&D partners on impacts of formulations, cost savings efforts, etc. to optimize system. Develop self through connections and learning from operators, technicians and peers through rigorous application and understanding of continuous improvement methods. Clearly articulate financial impact to the plant based on business and plant decisions in support of annual financial, capital and capacity planning.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, or related degree with applicable experience, or extensive relevant work experience.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant manufacturing experience required.
• Theory/functionality of manufacturing systems and unit operations.
• Advanced data and statistical analysis capabilities.
• Statistical analysis and analytical methods.
• Advanced Mechanical aptitude, specifically on the technology that the Engineer is connected to in their role.
• Examples of continuous improvement ownership and improvement plan execution.
• Sound financial acumen at the Plant level to define and drive cost saving efforts.
• General Engineering Principles and Continuous Improvement knowledge.
• Demonstrated leadership and working in a highly collaborative environment.
• Success in driving results through process and teamwork.
• Proven success in reducing losses and improving performance in a manufacturing setting.
• Demonstrated technical capability and knowledge of unit operations and manufacturing machinery.
• Skilled at communicating between work groups, cross-functional resources, and other members of the plant and corporate teams.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing data analysis systems (examples: SAP, Maximo/CMMS, historical trending, system monitoring, etc.), Microsoft Excel, and proven success with decision making for results.

Preferred Qualifications

• 6 years of relevant food manufacturing engineering experience.
• Food science or process/packaging science experience.
• Consumer Products or Process Industry experience.

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is: $95,300 - $143,200 Annual At General Mills we strive for each employee's pay at any point in their career to reflect their experiences performance and skills for their current role. The salary range for this role represents the numerous factors considered in the hiring decisions including, but not limited to, educations, skills, work experience, certifications, etc. As such, pay for the successful candidate(s) could fall anywhere within the stated range. Beyond base salary, General Mills offers a competitive Total Rewards package focusing on your overall well-being. We are proud to offer a foundation of health benefits, retirement and financial wellbeing, time off programs, wellbeing support and perks. Benefits may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors. You may also be eligible to participate in an annual incentive program. An incentive award, if any, depends on various factors, including, individual and organizational performance.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet a minimum 18-year age qualification.

Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE)

General Mills is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital or familial status, status regarding public assistance, or membership or activity in a local human rights commission.

Reasonable Accommodation Request

If you need to request an accommodation during the application or hiring process, please fill out our online accommodation request form by following this link: Accommodation Request.

Why Join Us

New possibilities. Bold thinking. Real heart. Build remarkable brands with remarkable people. At General Mills, we make food the world loves. Across 100+ markets, we come together to create, innovate and grow. Here, you'll do meaningful work and help to lead the future of food at a company that stands for good.