Plant Engineering Director - Meat Processing
iLocatum · Sioux Falls, SD · 1 mo ago
Full-time
About the role
Lead maintenance and engineering for a high-volume protein operation, driving multi-site capital projects that shape how the business runs for years to come.
An established, fast-paced food manufacturer in the protein space, with multiple sites and a strong commitment to safety, food safety, and continuous improvement.
Requirements
- Food manufacturing background required
- 10+ years of engineering management experience (or Master's degree plus 8+ years)
- 5+ years in a leadership role, including team development and management
- Multi-site engineering experience leading capex projects from concept to completion
- Strong maintenance and engineering background, including PM/PdM, TPM, and work order systems
- Advanced mechanical and electrical skills (PLCs, instrumentation, mechanical engineering)
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or related field
- Comfortable with 50% travel, plus long hours and weekends when needed
- Proficiency with SAP and Microsoft Office
Skills
- Meat processing experience, especially protein and pork (nice-to-have)
- Master's degree in Engineering or Business (nice-to-have)
Responsibilities
- Lead capital projects across multiple sites, on time, on budget, and without compromising safety, food safety, or environmental standards
- Build advanced maintenance programs, including Preventive and Predictive Maintenance and TPM, to maximize uptime
- Plan and sequence projects to minimize disruption to production
- Solve daily operational challenges and deliver long-term fixes that stop repeat issues
- Set and track KPIs for equipment reliability, OEE, and supplier performance
- Coach and develop high-performing engineering and maintenance teams
- Translate technical plans into clear direction for non-technical leaders
Why this role
You'll own the engineering and maintenance function end to end, with the budget, scope, and influence to measurably improve plant performance across the network.
Pay
$160,000 - $210,000 + Bonus