Plant Engineering Manager

Schwan’s Company, a U.S. affiliate of the global lifestyle brand CJ CheilJedang Corporation, manufactures and markets quality foods nationwide, including Red Baron®, Tony’s®, Big Daddy’s®, Villa Prima™, Freschetta® pizzas, bibigo®, Pagoda® Asian‑style snacks, Mrs. Smith’s® and Edwards® pies. The Engineering Manager role is based at the frozen‑food manufacturing facilities in the Houston, TX area (Pasadena and Deer Park) and is responsible for driving operational excellence by leading the evaluation and execution of capital projects.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Plant Project Engineers across multiple sites to scope, plan, and execute capital projects, ensuring alignment on budget, schedule, cash flow, procurement, and risk mitigation.
• Serve as the capital‑approval gatekeeper, reviewing project scopes and execution plans to ensure feasibility and compliance with standards.
• Provide coaching on vendor selection, engineering standards, and resource planning; support talent development and succession planning.
• Ensure adherence to project‑management best practices and escalate high‑risk issues as needed.
• Coordinate with cross‑functional teams (Production, Maintenance, Sanitation, HR, Logistics) to integrate operational needs into project plans.
• Collaborate with Finance to review capital allocation, validate cash‑flow forecasts, and ensure accurate project closeouts.
• Support capital planning by providing project‑performance insights and developing long‑term investment strategies with site leadership.
• Lead select capital projects directly, managing execution and deliverables from concept through completion.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science or Master’s degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical, or Process preferred).
• Minimum 10 years of experience in process, packaging equipment, infrastructure, and/or maintenance.
• Prior experience in Food and Beverage or Consumer Packaged Goods companies.
• Experience budgeting in a manufacturing multi‑site environment.
• Significant expertise in project cost controls and measuring conformance to project‑management best practices.
• Proven track record executing bid processes, defining subcontractor performance criteria, and managing subcontractors.

Compensation and Benefits

The base salary range for this position is $90,750 – $151,250 annually, with eligibility for a 15 % annual incentive bonus based on organizational performance. Starting pay will be determined within this range based on education, skills, experience, certifications, geography, and other factors.

Beyond base salary, the Total Rewards package includes a strong foundation of health benefits, retirement and financial well‑being programs, time‑off programs, and wellbeing support initiatives.