Process Engineer (Manufacturing & Plant Operations)

About the Role

The Engineer is a critical operational role responsible for optimizing Vanguard Soap's manufacturing processes, equipment reliability, and plant performance. This role operates as both a hands-on technical expert and continuous improvement driver, with a strong presence on the production floor. The individual will own and improve core manufacturing systems—including reaction vessels, spray drying towers, boilers, pumps, and wastewater systems—while ensuring safe, efficient, and scalable operations. The Vanguard manufacturing campus is a 14-acre site producing 40–50 million pounds annually with 100+ employees, requiring disciplined engineering, strong operational partnership, and a continuous improvement mindset.

Responsibilities

• Engineering Leadership & Plant Partnership
  • Serve as a key partner to Operations, Maintenance, and Quality to drive plant performance
  • Maintain a strong, visible presence on the production floor
  • Lead and support maintenance technicians and operators in resolving equipment and process issues
  • Act as a first responder to critical downtime events, driving rapid root cause identification and resolution
• Process Optimization & Continuous Improvement
  • Identify, prioritize, and lead continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing processes
  • Analyze production data to improve yield, throughput, and cost efficiency
  • Implement Lean, Six Sigma, and other process improvement methodologies
  • Standardize best practices across lines, shifts, and product types
• Equipment Reliability & Maintenance Engineering
  • Improve reliability and performance of key plant systems: reaction vessels, spray drying towers, boilers and utilities, pumps and fluid systems, wastewater treatment systems
  • Partner with Maintenance to develop preventive and predictive maintenance strategies
  • Support capital projects, equipment upgrades, and new installations
• Process Documentation & Standardization
  • Develop, maintain, and validate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and process flow documentation
  • Ensure processes are repeatable, scalable, and audit-ready
  • Train plant personnel on updated procedures and best practices
• Root Cause Problem Solving
  • Lead structured root cause analysis for equipment failures, process deviations, and quality issues
  • Implement sustainable corrective and preventive actions (CAPA)
  • Track and report on improvement effectiveness
• Capital Projects & Engineering Execution
  • Support plant capital planning and execution
  • Lead or contribute to equipment selection and design, installation and commissioning, process validation, and startup
  • Ensure projects are delivered on time, on budget, and meet operational requirements
• Safety, Compliance & Environmental Stewardship
  • Ensure all engineering activities align with safety standards and regulatory requirements
  • Support safe operation of all manufacturing and utility systems
  • Partner on environmental initiatives, including wastewater and emissions management
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner with Quality on process capability and product consistency, Supply Chain on material flow and constraints, and R&D on product trials and scale-up
  • Serve as a technical bridge between plant operations and leadership

Skills & Qualifications

• Hands-on, plant-first engineering mindset
• Strong mechanical and process engineering acumen
• Proactive, assertive, high-accountability leadership style
• Ability to troubleshoot complex systems under pressure
• Data-driven decision-making with practical execution focus
• Strong cross-functional collaboration and influence
• Continuous improvement orientation (Lean / Six Sigma mindset)
• 3–7+ years of engineering experience in manufacturing (CPG, chemical, or process manufacturing preferred)
• Experience working in a plant environment with direct production interaction
• Proven success improving equipment reliability and process performance
• Experience with process documentation, SOPs, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis skills
• Bachelor's degree required. Preferred majors: Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Industrial Engineering