Senior Project Engineer

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, including timelines, budgets, resource allocations, identify critical path activities, and proactively address potential bottlenecks or risks to deliver on the capital plan
• Lead the plant capital planning process with a strategic thought approach, including the identification, prioritization, and execution of capital projects to drive plant improvements and long-term growth
• Oversee large-scale, complex capital projects, potentially exceeding multi-million-dollar budgets
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including production, quality assurance, maintenance, and EHS to ensure seamless project integration and successful outcomes
• Monitor project progress, track key performance indicators, and prepare regular status reports for stakeholders
• Responsible for all aspects of project management including scoping, approval, budgeting, specification, execution, qualification and operational handover as appropriate
• Evaluate existing manufacturing processes and identify opportunities for improvement in terms of efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness
• Lead engineering efforts in support of the root cause identification of non-conformances. Take ownership of implementing corrective and preventive action
• Provide on-site manufacturing support, engaging well with operators and management to implement permanent counter measures
• Mentorship to other engineers. May participate in the evaluation of other team members and in the identification of development needs. May provide day-to-day work direction to other engineers or technicians
• Maintain a working knowledge of new technologies which may improve operations and develop recommendations accordingly
• Maintain a working knowledge of safety policies and regulations to ensure duties of self and others are performed in a safe manner

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Chemical, or Electrical Engineering from a four-year ABET accredited college or university
• 7+ years of significant, relevant work experience
• Knowledge of safety practices applicable to a production environment and ability to follow designated safety procedures.
• Ability to maintain accurate records relating to jobs as they are planned, performed and completed.
• Skill to use electronic means for recording data.
• Proven track record of managing and delivering complex projects on time and within budget.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills to address complex engineering challenges.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills to interact effectively with peers, co-workers, supervisors, and vendors as required.
• Ability to lead and mentor junior engineers and production staff.
• Capability to think strategically and align projects with long-term business goals.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to read drawings and interpret line diagrams, equipment layout drawings, and electrical prints.
• Knowledge and understanding of PLC ladder logic programming and interpreting line diagrams and electrical schematics is beneficial.
• Proficient skill level in MS Office Applications such as Word and Excel.
• Knowledge of food product manufacturing equipment including but not limited to meat grinders, extrusion machines, spray dryers, and dry blend equipment is highly desired.
• Previous experience with food safety programs, including HACCP and cGMPs is beneficial.
• The ability to convey technical requirements using AutoCAD or similar software to generate drawings, process flow diagrams as well as process and instrumentation drawings.