Senior Project Engineer

The Value You'll Bring

As a key member of our dynamic Engineering team, you will dive into data analysis and design innovative implementation plans to optimize production processes. Your mission? Maximize efficiency, eliminate waste, and reduce operating costs—all while ensuring that our world-class brands, including Smithfield, Eckrich, and Nathan’s Famous, continue to exceed the expectations of our customers and consumers.

You’ll apply your expertise in science and mathematics to develop cutting-edge technical projects that transform the pork and packaged meat industry. Whether leading a small team on medium to large-scale projects or taking charge of a critical portion of a more complex initiative, you’ll play a pivotal role in driving success.

While you’re fully capable of working independently and making impactful decisions, you’ll also collaborate with senior leaders when facing complex challenges, ensuring every project is executed with precision.

What You'll Do

• Design and Project Management: Develop engineering designs, material specifications, and project cost estimates. Conduct feasibility studies and research to support design choices. Ensure designs meet required standards and codes, validate field work, and create as-built drawings. Review engineering submissions for accuracy and compliance, coordinate project activities with vendors, contractors, and plant teams to stay on schedule, and collaborate with management and engineering teams to implement plans.

• Design Implementation and Coordination: Direct vendors and contractors on layout planning and utility requirements. Review consultant work and suggest changes as needed, maintaining documentation, including manuals, drawings, specs, and vendor contacts.

• Reports, Proposals, and Project Preparation: Conduct planning and operational reviews during pre-project phases, define project scope, prepare proposals, and evaluate bids. Submit regular status reports to management, assist with contract administration, and prepare project documents. Monitor installations to ensure they meet specs, budgets, and timelines.

• Budget and Contract Management: Manage project budgets to ensure financial targets are met.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Engineering, Engineering Management, or related field and 5+ years of experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience, required.
• Knowledge of engineering principles and techniques related to food processing and the meat industry, preferred.
• Ability to apply sound engineering principles to operational and design issues.
• Knowledge of installation and construction project scheduling.
• Must possess Project Management skills; Contract Administration skills; National codes and standards interpretation skills.
• Previous experience in the management of multi-million-dollar projects with large scopes, desirable.
• Proficient in engineering economics.
• Proficient in AutoCAD.
• Energized by collaboration through travel to other locations (50% of the time).

Other Skills That Make You Stand Out

• Ability to be respectful, approachable, and team-oriented while building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, organizational planning, teamwork, analytical reasoning, and adaptability.
• Ability to work well with others in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Knowledge of engineering principles and techniques related to food processing and the meat industry, preferred.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• The majority of the time is spent in an office setting outside of the production plant.
• The plant environment will include wet or humid conditions (non-weather related), extreme cold and heat (non-weather related), working near moving mechanical parts, exposure to fumes or airborne particles, and chemicals.
• Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but can be loud when in the production area.

Company Information

• The expected pay range for this position is $85,000 - $120,000 annually. Smithfield Foods provides pay ranges that reflect its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the company reasonably expects to pay for a position at the time of hire. Individual compensation will be determined based on several factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the role, location of the position, the candidate’s qualifications and experience, internal equity, external market pay for comparable positions and budget considerations.

• Relocation Package Available Yes

• EEO Information

• Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law.
• If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757-357-1595.