Engineering Manager

The Engineering Manager leads all engineering, capital project, and technical improvement activities within the food manufacturing plant. This role is responsible for driving safe, reliable, and cost-effective operations through equipment reliability, capital execution, continuous improvement, and infrastructure planning—while ensuring compliance with food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.

The Engineering Manager partners closely with Operations, Maintenance, QA, Sanitation, and Corporate Engineering to support current production needs and future growth.

• Lead plant engineering activities, including capital projects, equipment installations, line modifications, and facility upgrades
• Develop and manage capital budgets, project scopes, schedules, and justifications
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on time, and within approved budgets
• Coordinate internal resources and external contractors to minimize production disruption

• Ensure engineering designs and modifications meet GMPs, sanitation standards, allergen controls, and foreign material prevention requirements
• Partner with QA and Sanitation to support hygienic design and regulatory compliance (FDA, USDA, OSHA)
• Support audits, inspections, and corrective actions related to equipment and facilities

• Drive equipment reliability improvements and reduce downtime through root cause analysis and corrective actions
• Identify cost savings opportunities related to utilities, material usage, and process efficiency
• Support Lean, CI, and waste reduction initiatives aligned with plant goals
• Lead and develop engineering staff, project engineers, and/or contractors
• Provide technical guidance, coaching, and performance feedback
• Promote a strong safety culture and accountability across engineering activities

• Partner with Operations to align engineering priorities with production needs
• Coordinate shutdowns, line trials, and major maintenance activities
• Communicate project status, risks, and results to Plant and Corporate Leadership

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or related field)
• 5+ years of engineering experience in a manufacturing environment
• 2+ years of leadership or project management experience
• Strong understanding of capital project execution and equipment design
• Working knowledge of OSHA safety requirements

• Experience in food or beverage manufacturing (frozen foods a plus)
• Familiarity with GMPs, sanitation, hygienic design, and food safety regulations
• Experience supporting CI, Lean, or cost savings initiatives
• Strong financial acumen for capital planning and ROI analysis

• Ability to work in a manufacturing environment, including cold, wet, or noisy conditions
• Occasional off-shift or weekend work during shutdowns or major projects
• Use of PPE required in production areas

• Capital projects delivered safely, on time, and with strong ROI
• Improved equipment reliability and reduced unplanned downtime
• Strong partnership with Operations and QA
• Measurable cost savings and continuous improvement results