Project Engineer II

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Are you ready for your next adventure?

At Oregon Freeze Dry, innovation isn’t just a buzzword, it’s our foundation. We are a purpose driven company with six decades of expertise in freeze‑drying technology. Best known as the makers of Mountain House© meals, we are experts in advanced lyophilization solutions that can help people live healthier lives. Our headquarters in Albany, Oregon sits at the crossroads of science and nature, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes that fuel bold ideas and transformative breakthroughs.

We're driven by a commitment to quality, creativity, and continuous improvement, and we're always looking ahead to what's next. We’re proud of our legacy, but our future is even more exciting. If you're passionate and ready to make an impact, Oregon Freeze Dry isn't just a place to work, it's where your adventure begins.

We are looking for a Project Engineer II to join the Facilities and Engineering team. In this role, you’ll lead capital projects from concept to completion, advancing new equipment installations and process improvements. You’ll provide hands‑on technical support to manufacturing and maintenance, ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant operations across our facilities. The ideal candidate is someone who contributes to continuous improvement initiatives, brings industry experience and knowledge, and strong technical aptitude, and helps elevate our operations.

• Lead and execute all aspects of capital projects assigned, including developing cost estimates, defining project scope, capital appropriation requests, creating design specifications, overseeing bidding processes, managing budget and contractors, and coordinating installation and start‑up.
• Establish and maintain viable contractors, vendors, and fabricators.
• Research and recommend innovative technologies and equipment solutions to enhance operational efficiency and performance.
• Track plant utilities and collaborate with local energy groups and maintenance teams to support energy projects and incentives.
• Deliver technical support to manufacturing and maintenance teams for the optimization and modification of plant systems, including steam, refrigeration, vacuum, air, and nitrogen, as well as processing and packaging operations.
• Ensure all work complies with applicable local, state, and federal codes and regulations, including OSHA, USDA, FDA, UBC, SQF, and ISO standards.
• Utilize EAM software to add and update assets and analyze historical data to identify trends and inform project decisions.
• Lead the Process Safety Management (PSM) program for the New York site.
• Oversee preventative maintenance program for the NY location.
• Collaborate with the Engineering Director and site leadership on construction, renovation, infrastructure, and maintenance initiatives, contributing to the company’s long‑term strategic plan.

• Generally, a minimum of three (3) years of experience in project engineering within the food manufacturing industry.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, Industrial, or Biomedical) or a closely related technical field is required.
• Proven experience leading the scope, planning, and execution of capital projects in a food or related manufacturing environment, including cost estimation, financial analysis, and project management.
• Strong technical aptitude for designing, developing, and implementing new equipment and processes within a production setting.
• Experience leading and/or actively participating in PSM programs.
• Proficiency in CAD software for design and technical documentation.
• Solid understanding of regulatory and industry standards such as OSHA, FDA, USDA, SQF, and ISO.
• Exceptional organizational, analytical, and problem‑solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Self‑motivated and able to work independently while collaborating effectively across cross‑functional teams.
• Experience applying continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean, Kaizen, or Six Sigma…