Plant Engineering Specialist

Location: Midwest U.S. Manufacturing Facility
Department: Engineering / Operations
Reports To: Engineering Manager or Operations Leadership
Direct Reports: 1-4 (based on experience and business needs)

Position Overview

A leading food manufacturing organization is seeking a Plant Engineering Specialist to support continuous improvement, capital project execution, maintenance excellence, and operational performance across a high-volume manufacturing facility. This role is responsible for driving improvements in production, packaging, utilities, facility operations, and environmental systems while ensuring safety, quality, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.

The Plant Engineering Specialist will lead engineering initiatives from concept through implementation, managing projects that enhance operational efficiency, increase equipment reliability, reduce costs, and support long-term business objectives. This position requires a strong combination of technical expertise, project management skills, leadership capabilities, and a continuous improvement mindset.

Working closely with operations, maintenance, quality, safety, and leadership teams, the successful candidate will identify opportunities for optimization, analyze operational data, develop solutions, and execute projects that improve plant performance. The role also serves as a technical resource for troubleshooting complex manufacturing challenges and implementing sustainable improvements that drive measurable results.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineering professional who enjoys working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and is passionate about improving processes, developing people, and delivering impactful business results. This individual will possess excellent communication and collaboration skills, allowing them to effectively engage with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence (30%)

• Identify opportunities to improve manufacturing, packaging, distribution, and utility operations.
• Analyze production and process data to identify inefficiencies and performance gaps.
• Develop and implement process improvements, equipment upgrades, and operational enhancements.
• Lead initiatives focused on reducing waste, improving productivity, increasing throughput, and optimizing labor utilization.
• Utilize Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies to drive sustainable performance gains.
• Measure, monitor, and report results of improvement initiatives.

Maintenance & Reliability Leadership (30%)

• Support the development and advancement of world-class maintenance and reliability programs.
• Collaborate with maintenance teams to improve preventive and predictive maintenance strategies.
• Help establish maintenance systems, standards, and best practices that improve asset reliability and equipment uptime.
• Assist with maintenance planning, organizational development, technician training, and workforce capability enhancement.
• Participate in root cause analysis and corrective action implementation for recurring equipment failures.
• Support reliability-centered maintenance initiatives and long-term asset management strategies.

Capital & Operational Project Management (30%)

• Lead engineering projects from concept development through startup and validation.
• Prepare project justifications, budgets, schedules, and technical specifications.
• Manage capital and non-capital projects involving equipment installations, facility upgrades, process improvements, and operational enhancements.
• Coordinate contractors, vendors, engineering firms, and internal stakeholders throughout project execution.
• Ensure projects are completed safely, on time, within budget, and with minimal disruption to production operations.
• Oversee equipment commissioning, troubleshooting, validation, and performance verification activities.
• Evaluate new technologies and recommend solutions that improve operational efficiency and competitiveness.

Technical Leadership, Training & Mentoring (5%)

• Serve as a subject matter expert and engineering resource for plant personnel.
• Provide coaching, guidance, and technical support to maintenance technicians, operators, supervisors, and management teams.
• Assist in developing technical training programs that strengthen workforce capabilities.
• Promote knowledge sharing and engineering best practices throughout the organization.
• Support the professional development of team members through mentoring and collaborative problem-solving.

Collaboration, Compliance & Standardization (5%)

• Partner with internal departments to support operational goals and business objectives.
• Work with regulatory agencies, suppliers, contractors, consultants, and community stakeholders as needed.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable safety, environmental, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Support initiatives related to OSHA, EPA, environmental compliance, wastewater management, and facility operations.
• Drive standardization of engineering practices, equipment specifications, and operational procedures across manufacturing operations where applicable.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline required.

Experience

• Minimum of five years of engineering experience within a manufacturing, food processing, consumer products, chemical processing, packaging, or industrial production environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading projects and driving operational improvements in a manufacturing setting.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams and managing multiple priorities simultaneously.

Technical Skills

Preferred knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Mechanical systems, including conveyors, fluid handling systems, pumps, and thermal processing equipment.
• Electrical and automation systems, including PLCs, instrumentation, controls, sensors, and manufacturing automation.
• Water treatment, wastewater treatment, biological processes, or environmental systems.
• Continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Statistical Process Control, and Root Cause Analysis.
• Capital project planning, budgeting, and execution.
• Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and 3D modeling software.
• Manufacturing process optimization and equipment reliability programs.

Professional Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of an organization.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work successfully in team-oriented environments.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Self-motivated with strong initiative and accountability.
• Adaptability and ability to manage changing priorities in a dynamic manufacturing environment.

Work Environment

This role combines office-based work with regular time spent within a manufacturing facility. The individual must be comfortable working around production equipment, processing systems, utilities, and maintenance activities.

The position may require walking manufacturing floors, climbing stairs, accessing elevated platforms, and working in varying environmental conditions commonly found in industrial production facilities. Some lifting, bending, reaching, and extended periods of standing or walking may be required.

Why Join This Opportunity?

This position offers the opportunity to play a significant role in shaping the future performance of a growing manufacturing operation. The Plant Engineering Specialist will have direct influence on capital investments, process improvements, reliability initiatives, and operational excellence efforts that support long-term business success. The role provides exposure to a wide variety of engineering disciplines, leadership opportunities, and high-impact projects that contribute to both plant and organizational growth.