
Sr. Project Engineer, Manufacturing
- Loves Park, IL
- $85,000-110,000 per year
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Identifies, leads and implements production cost reduction opportunities by proposing changes to equipment or processes to realize material savings or improve operating efficiencies.
- Reviews and analyzes plant operations that contribute to reduce downtime, utility or power consumption and safety issues. Works with the Engineering Manager and maintenance staff, Safety Coordinator and outside vendors to improve performance. Analyzes and prepares operational and financial justifications for capital equipment or plant improvements.
- Ensures timely completion of projects by managing vendors, contractors, plant and corporate personnel as part of project manager role. Maintains technical layouts of plant and production equipment on ACAD and 3D engineering database.
- Works closely with supervisors, maintenance and production departments to properly train employees.
- Works with the Safety Coordinator to identify and implement changes to equipment to eliminate safety and health concerns for the operators on the line.
- Provides guidance for preventative and repair maintenance to ensure that plant operations are able to run as scheduled to meet demands.
- Communicates externally with multiple equipment vendors and manufacturers, related to technical specifications, project timelines, budgetary estimates and price negotiations. Creates technical drawings and documentation and participates in frequent meetings and presentations internally on project status updates.
- Performs technical/engineering analysis to determine required equipment specifications, capacity limitations, maintenance requirements, part design, and equipment layouts. Plans and executes projects within the operating facility while ensuring employee and contractor safety as well as food safety standards.
- Assures that project execution is within budget and timeline requirements.
- Consistently achieve commitments for production capacity, efficiency, headcount, and energy consumption.
- Evaluates and selects equipment suppliers to meet process and packaging needs for expanding business. Ensures equipment meets quality and technical standards to deliver volumes at required rate and efficiency in a cost-effective manner.
- Provides recommendations for line layouts, operating logic, and capital requirements to implement engineering projects.
- Highly involved in continuous improvement and innovation related to manufacturing processes, technology, and procedure including Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, SMED, Motion Economy, Preventative Maintenance, and TWI Job Instruction.
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Manufacturing Engineering with 4-6 years demonstrated leadership in manufacturing environment /MBA Preferred
- 3-5 years experience with Engineering Projects Management or Execution
- Technical System Analysis, Design Skills, Technical Understanding, Process Improvement, CAD, Manufacturing Methods and Procedures, Preventative Maintenance
- Familiarity with OSHA Regulations, FDA Regulations, and Permitting requirements
- Process equipment knowledge, including background in food ingredients storage, conveying of powders and liquid ingredients, continuous and batch mixing processes, extrusion, cooling, cooling and coating processes
- Working knowledge of plant engineering processes, including steam generation, compressed air systems, electrical distribution, chilled water systems, HVAC, and Wastewater Treatment
- Working Knowledge of packaging equipment, robotics and materials handling automation
- Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, drafting/design software (ACAD/3D software), and MS Project
- Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, for troubleshooting / problem solving, coaching and training other production team members
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and changing priorities and easily adapt to changing situation
- PTO package including vacation, sick, personal, and pay it forward time off
- 13 paid holidays
- 401k with Company Match up to 8%, ranking in the top 1% of the country
- Annual Bonus potential and merit-based increases
- Comprehensive Health Insurance
- Annual well-being subsidy
- 20 weeks Maternity & 12 weeks Paternity leave options
- Sam's Club or Costco annual membership reimbursement
- Tuition-Free College Program or Free Continued Education (BA, Masters, etc.)
- Modest monthly candy allotment (Airheads, Airheads Xtremes, and Mentos)