Plant Engineer - Protein

We are partnering with a leading protein manufacturer to identify an experienced Plant Engineer to provide technical and engineering leadership within a high-volume manufacturing facility.

This is a hands-on engineering position responsible for supporting plant operations through equipment reliability, process improvement, capital projects, automation, utilities, and facility infrastructure. The successful candidate will work closely with Production, Maintenance, FSQA, and Operations leadership to improve plant performance, increase capacity, reduce costs, and ensure the facility operates safely and efficiently.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day engineering support across the manufacturing facility, partnering with Operations and Maintenance to resolve technical and operational challenges.
• Lead engineering projects focused on capacity expansion, equipment upgrades, process improvements, automation, and facility infrastructure.
• Develop project scopes, budgets, schedules, specifications, and business cases for capital investments.
• Manage CAPEX projects from initial concept and design through installation, commissioning, and handover.
• Identify opportunities to improve production efficiency, throughput, yield, equipment reliability, energy usage, and operating costs.
• Provide technical support for processing and packaging equipment, including conveyors, pumps, motors, refrigeration, hydraulics, pneumatics, electrical systems, and controls.
• Work closely with Maintenance to identify recurring equipment failures and implement long-term reliability improvements.
• Support the development and optimization of preventative and predictive maintenance strategies for critical assets.
• Partner with Production to troubleshoot process bottlenecks, equipment constraints, and production losses.
• Support automation and controls initiatives, including PLC, HMI, instrumentation, sensors, and process control systems.
• Oversee contractors, engineering consultants, equipment suppliers, and external service providers.
• Ensure engineering projects and plant modifications comply with OSHA, USDA, food safety, environmental, electrical, and building requirements.
• Maintain accurate engineering documentation, equipment specifications, drawings, project records, and asset information.
• Conduct engineering assessments and provide recommendations regarding equipment replacement, upgrades, and lifecycle management.
• Support energy, water, waste reduction, sustainability, and utility optimization initiatives.
• Participate in root-cause analysis and continuous improvement activities to address operational and equipment-related issues.
• Assist with new equipment installation, commissioning, validation, and production start-up activities.
• Provide technical support during significant equipment failures and emergency situations.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with Operations, Maintenance, FSQA, Supply Chain, Finance, and senior plant leadership.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be an experienced engineer with a strong background within protein, meat, poultry, RTE, food processing, or another high-volume manufacturing environment.

You will ideally bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Chemical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of progressive engineering experience within a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Proven experience providing engineering support within a high-volume production facility.
• Experience with CAPEX, project management, equipment installation, commissioning, and facility improvements.
• Strong understanding of industrial processing and packaging equipment.
• Experience with automation, PLCs, controls, instrumentation, and industrial electrical systems is highly advantageous.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical systems, utilities, refrigeration, hydraulics, pneumatics, and facility infrastructure.
• Experience within a USDA-regulated food or protein manufacturing environment is preferred.
• Strong understanding of OSHA, GMP, food safety, and environmental requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and deliver improvements in reliability, throughput, efficiency, capacity, and operating costs.
• Strong project management skills, including experience managing budgets, contractors, timelines, and multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, communication, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work effectively across Production, Maintenance, FSQA, and Engineering teams.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-volume manufacturing environment and responding to urgent technical challenges when required.

What the Role Offers

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced engineer to join a leading and growing protein manufacturer and play a critical role in improving the technical and operational performance of a major manufacturing facility.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to lead significant capital projects, automation initiatives, reliability improvements, and plant optimization programs, while working closely with senior operations and engineering leadership.