Project Engineer

At Kraft Heinz, the Project Engineer role plays a central part in directing and coordinating engineering project planning, organization, control, integration, and completion for the plant and assigned responsibility area. This position focuses on delivering projects on time and within budget, while providing technical support and driving TQM-centered quality improvements.

What you’ll do

• Ensure engineering projects are completed on time within budget, or achieve assigned objectives successfully.
• Lead specific project phases such as technical studies, product design, preparation of specifications and technical plans, and product testing.
• Design, develop, and continuously improve internal processes and processing equipment.
• Coordinate technical development activities, scheduling, and resolution of engineering design and test issues.
• Maintain control of project expenditures within approved budget limits.
• Prepare interim and completion project reports.
• Provide functional and technical support to factories to reduce production and maintenance problems.
• Apply engineering expertise to equipment design, troubleshooting, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Participate in committees or task forces to support company goals.
• Support PRC and key support projects as a technical advisor or project manager.
• Apply TQM principles, including establishing requirements and process maps to ensure the work is done right the first time.
• Promote TQM through actions and communications with internal and external customers, focusing on conformance to requirements and technical leadership to reduce cost of quality.
• Develop project scope and justification, including factory and company impact.
• Prepare appropriations, including cost estimates, savings, and timing plans.
• Develop and manage cost controls, asset controls, and scheduling controls.
• Hire and supervise contractors within the scope of the project manager role.
• Maintain strong back-up sources of technical files, vendors, manufacturers, and engineering groups to support new packaging methods and identify technologies and equipment for packaging applications.
• Evaluate, plan, and implement approved projects in the direction of Engineering, the Project Review Committee, and/or the Management Board.
• Support Cost Reduction and Production Improvement efforts, including active participation in initiatives to reduce operational costs and improve finished quality attributes.
• Develop projects to initiate cost-cutting and quality-improving techniques or equipment.
• Analyze and prepare appropriation requests for capital improvements and replacement of inefficient assets, including data organization for a five-year capital spending budget basis and an active cost reduction program.
• Direct and compile capital budgeting by collecting future capital project requirements from factory departments and compiling them into a final five-year capital budget.
• Control the current fiscal year budget to meet current factory needs and position needs for the future.
• Analyze and prepare appropriation requests for capital and expense items, including new facilities and equipment for operating improvements, capacity increases, and equipment replacement.

Key qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from an accredited engineering school or related field (strongly preferred).
• 3+ years of experience or full cycle Project Engineering experience.
• Strong background in mechanical and hydraulic systems, packaging methods, materials, electronics and computer applications, and electrical systems.
• Strong communication skills for presentations to factory staff on technical issues and project activity.
• Ability to read and interpret business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to present information and respond to questions from managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Ability to apply mathematical operations including test reliability and validity, analysis of variance, correlation techniques, sampling theory, and factor analysis.
• Ability to interpret instructions in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to work flexible schedules including days, afternoons, midnights, and overtime as needed.

Location and compensation

• Location: Muscatine Factory, Muscatine, IA (onsite)
• Base salary range: USD $77,800 to $97,300 per year
• Bonus: Performance-based bonus eligible based on plan terms and governing documents

Benefits

• Healthcare: coverage for employees (and eligible dependents) including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, screenings/assessments
• Time off and programs: paid time off, company holidays, leave of absence, flexible work arrangements, recognition, training
• Support: Employee Assistance Program, wellbeing programs, family support programs
• Financial: 401k, life, accidental death and dismemberment, disability
• Wellbeing programs

Kraft Heinz is an equal opportunity employer. For applicants who require reasonable accommodation during the application process, contact [email protected].