Sr. Project Engineer

Own capital project planning and execution across manufacturing sites to improve safety, reliability, capacity, quality, and operational performance.

Responsibilities

• Manage capital expenditures, forecasts, and project financial performance to deliver against approved business cases and ROI targets.
• Build and maintain a balanced annual capital plan for assigned manufacturing site(s) in partnership with maintenance, safety, quality, R&D, operations, and plant leadership.
• Establish, execute, and deliver savings from automation, productivity, capacity, reliability, safety, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead medium to large capital investment projects end-to-end: feasibility, scope development, funding approval, engineering design, installation, commissioning, start-up, and handover.
• Prepare project documentation including scope, design basis, cost estimates, schedules, business case support, option analyses, RFQs, purchase recommendations, and capital funding packages.
• Coordinate internal stakeholders, external engineering partners, vendors, contractors, construction resources, and plant teams for safe and effective execution.
• Track and communicate project status, risks, decisions, cost, schedule, quality, deliverables, and post-start-up KPIs to leadership and stakeholders.
• Identify potential project issues and develop mitigation and contingency plans, including clear requests for support when barriers arise.
• Support new business needs with agility across product, process, equipment, capacity, packaging, automation, and infrastructure changes.
• Develop, improve, and standardize engineering work processes, project governance, change management, readiness tools, and manufacturing deliverable tracking.
• Ensure compliance with applicable requirements, including HACCP, GMP, SQF, CFIA or equivalent country requirements, and local/state/provincial/federal laws, as well as occupational health and safety, environmental, and food safety requirements.
• Exemplify the company’s Core Values.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a closely related technical discipline (required).
• 5 to 10 years executing capital projects or engineering initiatives within a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects valued in the millions of dollars.
• Fluent English communication: reading, writing, speaking, and listening (required).
• Strong project management capability balancing safety, quality, cost, schedule, scope, and business results.
• Working knowledge of capital planning, purchasing processes, cost estimating, vendor management, construction coordination, and equipment installation.
• Ability to develop design basis documents, RFQs, option analyses, project deliverables, manufacturing readiness tools, and start-up plans.
• Understanding of manufacturing equipment, utilities, process systems, automation, controls, and productivity improvement methods.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including influencing and aligning stakeholders and holding them accountable without direct authority.
• Creative, innovative, detail-oriented approach with ability to improve or streamline work processes.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and MS Project.
• Basic drawing skills in AutoCAD, with ability to conceptualize minor changes into current facility layouts.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a matrixed, multi-site environment supporting several Senior Plant Engineers across North America.

Technologies

• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• MS Project
• AutoCAD

Benefits

• Health and disability insurance
• Retirement savings options
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employee assistance programs
• Educational assistance
• Parental leave
• Paid time off
• Company-paid holidays

Travel

• May be required: 20% across North America to manufacturing sites, vendor locations, and project sites

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

• Work performed in both office and food manufacturing environments.
• Hours may vary based on project needs; extended hours, off-shift support, and weekend work may be required during installations, shutdowns, commissioning, and start-ups.
• Exposure may include food ingredients and finished goods such as flour, starch, meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, and other allergens or food products.
• May require work in refrigerated, frozen, wet, humid, dusty, or noisy environments and around mechanical, electrical, chemical, and construction-related hazards.
• Must follow site safety, sanitation, personal protective equipment, and food safety requirements in production facilities.

Education and Experience (Preferred)

• Desired experience in food manufacturing, food processing technology, packaging, automation, controls, or frozen/refrigerated manufacturing environments.
• Experience with lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, engineering work processes, or capital project management preferred.

Location: San Antonio, TX (onsite) | Salary: USD 99,000 - 158,400 per yearly