Job brief
In the Kalamazoo Area – Seeking a Plant Engineer to perform the tasks that a food and beverage process engineer executes including all manufacturing processes plus new equipment and facility construction project management. The candidate must be able to work in a dynamic and rapidly growing beverage manufacturing and consumer brand company.
Plant Engineer responsibilities include:
· Utilizing pumps, valves, pipes, machinery, PLCs, and utilities to ensure products are produced at the highest level of safety, efficiency, and quality.
· Overseeing the installation, startup, and training of staff in the use and maintenance of pumps, valves, pipes, machinery, PLCs, and utilities.
· Designing improvements to material handling, blending, processing, and packaging systems to improve safety, efficiency, and quality.
· Designing automation, safety, and quality into new systems and existing systems.
· Efficient management of equipment and facility Capital Projects.
· Identify opportunities for implementation of new technologies and systems to improve safety, efficiency, and quality of manufactured products.
· Reports to the Director of Technical Services.
Plant Engineer Job Duties
The Plant Engineer will be responsible for actively participating in and overall management of the design, construction, installation, startup, training, ongoing improvement, and project management of capital projects that include equipment, systems, and construction.
Responsibilities
· Plan, organize, direct and run system improvements and new system design and installation,
· Increase production asset capacity and flexibility while minimizing unnecessary costs and maintaining current quality standards.
· Effectively allocate internal and external resources effectively and fully utilize assets to produce optimal results.
· Monitor operations and processes and trigger corrective designs for improvement.
· Analyze data to find places of waste and lost opportunities for efficient and timely product output.
· Oversee and implement improvements and changes to plant systems.
· Stay up to date with the latest technologies and concepts.
Requirements and skills
· Proven work experience as a Plant Engineer in a manufacturing environment.
· Proven engineering experience in chemical, pharmaceutical, aseptic, hot fill, and/or water bottling industry a plus.
· Proficient knowledge and experience with:
heat exchange systems and equipment utilization and calculation;utility utilization including high-voltage, low-voltage, steam generation, water, compressed air, carbon-based fuel sources, and refrigerant gasses;functionality and application of PD pumps, centrifugal pumps, homogenizers, strainers, liquefiers, high shear mixers;design, construction, and programming of CIP systems and automatic monitoring and controls;design, construction, and programming of valve clusters and automatic monitoring and controls;water treatment technologies including R/O, microfiltration, resins, iron removal, aeration, odor and flavor removal.· Proficient with PLC logic including troubleshooting, maintaining, programming, and networking.
· Understanding of the safe use and function of caustics, acids, quats, hypochlorite, and soaps.
· Basic knowledge of microbiology and food/beverage chemistry.
· Be knowledgeable of safety, quality, cost, productivity, and the stewardship processes including but not limited to SQF, FSSC, 5S, TQM, organic, Kosher, KPIs and metrics.
· Ability to communicate effectively with multiple skill and experience levels.
· Strong and effective decision-making and communicating to multiple skill and experience levels in a union environment.
· Experience with renewable energy a plus.
· BS degree in one or more of the following: Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Industrial Engineering or related field.
· Minimum of 5-years of professional experience.
Compensation
· Salary - commensurate with experience and growth potential
· Benefits - equal to the company’s managerial and executive level
· Relocation - negotiable
Read LessIn Kalamazoo area our client is seeking a Director of Engineering / Technology to lead all engineering, maintenance, and capital improvement initiatives within our food and beverage manufacturing operations. This role is responsible for driving plant performance, reliability, and efficiency through strong engineering leadership, process optimization, and continuous improvement.
While experience with automation and PLC systems is highly beneficial, the primary focus is on plant engineering leadership, equipment reliability, and operational excellence.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Strategy
Lead and develop engineering and maintenance teams to achieve high performanceDefine and execute engineering strategy aligned with production and business goalsPartner with Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain to improve plant efficiencyPlant Engineering & Operations (Core Focus)
Oversee equipment reliability, preventive maintenance, and uptime improvementLead root cause analysis and implement corrective/preventive actionsManage installation, commissioning, and optimization of processing and packaging equipmentDrive continuous improvement initiatives (Lean, Six Sigma)Ensure utilities systems (HVAC, compressed air, refrigeration, etc.) are optimizedAutomation & Controls (Preferred / Supportive)
Support and collaborate on PLC programming, troubleshooting, and automation improvementsPartner with controls engineers or integrators on system upgrades and new equipmentContribute to improvements in HMI/SCADA systems and plant automationHelp evaluate new automation technologies to enhance efficiencyCompliance & Food Safety
Ensure compliance with FDA, HACCP, SQF standardsMaintain adherence to OSHA / MIOSHA safety regulationsSupport internal and external auditsProject & Budget Management
Manage CapEx budgets and engineering projectsLead equipment upgrades, expansions, and new line implementationsEvaluate and implement cost-saving and efficiency-driven initiatives
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or related field)10+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering (food & beverage preferred)5+ years of leadership experience in plant engineering, maintenance, or operationsStrong experience in equipment reliability, maintenance systems, and capital projects
Preferred (Not Required) Technical Experience
Exposure to PLC systems (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, etc.)Familiarity with HMI/SCADA systems (FactoryTalk, Ignition, WinCC, etc.)Understanding of automated production and packaging linesExperience working with controls engineers or system integrators
Key Competencies
Leadership & team developmentOperational excellence and problem-solvingContinuous improvement mindsetStrong cross-functional collaborationStrategic and hands-on execution ability
Work Environment
Manufacturing plant environmentOccasional off-hours support for critical production needsLimited travel as required Read LessGENERAL SUMMARY
The Director of Sales is responsible for the development and execution of the company’s commercial strategy, including revenue growth, customer acquisition, and account management. This role is accountable for building and maintaining strong customer relationships, identifying new market opportunities, and aligning customer deman with manufacturing capacity and operational
capabilities. The position works closely with executive leadership, operations, and production teams to ensure that sales strategies support the organization’s growth objectives and manufacturing capacity.
ESSENTIAL ACCOUNTABILITIES
Develop and execute sales strategies to drive revenue growth and market expansionIdentify and pursue new business opportunities within target marketsBuild and maintain relationships with key customers, distributors, and partnersLead contract negotiations, pricing strategies, and commercial agreementsCollaborate with operations and production teams to align demand with capacityAnalyze market trends, customer needs, and competitive positioningDevelop forecasting models and sales performance metricsBuild and develop a high-performing sales organization over timePartner with executive leadership to support long-term growth strategy and market positioningRepresent the company in customer meetings, industry events, and strategic discussionsEDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or related fieldMinimum of 8–10 years of sales experience in food, beverage, CPG, or manufacturingMinimum of 5 years of leadership experience in a commercial or sales roleSPECIALIZED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED
Strong understanding of manufacturing-based sales environmentsExperience with contract manufacturing, co-packing, or food/beverage production preferredProven track record of revenue growth and customer developmentStrong negotiation, communication, and relationship management skillsAbility to align commercial strategy with operational capabilitiesStrategic thinking combined with hands-on executionPREFERRED SKILLS
Experience in food, beverage, or consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturing environmentsExperience working with contract manufacturing, co-packing, or private label production modelsEstablished relationships with key accounts, distributors, or retail channels within target marketsExperience selling into large customers (e.g., national brands, grocery, beverage, or foodservice channels)Background in scaling sales functions within a growing or mid-sized organizationExperience aligning commercial strategy with production capabilities and supply chain constraintsExposure to new product commercialization and go-to-market strategyWORKING CONDITIONS
This position operates in on-site work environment and may require travel to customer locations, manufacturing facilities, and industry events as needed.
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