Position Summary
The Manufacturing/Process Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, evaluating, and improving cooling tower systems and related equipment used in agricultural, industrial, ethanol, food processing, and power generation applications. This position combines engineering principles with practical field knowledge to support the design, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance of cooling towers while ensuring operational efficiency, environmental compliance, and customer satisfaction.
The Agricultural Engineer will collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, project management, construction, quality assurance, and sales teams to develop innovative solutions that improve water conservation, energy efficiency, structural performance, and overall cooling system reliability.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Design and evaluate cooling tower systems for agricultural and industrial applications.
- Develop engineering calculations related to heat transfer, water flow, evaporation rates, structural loading, and system performance.
- Prepare engineering drawings, specifications, reports, and technical documentation.
- Analyze customer requirements and recommend cooling tower solutions that meet operational needs.
- Provide technical support to sales, estimating, manufacturing, and field construction teams.
- Conduct field inspections, performance evaluations, and troubleshooting of existing cooling tower systems.
- Assist with commissioning and startup of new cooling tower installations.
- Research and implement new technologies to improve water efficiency, energy consumption, and equipment performance.
- Evaluate environmental impacts including water usage, drift elimination, chemical treatment compatibility, and sustainability initiatives.
- Coordinate with structural, mechanical, electrical, and civil engineers during project development.
- Support fabrication by reviewing shop drawings, bills of materials, and manufacturing processes.
- Develop testing procedures and quality control standards for cooling tower components.
- Assist in root cause analysis of equipment failures and recommend corrective actions.
- Monitor compliance with OSHA, EPA, ASME, ANSI, and applicable industry standards.
- Participate in continuous improvement initiatives to reduce manufacturing costs and improve product quality.
- Travel to customer sites, manufacturing facilities, and construction projects as required.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Agricultural/Biosystems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- Minimum of 3–5 years of engineering experience in manufacturing, industrial construction, heavy industrial equipment, agricultural systems, or a related field preferred.
- Experience with cooling towers, water distribution systems, process cooling, heat exchange equipment, or similar industrial equipment is preferred.
- Working knowledge of fluid mechanics, heat transfer, structural concepts, and manufacturing processes.
- Proficiency with AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Autodesk Inventor, or similar CAD software.
- Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite.
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, specifications, and technical documents.
- Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Valid driver's license and ability to travel to manufacturing facilities and project sites as needed.
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Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP), pultrusion, composite materials, structural steel, or industrial fabrication.
- Experience supporting manufacturing operations and field construction activities.
- Familiarity with Cooling Technology Institute (CTI) standards and industrial cooling systems.
- Experience with project management, cost estimating, or product development.
- Knowledge of OSHA safety standards and quality management systems (ISO 9001 experience is a plus).
- Experience with engineering analysis software, including finite element analysis (FEA) or computational fluid dynamics (CFD), is beneficial but not required.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong understanding of:
- Fluid dynamics
- Heat transfer
- Structural engineering
- Water treatment systems
- Agricultural water management
- Industrial cooling processes
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Strong organizational and documentation skills.
- Ability to communicate technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Detail-oriented with excellent time management skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to walk active construction sites and manufacturing facilities.
- Ability to climb ladders, stairs, and cooling tower structures.
- Ability to lift up to 40 pounds occasionally.
- Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions.
- Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE), including hard hats, safety glasses, fall protection, hearing protection, and steel-toe boots.
Work Environment
This position is based in both an office and manufacturing environment with frequent travel to customer facilities and active construction sites. Work may involve exposure to noise, dust, chemicals, moving machinery, elevated work areas, and varying weather conditions.
Core Competencies
- Engineering Design
- Technical Analysis
- Project Management
- Continuous Improvement
- Quality Assurance
- Safety Leadership
- Customer Service
- Communication