Project Engineer

About the Opportunity

We are seeking a Project Engineer to join a growing manufacturing operation supporting the production of specialty ingredients used in food, beverage, and industrial applications. This role offers the opportunity to lead impactful capital projects, improve manufacturing processes, and collaborate with cross-functional teams in a highly automated production environment.

The Project Engineer will be responsible for managing capital projects from concept through completion, driving continuous improvement initiatives, and supporting plant operations through sound engineering practices. This position is ideal for an engineer who enjoys balancing technical design, project management, and field execution responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and execute capital projects ranging from approximately $25K to $3M+.
• Develop project scopes, cost estimates, schedules, and appropriation requests.
• Manage projects through design, procurement, construction, startup, and final acceptance.
• Identify and implement process improvements that increase throughput, improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance product quality.
• Develop and maintain process flow diagrams (PFDs), plant layouts, and Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs).
• Perform engineering calculations and review technical drawings and specifications.
• Select equipment and develop process and equipment specifications.
• Prepare bid packages, solicit contractor proposals, and evaluate vendor submissions.
• Monitor field construction activities and ensure compliance with engineering standards and project requirements.
• Coordinate with operations, maintenance, process engineering, and leadership teams to successfully execute projects.
• Participate in Process Hazard Analysis (PHA), Management of Change (MOC), Pre-Startup Safety Reviews (PSSR), incident investigations, and Process Safety Management (PSM) activities.
• Develop annual and long-range capital plans in partnership with plant leadership.
• Manage project budgets, schedules, documentation, and reporting.
• Ensure contractor adherence to site safety requirements and applicable regulations.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, reliability, and operational excellence.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years of project engineering and/or project management experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously with minimal supervision.
• Strong knowledge of engineering principles, project execution methodologies, and applicable codes and regulations.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Proven problem-solving abilities and a proactive, results-oriented mindset.

Preferred

• Experience in chemical processing, fermentation, food manufacturing, or other process manufacturing environments.
• Knowledge of Process Safety Management (PSM) programs and associated regulatory requirements.
• Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma experience.
• SAP experience.
• Experience working in a unionized manufacturing environment.

What You'll Bring

• Strong technical and project leadership capabilities.
• Ability to influence and collaborate across multiple departments.
• A continuous improvement mindset focused on safety, efficiency, and operational excellence.
• The ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on project execution.
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to delivering projects on time and within budget.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Lead high-impact capital projects from concept through startup.
• Work in a dynamic manufacturing environment with significant operational visibility.
• Collaborate with experienced engineering, operations, and maintenance professionals.
• Influence plant performance through process improvements and modernization initiatives.
• Competitive compensation, benefits, and career growth potential.