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Senior Project Engineer - Hilmar, CA

Search Partner Group

Hilmar, CA

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JOB DETAILS
SALARY
$120,000–$160,000 Per Year
SKILLS
ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology), Accounting, Asset Management, Audio Engineering, Bill of Materials (BOM), Biotech and Pharmaceutical, Budgeting, Capital Project, Commissioning, Communication Skills, Construction Design, Continuous Improvement, Cross-Functional, Documentation, Drug Manufacturing, Engineering, Equipment Specification, FDA (Food and Drug Administration), Fluid Mechanics and Dynamics, Forecasting, Funding, Investment Capital, Leadership, Maintain Compliance, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Management, Manufacturing Process Management (MPM), Manufacturing Requirements, Mentoring, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, Multitasking, Nutrition, Oil and Gas, Physical Demands, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Pricing, Process Engineering, Production Systems, Project Design, Project Engineering, Project Execution, Project Lifecycle, Project Management Professional (PMP), Project/Program Management, Regulations, Request for Proposals (RFP), Research & Development (R&D), Retail, Risk, Risk Management, Safety/Work Safety, State Laws and Regulations, Statistical Process Control, Statistics, Technical Leadership, Technical/Engineering Design, Thermodynamics, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), United States Department of Energy (DOE), Vendor/Supplier Selection
LOCATION
Hilmar, CA
POSTED
30+ days ago
Sr. Project Engineer
Location: Hilmar, CA
Compensation: $120,000 - $160,000 (DOE)
Bonus: Up to 14% target annual bonus 
Relocation: Up to $15,000
Schedule: On-site, Monday–Friday (full-time)
Travel: 0–15%
About the Role
Join a nationwide industry leader producing high-quality dairy and nutrition ingredients for retail and foodservice brands across the globe. We’re seeking a Sr. Project Engineer to lead capital projects at the Hilmar, CA site. 

This role blends design engineering and technical project management, executing strategic capital projects that enhance asset reliability, performance, and growth.
Key Responsibilities
  • Manage 4–5 capital projects simultaneously and commission 10–15 projects annually with a total investment up to $20M.
  • Lead the full project lifecycle: concept development, scope, estimating, scheduling, funding requests, detailed engineering/design, construction, commissioning, and validation.
  • Own budgets, forecasts (±10% accuracy), schedules, procurement, vendor coordination, and risk management.
  • Mentor and provide technical guidance to less-experienced engineers (may supervise 0–2).
  • Maintain accurate P&IDs, BOMs, oversee field changes, and ensure design documentation integrity.
  • Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, state dairy, environmental, and safety regulations.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with Manufacturing, Maintenance, R&D, Quality, Safety, Environmental, Accounting, and Leadership.
  • Lead vendor engagements (RFPs, pricing, equipment specifications) and review commercial terms for recommendations.
  • Apply engineering fundamentals (thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, process controls), statistical analysis, risk matrices, and whole-life asset costing to inform decisions.
  • Prepare and deliver presentations on design, risk, and investment decisions to leadership.
A Typical Week
  • Driving project execution across design, construction, and commissioning.
  • Coordinating with vendors, contractors, and internal stakeholders.
  • Reviewing designs, schedules, estimates, risk registers, and monthly spend/forecast.
  • Leading project reviews and technical discussions; presenting status and decision points.
  • Splitting time between office work and manufacturing floor presence (PPE required).
Qualifications
Required:
  • Bachelor’s in Engineering (ABET accredited degree) + 5 years related experience OR Master’s + 3 years related experience.
  • 3-5 years experience within the Food, Dairy, Biotech, Pharmaceutical, Manufacturing, or Oil & Gas industry.
  • Demonstrated capital project management in manufacturing or process environments.
  • 3+ years of Process Engineering experience.
  • Strong communication with the ability to convey complex technical and business concepts.
  • Sound engineering judgment; ability to propose practical, innovative solutions.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
  • Demonstrated integrity, ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement mindset.

Preferred:
  • Bachelor’s + 7 years or Master’s + 4 years related experience.
  • Background in Food, Dairy, Oil & Gas, Biotech, Pharmaceutical, or high?hygienic, sanitary facility environments.
  • Familiarity with 3A sanitary standards, FDA/USDA/PMO, and state dairy manufacturing regulations.
  • Certifications: PMP, PMI?RMP, IAM (Project/Asset/Risk Management).
  • Experience with Planview or Microsoft Project.
Physical Demands & Work Environment
  • Mix of office and production-floor environments; regular walking/standing and handling moderate-weight materials.
  • PPE required in manufacturing areas; exposure to both temperature-controlled and non-controlled settings.
  • Frequent verbal interaction and cross-functional collaboration.
What We Offer
  • Competitive base pay with growth potential based on education and experience.
  • Comprehensive benefits including matching 401(k).
  • 14% target annual bonus 
  • Relocation assistance up to $15,000.
  • Opportunity to lead meaningful capital investments at a high-impact facility.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future employer sponsorship. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

About the Company

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Search Partner Group

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