Director, Plant Engineering

Smithfield Foods • Sioux Falls, SD

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Join our dynamic Engineering team and become a key player in driving innovation and efficiency! You’ll analyze data, optimize production processes, and reduce waste—directly impacting operating costs. Collaborate across teams to drive strategic initiatives, tackle complex challenges, and ensure excellence in maintenance and capital budget management. As the head of Maintenance and Engineering in a fast-paced plant, you’ll ensure peak equipment performance and minimal downtime. You’ll implement advanced systems like Preventative and Predictive Maintenance and TPM, propelling our plant toward high performance. Your leadership will build and guide a top-tier team, driving operational excellence and shaping the future of manufacturing. Your contributions will power the manufacturing of iconic brands like Smithfield, Eckrich, Nathan’s Famous, and more, helping us meet the demands of customers and consumers alike.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited four-year college or university in Engineering, Business or related field and 10+ years of experience in Engineering management; or equivalent combination of education and experience, required.
• Candidates with a Master's degree in Engineering, Business, or related field from an accredited four-year college or university and 8+ years of relevant experience will be considered qualified.
• 5+ years’ experience in a position of leadership to include team development and management, required.
• Possess advanced technical skills in the mechanical/electrical fields (e.g. PLCs, instrumentation, mechanical engineering, etc.) and is able to lead resource planning efforts in a large manufacturing environment.
• Thorough knowledge of maintenance systems, work order process, preventive/predictive maintenance, TPM, etc.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and SAP.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• High level of written and oral communication skills, organizational planning, teamwork, analytical reasoning, and adaptability.
• Ability to communicate technical ideas to a non-technical audience effectively.
• Strong interpersonal, technical and presentation skills, required.
• May be required to work long hours and weekends.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of different pork products and the Meat Industry, preferred.
• Ability to work well with others in fast paced, dynamic environment.
• Ability to be respectful, approachable and team oriented while building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.

Responsibilities

• Engineering Project Development: Lead capital projects from concept to completion—on time, on budget, and with zero compromise on safety, food safety, or environmental standards. You’ll manage all phases to minimize operational disruption and enhance plant capabilities through impactful, strategic improvements.
• Maintenance Systems: Drive the development and execution of advanced maintenance strategies—including Preventive and Predictive Maintenance and TPM—to keep operations running at peak performance. Your leadership will reduce downtime, boost efficiency, and ensure seamless, reliable production.
• Maintenance Staff and Safety: Lead and inspire the maintenance team through effective task delegation, policy enforcement, and safety-first planning. Your leadership ensures efficient, compliant operations aligned with Smithfield’s standards and all regulatory requirements.
• Solutions: Become the ultimate problem solver for daily operational challenges. From troubleshooting to long-term fixes, your proactive approach will minimize recurring issues and keep production running smoothly.
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Drive continuous improvement by developing and tracking Key Performance Indicators that measure the success of the maintenance function. From equipment reliability to supplier performance and overall equipment effectiveness, your insights will be crucial for maintaining peak performance across all areas of the plant.
• People Management and Leadership: Lead and develop high-performing engineering teams through coaching, performance management, and collaboration with HR. Foster a culture of safety, communication, and recognition while building a diverse, empowered workforce. Step in seamlessly when needed to ensure smooth, uninterrupted operations.

Benefits

• Smithfield is proud to offer robust, flexible and affordable benefit plans and programs to support our team members and their loved ones, and with out-of-pocket costs, on average, 20 percent less than plans offered by other employers.
• Beyond our medical plans, our Be Well programs offer tools and resources to enhance your quality of life, at no additional cost. These programs are uniquely tailored to our Smithfield team and provide support for elective surgeries, weight loss, mental health, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, smoking cessation, asthma, maternity management and more.
• Our company invests in your future. We offer comprehensive training and professional development programs designed to help you reach your full potential.
• Our partnership with GUILD supports your continuing education with tuition assistance covering English language learning and various certificate programs, while our leadership development initiatives nurture high-potential talent.
• For those looking to build specialized skills, we offer apprenticeship programs that combine hands-on experience with focused learning.
• We also offer unique benefits like our Smithfield Scholarship Program for employees’ children.
• Smithfield’s Education Reimbursement Program provides financial reimbursement to team members who want to further their formal education by obtaining a GED/High School Equivalency (HSE) Diploma or by pursuing an academic degree at an accredited college or university that is not a Guild learning partner.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director