Lead Engineer

J.M. Smucker Co•Scottsville, KY

11d•Onsite

About The Position

This role sits at the center of manufacturing performance—turning data, process knowledge, and cross-functional influence into safer operations, stronger yields, faster throughput, and better product consistency. You’ll be a hands-on technical leader who translates problems on the floor into practical improvements, while also shaping how engineers and technicians learn, troubleshoot, and deliver results.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering required, Mechanical, Chemical, or Industrial preferred
Manufacturing experience, preferably in food
At least 3 years of experience in project management/construction management is required

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with food ingredient chemistry, food processing and packaging equipment is desirable
Willingness to have a workload balance that includes systems tasks as well as laboratory, pilot plant, and manufacturing plant tasks.
Problem solving ability
Strong inter-personal skills
Ability to teach and lead others, working independently, with guidance in only the most complicated situations
An understanding of the Capital Delivery Process is desired
Open to managing operating teams as needed (as backup or future assignment)

Responsibilities

Serve as Process Engineer onboarding lead, mentoring/managing engineers and interns, building skills in troubleshooting, project management, and effective use of Operations Excellence tools.
Can perform gap analysis on key production metrics and demonstrate deep understanding of the 7-Step Process.
Lead failure analysis using Operations Excellence tools.
Owns, executes, reports on, and can develop department and site Masterplan items.
Perform a key role in building the fundamental understanding within the operating technicians in pursuit of a high-performance culture.
Support technical efforts to evaluate and improve on processes and formulations in manufacturing plant to improve production rates, efficiencies, and yield while maintaining reliable and safe manufacturing systems by collaborating with production teams and leadership.
Provide technical guidance between operations and R&D/Engineering on new product/process development, act as liaison between R&D/Engineering and Operations for scheduling and conducting plant test runs.
Coordinate and lead plant trials to evaluate new ingredients and/or new processing parameters.
Identify, Develop, and Execute savings projects, can include developing the funding request, managing the capital and engineering through start up.
Provide technical leadership within cross functional teams to deliver initiatives and departmental projects.
Serves as an expert within the plant in a key business area or discipline.
Employs effective interpersonal time and resource management skills to complete projects assignments
Leads multiple projects simultaneously, using best practices and knowledge of internal or external business issues to drive improvements
Build and leverage strong internal/external network to gain insight, influence and information.
Solve complex problems; take a broad perspective to identify creative and innovative solutions.
Develop and improve process documentation.
Help organization stay current with applicable new technologies/ingredients.
Support and provide guidance to operations/engineering organizations on evaluation of new production opportunities, improving existing operations, cost-saving ideas, and troubleshooting of major problems.
Monitor new products trends/competitive trend and activities.