Plant Engineer

Michigan Turkey Producers•Wyoming, MI

About The Position

Under the supervision of the Vice President of Maintenance, Facilities and Engineering, the Plant Engineer provides engineering leadership for equipment, utilities, facility systems, and capital projects in support of plant objectives and applicable USDA, HACCP, GMP, and company standards. The role partners with Operations, Maintenance, Technical Services, EH&S, and Facilities to develop and implement engineering solutions that support equipment reliability, safe operations, KPI performance, and improvement initiatives across manufacturing, packaging, utilities, and facility systems. The Plant Engineer is accountable for assigned engineering deliverables and provides technical support to improve safety, quality, and operational performance. The role provides technical support and leadership for equipment reliability, optimization, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement. It also develops and executes capital projects, manages project plans and budgets, facilitates root cause investigations, and supports regulatory, safety, and quality compliance. The Plant Engineer works with internal teams, vendors, contractors, consultants, and equipment manufacturers, and communicates project priorities, technical risks, and improvement opportunities to site leadership. The position requires flexibility in hours to support business needs, planned in advance; weekend work may be required for production, projects, or equipment installation. The work takes place in both office and industrial food production environments. Physical demands include lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, and torquing equipment weighing up to 70 pounds; continuous movement for up to 10–12 hours or a full shift; working at heights up to 17 feet, in confined spaces, and in wet, cold, uneven, or sloped areas; and wearing required PPE. A valid driver’s license is required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
Minimum 5 years of engineering experience in manufacturing, food processing, industrial processing, or related industries is preferred.
Demonstrated experience managing capital projects from concept through implementation.
Experience with equipment troubleshooting, process optimization, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Experience leading or participating in root cause analysis investigations.
Strong understanding of mechanical, electrical, process, and automation systems.
Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, electrical schematics, equipment drawings, and technical specifications.
Strong project management, organizational, and communication skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, AutoCAD or equivalent design software, and project management tools.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and a hands-on approach to equipment and process improvement.
Ability to communicate technical information effectively to all levels of the organization.
Valid driver’s license.
Ability to lift, carry, push, pull, and torque equipment weighing up to 70 pounds.
Ability to stand, walk, bend, twist, kneel, reach, and move continuously for extended periods, up to 10–12 hours or the full duration of the shift.
Ability to work at heights up to 17 feet and access elevated platforms, ladders, and equipment.
Ability to work underneath, on, or around equipment, including in confined spaces as small as 2 feet by 2 feet.
Ability to work in industrial food production environments, including wet, cold, uneven, sloped, or confined areas.
Ability to wear required PPE, including hearing protection, hard hat, hair net, protective clothing, gloves, and arm protection.
Ability to hear and respond to verbal instructions, equipment sounds, alarms, and emergency signals.
Ability to read, interpret, and understand written materials, technical documents, and computer screens.
Ability to communicate clearly and professionally in English, verbally and in writing.
Ability to operate standard office equipment, including computers and phones, and perform administrative duties.

Responsibilities

Identify, evaluate, and implement equipment and system improvements to improve targeted KPIs.
Analyze production, downtime, maintenance, and quality data to identify chronic losses and improvement opportunities.
Lead equipment optimization initiatives focused on reducing downtime, improving OEE, and increasing operational capacity.
Evaluate new technologies, equipment upgrades, and process improvements to support operational objectives.
Develop engineering standards and best practices for equipment design, operation, and maintenance.
Support preventive and predictive maintenance initiatives through engineering analysis and reliability improvements.
Serve as a primary technical resource for manufacturing equipment, process systems, utility systems, and facility infrastructure.
Troubleshoot complex mechanical, electrical, controls, automation, and process-related issues with Maintenance and Operations teams.
Review equipment designs, specifications, drawings, and vendor proposals for compliance with operational requirements and company standards.
Support equipment commissioning, startup, performance testing, and validation activities.
Develop capital project scopes, engineering specifications, budgets, schedules, and business justifications.
Lead capital projects from concept through design, procurement, installation, startup, and closeout.
Coordinate with internal stakeholders, contractors, consultants, and equipment suppliers; oversee contractor activities and ensure compliance with safety, quality, and plant standards.
Manage project budgets, schedules, risks, deliverables, milestones, resources, and timelines; manage concurrent projects in line with plant priorities.
Facilitate project meetings, communicate progress to stakeholders, and present project updates to leadership teams.
Ensure project work is safely completed on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with applicable regulations and standards.
Complete project documentation, training, spare-parts planning, and maintenance requirements before project handoff; conduct post-project reviews.
Facilitate and lead root cause analysis investigations into significant equipment failures, process interruptions, quality issues, and safety incidents.
Use structured problem-solving methods, including 5 Why Analysis, Fishbone Diagrams, Fault Tree Analysis, FMEA, and Reliability-Centered Maintenance.
Develop corrective and preventive actions addressing root causes, verify their effectiveness, and ensure sustained results.
Support compliance with OSHA, EPA, USDA, GMP, and applicable local, state, and federal regulations.
Participate in Process Safety Management, food safety, environmental, and regulatory compliance initiatives as applicable.
Conduct engineering risk assessments and ensure equipment modifications and capital projects meet company safety standards and regulatory requirements.
Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Sanitation, EHS, and Facilities to achieve plant performance objectives.
Support reduced unplanned downtime and deliver measurable improvements in equipment performance, throughput, operational efficiency, cost savings, productivity, or risk reduction.
Address engineering-related safety concerns with documented corrective actions and follow-up.
Ensure capital projects meet approved scope, budget, and schedule expectations and are commissioned and handed off with complete documentation and training.
Complete root cause investigations in a timely manner and implement sustainable corrective actions to reduce repeat failures and recurring issues.