Plant Engineer

Michigan Turkey Producers•Wyoming, MI

6d•$90,000 - $120,000

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 engineering solutions that support equipment reliability, safe operations, targeted KPIs, 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 position develops and executes equipment improvements and capital projects; provides technical support for manufacturing equipment, process and utility systems, and facility infrastructure; and leads or facilitates troubleshooting and root cause investigations. It also supports safety, quality, regulatory compliance, and cross-functional plant performance objectives. Performance expectations include completing capital projects within approved scope, budget, and schedule; ensuring successful commissioning and handoff with complete documentation and training; reducing unplanned downtime and repeat failures; delivering measurable improvements in equipment performance, throughput, and efficiency; and managing engineering projects within approved budgets while producing measurable savings, productivity improvements, or risk reduction. The role may require flexibility in hours, planned in advance, and weekend work to support production, projects, or equipment installation. The work spans office and industrial food production environments and includes the physical activities and conditions described in the physical qualifications.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
Minimum of 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 with wet, cold, uneven, sloped, or confined areas.
Ability to perform troubleshooting and repair activities in a fast-paced, high-demand production environment.
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 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 and perform administrative duties as required.
Ability to work in office and industrial production environments as needed.

Nice To Haves

At least 5 years of engineering experience in manufacturing, food processing, industrial processing, or related industries.

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 to reduce downtime, improve OEE, and increase operational capacity.
Evaluate new technologies, equipment upgrades, and process improvements.
Develop engineering standards and best practices for equipment design, operation, and maintenance.
Support preventive and predictive maintenance through engineering analysis and equipment reliability improvements.
Provide technical support for manufacturing equipment, process systems, utility systems, and facility infrastructure.
Troubleshoot complex mechanical, electrical, controls, automation, and process-related issues.
Review equipment designs, specifications, drawings, and vendor proposals for operational and company-standard compliance.
Assist maintenance and operations teams in finding sustainable solutions to recurring equipment failures.
Support equipment commissioning, startup, performance testing, and validation.
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.
Manage project budgets, schedules, risks, and deliverables; oversee contractors and ensure compliance with safety, quality, and plant standards.
Prepare and present project updates to leadership teams.
Complete project documentation, training, spare parts, and maintenance requirements before project handoff.
Conduct post-project reviews to verify performance objectives and identify lessons learned.
Establish project plans, milestones, resource requirements, and timelines; manage concurrent projects in line with plant priorities.
Facilitate project meetings, communicate progress to stakeholders, and maintain complete and accurate project documentation.
Ensure project work is completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with applicable regulations and standards.
Serve as a technical resource and facilitator for root cause analysis investigations.
Lead 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 RCM.
Develop corrective and preventive actions addressing root causes, verify their effectiveness, and support long-term sustainability.
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 projects and equipment modifications meet company safety standards and regulatory requirements.
Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Sanitation, EHS, and Facilities to achieve plant performance objectives.
Communicate project priorities, technical risks, equipment concerns, and improvement opportunities to site leadership.
Develop strong relationships with vendors, contractors, consultants, and equipment manufacturers.