Plant Engineer

Ventura Foods • Chambersburg, PA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Plant Engineer maintains and improves plant operations and facilities to make them more cost-effective, improve equipment performance, and support plant and company growth. The role designs and installs equipment, processing systems, and utilities to meet customer needs.

The engineer develops and manages capital projects from concept through startup, including scoping, budgeting, scheduling, procurement, installation, commissioning, training, and closeout. The position also provides technical support and troubleshooting across plant systems and works with cross-functional teams to improve safety, quality, reliability, efficiency, capacity, and cost performance while ensuring compliance with applicable food safety, sanitation, environmental, safety, regulatory, and company standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Chemical Engineering, or equivalent work experience, stated as 10 or more years in a related trade field.
• At least 2 years of experience with electrical and mechanical systems, power transmissions, hydraulics, pneumatics, certified refrigeration, ammonia/Freon, HVAC, PLCs and VFDs, and welding (Arc, MIG, TIG) of alloys including non-ferrous metals.
• Strong knowledge of food processing, packaging, utility systems, manufacturing operations, sanitary design, and food plant sanitation practices.
• Experience with processing and packaging equipment such as pumps, mixers, blenders, swept-surface heat exchangers, fillers, cappers, sealers, coders, conveyors, case packers, and palletizers.
• Working knowledge of mechanical and electrical systems, including PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, instrumentation, motor controls, hydraulics, pneumatics, power transmission, and industrial automation.
• Knowledge of industrial refrigeration systems, including ammonia and Freon, Process Safety Management (PSM), boilers, HVAC, compressed air, steam, water, wastewater, and related plant utilities.
• Knowledge of Clean-in-Place (CIP) systems, sanitary equipment design, GMPs, HACCP principles, allergen controls, food safety requirements, and plant sanitation programs.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, including managing multiple projects, maintaining schedules, prioritizing workloads, coordinating resources, and meeting deadlines.
• Experience developing project scopes, budgets, cost estimates, RFEs, and financial justifications, and monitoring project spending and controlling costs.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills, including root-cause identification and implementation of sustainable solutions.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills and ability to collaborate with internal teams, contractors, vendors, and suppliers.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, P&IDs, electrical schematics, equipment manuals, and technical specifications.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, and project management tools.
• Ability to wear personal protective equipment as required by company policy or legal requirements.
• Sufficient physical strength and dexterity to perform job tasks, including intermittent sitting, standing, walking, climbing, squatting, kneeling, pushing, and pulling; occasional lifting or moving of up to 50 pounds or more with assistance may be required.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience with AutoCAD and JDE.
• Emphasis on project management, safety, total productive maintenance, lean manufacturing, and visual factory concepts.
• AutoCAD capability.

Responsibilities

• Develop, justify, and manage capital projects from concept through startup, including scoping, budgeting, scheduling, procurement, installation, commissioning, training, and closeout.
• Research, design, specify, purchase, and implement processing, packaging, utility, and facility equipment.
• Prepare RFEs, cost estimates, project justifications, and supporting documentation for capital investments, operational improvements, and cost-saving initiatives.
• Coordinate contractors, vendors, consultants, and internal resources to complete projects safely, on schedule, and within approved budgets.
• Develop and maintain engineering documentation, including process flow diagrams, P&IDs, equipment layouts, technical specifications, drawings, and project records.
• Provide technical support and troubleshooting for mechanical, electrical, controls, processing, packaging, refrigeration, and utility systems.
• Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Safety, Sanitation, and R&D on process improvements, new products, equipment upgrades, and reliability initiatives.
• Ensure projects, equipment, and installations comply with food safety, sanitation, environmental, safety, regulatory, and company standards.
• Support equipment commissioning, startup, operational training, and continuous improvement activities.
• Manage multiple projects and priorities while maintaining timelines and supporting daily plant operations.

Benefits

• Medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage beginning on the first day for eligible employees.
• Profit sharing and 401(k) matching after eligible criteria are met.
• Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays.
• Employee appreciation events.
• Employee assistance programs.
• Career growth opportunities.
• Training and a supportive manager.

What This Job Offers

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