Project Engineer

The Clemens Food Group • Coldwater, MI

21d • Hybrid

About The Position

Clemens Food Group is continuously building its pipeline of Project Engineers to support future growth across its manufacturing facilities. This is a continuous opening, not for an immediate position, but applying allows candidates to be considered as engineering opportunities become available throughout the year. The role is designed for experienced Project Engineers who enjoy leading capital projects, solving complex manufacturing challenges, and seeing their ideas come to life on the production floor. It offers the opportunity to lead impactful capital projects, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and grow an engineering career within a family-owned manufacturing organization. The Project Engineer will lead capital projects that improve safety, reliability, efficiency, and operational performance, managing investments ranging from equipment upgrades to larger manufacturing initiatives. This role requires close collaboration with Operations, Maintenance, FSQA, Safety, Procurement, and external partners, managing projects from concept through startup while driving continuous improvement and supporting long-term business growth. It is ideal for engineers who enjoy taking ownership, building strong cross-functional relationships, and delivering impactful projects.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or another related engineering discipline.
• Approximately 5–10 years of engineering experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Demonstrated success leading capital projects valued at $500,000 or more from concept through startup, including ownership of project scope, budgets, schedules, vendor coordination, and execution.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while balancing priorities, timelines, budgets, and stakeholder expectations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify root causes and implement sustainable engineering solutions.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of CAD software, engineering design principles, and project management best practices.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to influence stakeholders and translate technical concepts into actionable plans.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in food manufacturing or other regulated industries (USDA, FDA, pharmaceutical, or similar) is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Lead capital projects from concept through design, execution, commissioning, and startup.
• Develop project scopes, budgets, schedules, risk assessments, and resource plans.
• Coordinate contractors, vendors, consultants, and internal stakeholders throughout project execution.
• Manage equipment procurement, installation, commissioning, and startup activities.
• Ensure projects are completed safely, on time, within budget, and in alignment with engineering standards and company procedures.
• Develop production layouts, equipment specifications, and engineering designs using CAD and other engineering tools.
• Translate operational challenges into practical, cost-effective engineering solutions.
• Evaluate and recommend equipment, technologies, and process improvements that enhance manufacturing capability.
• Develop technical documentation, project specifications, and engineering standards to support long-term operational success.
• Identify opportunities to improve safety, productivity, reliability, quality, and operational efficiency.
• Troubleshoot technical and operational issues while implementing sustainable corrective actions.
• Support equipment upgrades, process optimization, automation initiatives, and modernization efforts.
• Leverage data and performance metrics to identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Safety, FSQA, Procurement, and external vendors to successfully execute projects.
• Communicate project updates, technical information, risks, and timelines to stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Support commercialization initiatives and new product implementation.
• Build strong relationships across departments to ensure successful project execution and long-term operational performance.

Benefits

• Relocation Assistance Available

What This Job Offers

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