Senior Director Engineering - Design Group

CONAGRA•Chicago, IL

1d•$157,000 - $241,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Engineering VP, you will participate in the development of the strategic vision and direction for Engineering and Operations Technical organizations, with enterprise leadership accountability for packaging, processing, and manufacturing automation capabilities. You will collaborate with senior operations management, Research & Development, Engineering, Food Safety, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Procurement, Manufacturing Excellence, and plant leadership to deliver business objectives, improve line performance, and strengthen technical capability across the manufacturing network. You will develop proactive strategies that support new product innovation, packaging and processing modernization, automation roadmaps, labor productivity, yield improvement, and startup excellence while ensuring safe, reliable, scalable, and cost-effective manufacturing solutions.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science or Master of Science degree in Engineering.
Fifteen or more years of engineering experience with a minimum of five years in food manufacturing or a closely related industry such as biotechnology or pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Three to five years of technical resource leadership experience.
Deep knowledge of food processing and packaging systems, including filling, forming, wrapping, case packing, palletizing, material handling, thermal processing, freezing, batching, mixing, inspection, and sanitation requirements.
Demonstrated success developing and executing enterprise automation strategies involving robotics, collaborative robots, vision systems, programmable logic controller and human machine interface controls, connected manufacturing platforms, data acquisition systems, and equipment integration.
Experience developing technical standards, performance specifications, equipment acceptance criteria, and vendor performance expectations.
Working knowledge of Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Environmental Protection Agency regulations, enforcement practices, and compliance requirements.

Nice To Haves

Travel up to 50%

Responsibilities

Collaborate and provide technical leadership to Engineering, Manufacturing, Food Safety, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Research & Development, Marketing, Procurement, Manufacturing Excellence, Environmental Health and Safety, Legal, and Continuous Improvement teams on packaging, processing, and automation strategies.
Serve as the subject matter expert for the selection, evaluation, cost estimating, and technical justification of packaging, processing, robotics, controls, and automation solutions.
Lead governance of engineering standards, specifications, controls architecture, sanitary design practices, performance specifications, and equipment standardization initiatives across the manufacturing network.
Oversee implementation of startup methodologies, including commissioning, capability verification, equipment acceptance, and operational handoff.
Evaluate emerging technologies including robotics, collaborative robots, vision systems, connected shop floor platforms, advanced controls, digital manufacturing solutions, and automation-enabled material handling systems.
Lead confidential and strategic initiatives involving technology due diligence, supplier evaluations, acquisitions, divestitures, and new technology assessments.
Establish enterprise-wide direction for compliance programs related to automation safety, machine guarding, sanitary design, controls standards, packaging systems, processing systems, and food safety requirements.
Provide expert-level support for packaging line performance, processing capability, automation troubleshooting, vendor performance, and project escalations.
Direct long-range capital planning for packaging systems, processing platforms, robotics, controls, material handling, case packing, palletizing, and connected manufacturing capabilities.
Develop and mentor engineering talent, technical experts, and cross-functional teams supporting packaging, processing, controls, and automation deployment.
Partner with plant leadership to identify opportunities that improve reliability, productivity, quality, and operational excellence.
Perform other responsibilities as assigned.