Senior Engineer, TSO

The J.M. Smucker Co.•Decatur, AL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Engineer will help drive a high-performance work culture by engaging with floor technicians and coaching them to solve problems, make decisions, and become self-reliant. The role organizes and prioritizes initiatives with plant leadership to support the plant master plan and long-term vision, while building knowledge across Operations and Supply Chain and developing a strong foundation in how products are made and work systems function. Based at the Meow Mix Manufacturing Plant in Decatur, Alabama, this is a 100% on-site, eight-hour day-shift role, Monday through Friday. Flexibility is required, including willingness to work off shift (nights, weekends, and/or holidays) and to flow to the work as needed. The position requires 20% travel. The Senior Engineer supports technical evaluation and improvement of processes and formulations in pet food manufacturing plants to improve production rates, efficiency, and yield while maintaining reliable and safe manufacturing systems. The role provides technical guidance between Operations and R&D on new product and process development, and acts as a liaison for scheduling and conducting plant test runs. The position owns the Commissioning, Qualification and Verification (CQV) process for new projects and serves as a key point of contact and organizational leader across Engineering, R&D, and Operations to ensure involvement throughout project execution and a seamless transition to Operations. The role also supports Smucker Continuous Improvement methodologies and a zero-loss culture; works within specification systems, including recipe creation, ingredient substitutions, cost optimization, and plant trial requests; coordinates and leads plant trials; designs and executes experiments at supplier sites and in plant operations; and validates improvements and corrective actions. The engineer develops detailed knowledge of unit operations at the primary manufacturing location and general knowledge of unit operations at other Pet manufacturing locations. The work takes place in a manufacturing environment, where noise levels can be high. Physical activities include talking and hearing; standing, walking, handling or feeling objects, and reaching; occasionally sitting, climbing or balancing, and stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling. The role requires frequently lifting objects up to 50 pounds and may involve pushing and pulling heavy equipment. Specific vision abilities include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and adjusting focus.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Food Science.
At least 2 years of Engineering, Operations, R&D, and/or TSO experience.
Ability to define a problem statement, identify root cause, and develop and implement systemic corrective actions.
Ability to lead work effectively and independently with basic coaching and guidance.
Ability to work effectively with individuals and teams across the organization.
Clear and effective communication skills.
Willingness and ability to travel 20%.
Flexibility to work off shift, including nights, weekends, and/or holidays, and to flow to the work as needed.
Ability to frequently lift objects up to 50 pounds.
Ability to push and pull heavy equipment as needed.
Required vision abilities include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Nice To Haves

A degree in Chemical, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering or Food Science.
Food manufacturing experience.
Project management skills and technical problem-solving capability.
Demonstrated use of formal problem-solving methodologies.
Ability to work and influence within a team environment.

Responsibilities

Engage with floor technicians and coach them to solve problems, make decisions, and become self-reliant.
Organize and prioritize initiatives with plant leadership to support the master plan and long-term vision.
Evaluate and improve pet food manufacturing processes and formulations to improve production rates, efficiency, and yield while maintaining reliable and safe systems.
Provide technical guidance between Operations and R&D on new product and process development.
Act as liaison between R&D and Operations to schedule and conduct plant test runs.
Own the Commissioning, Qualification and Verification (CQV) process for new projects.
Serve as a key organizational leader and point of contact between Engineering, R&D, and Operations during project execution and transition to Operations.
Support implementation of Smucker Continuous Improvement methodologies and foster a zero-loss culture.
Use effective interpersonal, time-management, and resource-management skills to complete project assignments.
Work within specification systems, including recipe creation, ingredient substitutions, cost optimization, and plant trial requests.
Coordinate and lead plant trials to evaluate new ingredients and processing or packaging parameters.
Design and execute experiments at supplier sites and in plant operations.
Validate improvements and corrective actions that deliver desired benefits.
Develop detailed knowledge of unit operations, especially process operations, at the primary manufacturing location, and general knowledge of unit operations at other Pet manufacturing locations.