Senior Global Project Engineer

AFB International•St. Charles, MO

About The Position

AFB International is seeking an experienced Senior Global Project Engineer to lead major capital projects shaping its manufacturing operations. The role will initially focus on significant initiatives at the Aurora, Missouri facility, with projects typically ranging from $1 million to more than $5 million. The engineer will guide projects from concept and feasibility through design, procurement, construction, commissioning, startup, performance verification, and final handoff. The role works across engineering, operations, maintenance, quality, EHS, finance, supply chain, and senior leadership to deliver projects safely, efficiently, on schedule, within budget, and with minimal production disruption. It may not include direct reports, but it provides functional leadership to project teams and directs consultants, contractors, vendors, and other project resources. The successful candidate will mentor less-experienced engineers and help establish consistent project-execution practices across AFB International. The work environment includes office, manufacturing, construction, and active project settings. The candidate must be comfortable walking through operating facilities, climbing stairs or ladders, working around moving equipment, dust, noise, and changing temperatures, and wearing required personal protective equipment. Occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds may be required. Travel and occasional extended or off-shift support may be necessary based on project requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
Typically 8+ years of engineering and capital project experience in a manufacturing, food, chemical, process, or industrial environment.
Demonstrated success delivering multiple capital projects valued at $1 million or more.
Experience leading projects through design, bidding, construction, commissioning, startup, and operational handover in an active manufacturing facility.
Strong knowledge of project estimating, scheduling, procurement, contracting, cost control, risk management, change control, and executive reporting.
Working knowledge of process and packaging systems, industrial utilities, automation and controls, equipment installation, construction, and commissioning.
Ability to review engineering drawings, P&IDs, equipment specifications, electrical documents, layouts, structural documents, and contractor submittals.
Strong financial and commercial judgment, including ROI, total cost of ownership, lifecycle cost, cash-flow timing, and forecast-to-complete analysis.
Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, conflict-resolution, and stakeholder-management skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, project scheduling and cost-control tools, and electronic document-management systems.
Comfort working in office, manufacturing, construction, and active project environments, including walking through operating facilities, climbing stairs or ladders, working around moving equipment, dust, noise, and changing temperatures, and wearing required personal protective equipment.
Ability to travel and provide occasional extended or off-shift support based on project requirements.

Nice To Haves

Experience delivering projects exceeding $5 million.
Experience with AutoCAD, 3D scanning/modeling, or BIM.
Experience in food manufacturing, pet food ingredients, spray drying, dry blending, liquid processing, packaging, dust collection, or related industries.
Familiarity with HACCP, cGMP, food safety, industrial safety, environmental compliance, and management-of-change practices.
Professional Engineer, PMP, or similar certification.

Responsibilities

Lead complex, multi-discipline capital projects from identification through operational handover and closeout.
Develop project charters, scopes, schedules, capital requests, risk registers, cost estimates, and execution strategies.
Manage multiple projects simultaneously, including budgets, forecasts, contingencies, change control, and financial reporting.
Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, EHS, Finance, Supply Chain, site engineering, and corporate leadership to establish priorities and reduce production impacts.
Select and coordinate engineering firms, construction managers, contractors, OEMs, consultants, and other external partners.
Support commercial evaluations, contractor bid reviews, procurement, and contract negotiations.
Establish project governance, stage-gate reviews, decision logs, action registers, communication plans, and executive reporting.
Lead constructability reviews, value-engineering initiatives, field coordination, safety planning, quality inspections, punch-list completion, and turnover documentation.
Coordinate process, mechanical, electrical, controls, structural, civil, utility, and architectural disciplines.
Identify and resolve technical interfaces, project risks, and execution challenges.
Ensure compliance with engineering standards, applicable codes, permitting requirements, OSHA/EHS expectations, food safety requirements, and site procedures.
Support long-range capital planning by evaluating asset needs, capacity constraints, reliability opportunities, technology options, and business-case economics.
Drive operational readiness through training, standard operating procedures, maintenance planning, spare-parts identification, validation, startup support, and post-project performance reviews.
Mentor project engineers and site personnel while strengthening consistent capital project practices across AFB facilities.
Direct the work of consultants, contractors, vendors, and other project resources.