Sr. Project Engineer

The Kraft Heinz Company•Champaign, IL

7d•$89,800 - $112,200•Onsite

About The Position

The Sr. Project Engineer will lead multiple approved capital projects simultaneously, including large and complex manufacturing projects. This role involves developing and managing project scope, schedules, budgets, milestones, and execution plans, driving project execution from approved design through installation, commissioning, startup, and final handoff. The engineer will monitor project performance, resolve barriers impacting safety, quality, cost, or timing, and ensure project deliverables are completed with strong execution discipline and clear accountability. Responsibilities also include leading preliminary and final design engineering activities, overseeing technical specifications, equipment selection, contractor coordination, and installation planning. On-site engineering support during construction, installation, testing, and startup is required, ensuring assets are implemented in accordance with engineering, safety, quality, and operational standards. The role supports troubleshooting and technical problem-solving during project execution and requires partnering with operations, maintenance, quality, safety, finance, procurement, and plant leadership. Effective cross-functional communication, stakeholder alignment, and decision-making throughout the project lifecycle are essential, as is establishing and maintaining project governance routines, status reporting, and escalation processes. Coordination of project dependencies is crucial for efficient implementation and readiness for startup. The engineer will develop and maintain project estimates, forecasts, schedules, and status reporting, identify project risks and lead mitigation planning, and track project costs, timelines, and implementation progress. Ensuring project documentation, reporting, and closeout activities are complete and accurate is also a key function. Support for trial runs, commissioning, startup readiness, and early operational stabilization, along with ensuring completion of action items prior to project closeout, is expected. Finally, the role involves partnering with plant teams for successful asset transition into operation and capturing lessons learned for future projects.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering required
3+ years of engineering and capital project experience in manufacturing, industrial, or consumer packaged goods environments
Demonstrated experience leading multiple capital projects simultaneously
Experience in project planning, design engineering, construction support, installation, commissioning, and startup
Strong verbal and written communication skills
Strong problem-solving, organizational, and project leadership skills
Ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams in a plant environment

Nice To Haves

Experience in food and beverage or consumer packaged goods manufacturing
Experience supporting large-scale capital projects in an operating plant environment
Experience with project governance, risk management, and reporting routines
PMP or similar project management certification preferred

Responsibilities

Lead multiple approved capital projects simultaneously, including large and complex manufacturing projects
Develop and manage project scope, schedules, budgets, milestones, and execution plans
Drive project execution from approved design through installation, commissioning, startup, and final handoff
Monitor project performance and resolve barriers that impact safety, quality, cost, or timing
Ensure project deliverables are completed with strong execution discipline and clear accountability
Lead preliminary and final design engineering activities for capital projects
Oversee technical specifications, equipment selection, contractor coordination, and installation planning
Provide on-site engineering support during construction, installation, testing, and startup
Ensure assets are implemented in accordance with engineering, safety, quality, and operational standards
Support troubleshooting and technical problem-solving during project execution
Partner with operations, maintenance, quality, safety, finance, procurement, and plant leadership to support project success
Lead cross-functional communication, stakeholder alignment, and decision-making throughout the project lifecycle
Establish and maintain project governance routines, status reporting, and escalation processes
Coordinate project dependencies to ensure efficient implementation and readiness for startup
Develop and maintain project estimates, forecasts, schedules, and status reporting
Identify project risks and lead mitigation planning to protect project delivery
Track project costs, timelines, and implementation progress against approved plans
Ensure project documentation, reporting, and closeout activities are complete and accurate
Support trial runs, commissioning, startup readiness, and early operational stabilization
Ensure action items and final action items are completed prior to project closeout
Partner with plant teams to transition assets into operation successfully
Capture lessons learned and applied them to future project execution