THIS IS NOT A JOB WITH CONSUMER CONNECTION
Position Overview
Our high-growth CPG client is seeking an innovative and results-driven Director of Engineering to lead manufacturing engineering within a modern food and beverage production environment. This role oversees engineering and maintenance functions and is accountable for delivering reliable, efficient, and high-performing production operations. The ideal candidate combines strategic thinking with a hands-on approach, brings deep expertise in food processing, and excels in fast-moving, growth-oriented settings.
Key Responsibilities
Operational & Process Excellence
- Ensure manufacturing processes consistently achieve exceptional product quality, safety, and operational efficiency
- Partner closely with production leadership to support complex food manufacturing operations, including ingredient handling, mixing and reconstitution, thermal processing, in-process quality controls, CIP systems, and related engineering systems
- Lead the design, optimization, and continuous enhancement of manufacturing systems to meet performance, regulatory, and quality requirements
- Develop, maintain, and improve engineering documentation and standard operating procedures to ensure scalability and repeatability
Capital & Strategic Planning
- Define annual capital upgrade strategies aligned with capacity, risk mitigation, innovation, and business priorities
- Build and manage multi-year (3–5 year) capital investment plans
- Oversee execution of capital projects to ensure safety, quality, schedule, and budget targets are met
Troubleshooting & Issue Resolution
- Provide hands-on leadership in identifying, analyzing, and resolving process and equipment issues, with a strong focus on safety, quality, and compliance
- Develop engineering leaders to deliver the same level of hands-on problem-solving to frontline teams
- Serve as a primary escalation point for critical production or quality incidents
- Communicate issues, root causes, and corrective actions clearly to stakeholders
Data-Driven Continuous Improvement
- Drive process improvements using data collection, analytics, and performance trending
- Apply structured root-cause analysis to eliminate recurring issues and improve reliability
Utilities Oversight
- Define and manage facility utility requirements and preventative maintenance strategies
- Resolve utility-related issues impacting production
- Ensure compliance with applicable regulations related to utilities, wastewater, potable water, air quality, and building systems
Engineering Project Leadership
- Lead the design and implementation of new manufacturing and utility systems from concept through commissioning
- Manage cross-functional teams to deliver complex engineering projects on time and within budget
- Partner with product development to integrate manufacturability, quality, and efficiency into product design and commercialization
- Perform additional duties as required
Qualifications
Minimum Requirements
- 10–15 years of progressive experience in food manufacturing and processing, with strong hands-on exposure to aseptic beverage or thermal processing environments
- Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or a related engineering discipline (Food Technology preferred)
- Strong expertise in sanitary design, CIP systems, and food equipment standards
- Experience with ammonia refrigeration or chiller systems
- Working knowledge of PLC-based control systems, including the ability to read and interpret logic
- Demonstrated commitment to world-class manufacturing performance and process innovation
- Creative mindset for developing and implementing novel food processing solutions
- Proven leadership in fast-paced environments, including complex troubleshooting and concurrent projects
- Experience leading cross-functional engineering teams
- Strong track record managing engineering budgets, schedules, and capital projects
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with beverage sterilization technologies
- Knowledge of microbiological testing and analytical methods
- Advanced experience with PLC systems and industrial automation
