Director of Engineering / Technology

About

In Kalamazoo area our client is seeking a Director of Engineering / Technology to lead all engineering, maintenance, and capital improvement initiatives within our food and beverage manufacturing operations. This role is responsible for driving plant performance, reliability, and efficiency through strong engineering leadership, process optimization, and continuous improvement.

While experience with automation and PLC systems is highly beneficial, the primary focus is on plant engineering leadership, equipment reliability, and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategy

• Lead and develop engineering and maintenance teams to achieve high performance
• Define and execute engineering strategy aligned with production and business goals
• Partner with Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain to improve plant efficiency

Plant Engineering & Operations (Core Focus)

• Oversee equipment reliability, preventive maintenance, and uptime improvement
• Lead root cause analysis and implement corrective/preventive actions
• Manage installation, commissioning, and optimization of processing and packaging equipment
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives (Lean, Six Sigma)
• Ensure utilities systems (HVAC, compressed air, refrigeration, etc.) are optimized

Automation & Controls (Preferred / Supportive)

• Support and collaborate on PLC programming, troubleshooting, and automation improvements
• Partner with controls engineers or integrators on system upgrades and new equipment
• Contribute to improvements in HMI/SCADA systems and plant automation
• Help evaluate new automation technologies to enhance efficiency

Compliance & Food Safety

• Ensure compliance with FDA, HACCP, SQF standards
• Maintain adherence to OSHA / MIOSHA safety regulations
• Support internal and external audits

Project & Budget Management

• Manage CapEx budgets and engineering projects
• Lead equipment upgrades, expansions, and new line implementations
• Evaluate and implement cost-saving and efficiency-driven initiatives

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or related field)
• 10+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering (food & beverage preferred)
• 5+ years of leadership experience in plant engineering, maintenance, or operations
• Strong experience in equipment reliability, maintenance systems, and capital projects

Preferred (Not Required) Technical Experience

• Exposure to PLC systems (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, etc.)
• Familiarity with HMI/SCADA systems (FactoryTalk, Ignition, WinCC, etc.)
• Understanding of automated production and packaging lines
• Experience working with controls engineers or system integrators

Key Competencies

• Leadership & team development
• Operational excellence and problem-solving
• Continuous improvement mindset
• Strong cross-functional collaboration
• Strategic and hands-on execution ability

Work Environment

• Manufacturing plant environment
• Occasional off-hours support for critical production needs
• Limited travel as required