Plant Engineer

Michigan Turkey Producers

Wyoming, MI

Estimated pay: Est. $29–$47/hr (market estimate, not employer-stated)

Essential Functions and Role: Under the supervision of the Vice President of Maintenance, Facilities and Engineering, the Plant Engineer provides engineering leadership for equipment, utilities, facility systems, and capital projects in support of plant objectives and applicable USDA, HACCP, GMP, and company standards. The role closely partners with Operations, Maintenance, Technical Services, EH&S, and Facilities to develop and implement engineering solutions that support equipment reliability, safe operations, delivery of targeted KPIs, and targeted improvement initiatives. support across manufacturing, packaging, utilities, and facility systems. The Plant Engineer is accountable for assigned engineering deliverables while providing technical support to improve safety, quality, and operational performance. Responsibilities include: Equipment Reliability, Optimization & Continuous Improvement: Identify, evaluate, and implement equipment and system improvements that improve targeted KPIs. Analyze production, downtime, maintenance, and quality data to identify chronic losses and improvement opportunities. Lead equipment optimization initiatives focused on reducing downtime, improving OEE, and increasing operational capacity. Evaluate new technologies, equipment upgrades, and process improvements to support operational objectives. Develop engineering standards and best practices for equipment design, operation, and maintenance. Support preventive and predictive maintenance initiatives through engineering analysis and equipment reliability improvements. Technical Engineering Support: Serve as a primary technical resource for manufacturing equipment, process systems, utility systems, and facility infrastructure. Provide engineering support for troubleshooting complex mechanical, electrical, controls, automation, and process-related issues. Review equipment designs, specifications, drawings, and vendor proposals to ensure compliance with operational requirements and company standards. Assist maintenance and operations teams in identifying sustainable solutions to recurring equipment failures. Support equipment commissioning, startup, performance testing, and validation activities. Capital Project Development & Execution: Develop project scopes, engineering specifications, budgets, schedules, and business justifications for capital investments. Lead capital projects from concept through design, procurement, installation, startup, and project closeout. Coordinate with internal stakeholders, contractors, consultants, and equipment suppliers. Manage project budgets, schedules, risks, and deliverables to ensure successful project execution. Oversee contractor activities and ensure compliance with safety, quality, and plant standards. Prepare and present project updates to leadership teams. Ensure project documentation, training, spare parts, and maintenance requirements are completed prior to project handoff. Conduct post-project reviews to verify performance objectives and identify lessons learned. Project Management: Establish project plans, milestones, resource requirements, and timelines. Manage multiple concurrent projects while maintaining alignment with plant priorities. Facilitate project meetings and communicate progress to stakeholders. Ensure project documentation is complete, accurate, and maintained throughout the project lifecycle. Ensure project work is completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with applicable regulations and standards. Root Cause Analysis & Problem Solving: Serve as a technical resource and facilitator for Root Cause Analysis (RCA) investigations. Lead investigations into significant equipment failures, process interruptions, quality issues, and safety incidents. Utilize structured problem-solving methodologies such as: 5 Why Analysis Fishbone Diagrams Fault Tree Analysis Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) Develop corrective and preventive actions that address true root causes. Verify effectiveness of corrective actions and ensure long-term sustainability. Safety, Quality & Compliance: Support compliance with OSHA, EPA, USDA, GMP, and applicable local, state, and federal regulations. Participate in Process Safety Management (PSM), food safety, environmental, and regulatory compliance initiatives as applicable. Conduct engineering risk assessments for equipment modifications and capital projects. Ensure engineering projects and equipment modifications meet company safety standards and regulatory requirements. Cross-Functional Partnership & Communication: Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Sanitation, EHS, and Facilities teams to achieve plant performance objectives. Communicate project priorities, technical risks, equipment concerns, and improvement opportunities to site leadership. Develop strong relationships with vendors, contractors, consultants, and equipment manufacturers. Performance Expectations: Saf