Plant Engineer Manager

SMK Global

Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ

Pay: $100,000+/yr

Shift: Full time

About SMK Global

SMK Global is a premier dietary supplement manufacturer committed to delivering high-quality health and wellness products. Operating in full compliance with FDA Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP under 21 CFR Part 111), we pride ourselves on engineering excellence, operational safety, and continuous production efficiency. We are seeking an experienced, hands-on **Plant Engineering Manager – Maintenance & Automation** to lead our engineering, maintenance, and automation activities in Parsippany, NJ.

Position Overview

The Plant Engineering Manager will lead a maintenance and engineering department of approximately 20 to 25 employees, direct report management of two supervisory engineers (who each oversee approximately 10 technicians and operators), and maintain high facility uptime. This is a floor-focused leadership role requiring approximately 70% hands-on involvement in equipment troubleshooting, repairs, automation optimization, and technical mentorship.

Key Responsibilities

• **Departmental Leadership & Management:** Direct the plant engineering and maintenance organization (~20–25 personnel). Manage department workflows, staffing allocation, vendor relationships, technical development of engineering staff, and team performance metrics.
• **Hands-On Machinery Maintenance (70% Floor-Focused):** Personally diagnose, troubleshoot, repair, and optimize complex manufacturing and packaging equipment across the facility.
• **Equipment & Automation Expertise:** Oversee powder blending, encapsulation, tableting, bottling, pouching, and stick-pack machinery. Troubleshoot complex mechanical, electrical, PLC logic, pneumatic, and automated system issues.
• **Capital Projects & Commissioning:** Plan, execute, and manage equipment installations, line modifications, machinery upgrades, facility automation improvements, and technical engineering projects from scope through commissioning.
• **Reliability & Preventive Maintenance:** Enhance preventive/predictive maintenance (PM) programs to minimize unplanned downtime, maximize overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), and improve plant reliability.
• **cGMP & Safety Compliance:** Ensure all maintenance, engineering practices, and equipment modifications strictly adhere to FDA 21 CFR Part 111 cGMP regulations, OSHA safety standards, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) protocols, and internal SOPs.

Qualifications & Requirements

• **Experience:** 10+ years of industrial maintenance or manufacturing engineering experience, including demonstrated leadership of technical maintenance and engineering teams.
• **Technical Mastery:** Advanced hands-on proficiency in mechanical troubleshooting, industrial electrical systems, PLC programming/diagnostics, pneumatics, robotics, and automated manufacturing systems.
• **Project Management:** Proven ability to manage technical engineering projects, equipment vendor integration, and capital installations independently.
• **Education & Certifications:** Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, or Automation Engineering (or equivalent hands-on industrial experience and certifications).
• **Preferred Experience:**
• Background in **dietary supplement, pharmaceutical, or food manufacturing** operating under FDA cGMP standards.
• Bilingual in **English and Spanish** (spoken communication skills a plus).

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, climb, and maneuver around heavy industrial machinery for 8 to 10 hours per shift.
• Ability to lift, push, pull, and carry technical tooling or equipment components up to 50 lbs.
• Work is performed within controlled manufacturing environments requiring proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and cleanroom gowning protocols.

Compensation & Benefits

• **Salary:** Starting at $100,000 per year (Salaried Exempt position, commensurate with experience and technical expertise).
• **Incentives:** Performance-based bonus and project incentive opportunities.
• **Comprehensive Benefits Package:**
• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and Paid Vacation Days
• **Career Growth:** Long-term career stability and direct opportunities to lead major plant expansion and automation initiatives.

Disclaimers & Employment Notices

• **Pre-Employment Screening:** Employment offers are contingent upon verified legal authorization to work in the United States and successful completion of a background check.
• **Employment At-Will:** Employment with SMK Global is on an "at-will" basis, allowing either the employee or SMK Global to terminate employment at any time, with or without cause or notice.
• **Equal Opportunity Employer:** SMK Global is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.

Pay: From $100,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance

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