Jack Link's Protein Snacks
Food Manufacturing
PlantEngineeringManager
Neural analysis suggests this role is
optimal for mid candidates.
“Plant Engineering Manager at Jack Link's Protein Snacks. Skills: Plant engineering, Maintenance management, Automation systems, Food safety compliance. Oversee engineering. Oversee maintenance”
What You'll Achieve.
Ensure equipment reliability; Ensure regulatory compliance; Drive continuous improvement; Ensure long-term asset health; Drive operational excellence; Reduce unplanned downtime; Improve throughput; Reduce waste
Industry & Context.
Problem solving; Root cause analysis; Troubleshooting
Wear PPE, Stand for extended periods, Lift up to 25 pounds, Lift up to 50 pounds infrequently, Work in 40-degree temperatures, Work in wet/slippery conditions
What They're Looking For.
Must Have
5+ years experience in plant engineering, Experience with mechanical systems, Experience with electrical systems, Experience with controls systems, Experience with facility systems, Experience with USDA food manufacturing, Experience with FDA food manufacturing, Experience with HACCP, Experience with GMP, Experience with PLCs, Experience with SCADA, Experience with production control systems, Experience with automated material handling, Experience with Process Safety Management, Experience with OSHA standards, Experience with ammonia refrigeration, Experience with boilers, Experience with compressed air, Experience with wastewater systems, Experience with HVAC systems, Experience with Lean initiatives, Experience with Six Sigma initiatives, Experience with TPM initiatives, Experience with Kaizen initiatives
Nice to Have
Relocation package available
What You'll Do.
Oversee automation systems
Ensure equipment reliability
Ensure regulatory compliance
Drive continuous improvement
Ensure long-term asset health
Drive operational excellence
Align engineering strategies with production goals
Define engineering standards
Approve equipment specifications
Guide plant automation roadmap
Build high-performance culture
Develop succession plans
Develop technician skills
Develop supervisor skills
Develop engineer skills
Serve as plant technical authority
Partner with Operations
Partner with Sanitation
Partner with Corporate Engineering
Solve complex problems
Drive plant-wide improvements
Own plant reliability strategy
Implement preventive maintenance programs
Implement predictive maintenance programs
Implement condition-based maintenance programs
Ensure accurate work order management
Ensure accurate asset histories
Ensure accurate spare-parts control
Identify chronic failures
Optimize PM frequencies
Lead root cause analysis
Reduce unplanned downtime
Track maintenance cost per unit
Oversee production control systems
Oversee line control systems
Oversee automated material handling
Ensure seamless communication between equipment
Ensure seamless communication between sensors
Ensure seamless communication between plant control systems
Implement secure access for ICS
Implement patching for ICS
Implement network segmentation for ICS
Guide teams through automation failures
Ensure rapid recovery from failures
Implement long-term corrective actions
Oversee industrial robotics
Oversee high-speed servo-based equipment
Ensure engineering meets USDA standards
Ensure maintenance meets USDA standards
Ensure engineering meets FDA standards
Ensure maintenance meets FDA standards
Ensure engineering meets HACCP standards
Ensure maintenance meets HACCP standards
Ensure engineering meets GMP standards
Ensure maintenance meets GMP standards
Lead equipment design reviews
Lead facility design reviews
Ensure compliance with sanitary design principles
Maintain documentation for audits
Maintain validation records for audits
Maintain maintenance logs for audits
Support USDA inspections
Support third-party audits
Manage engineering changes
Ensure changes do not compromise food safety
Ensure changes do not compromise regulatory compliance
Lead capital projects
Define project requirements
Define equipment specifications for projects
Perform ROI analyses for projects
Oversee bidding for engineering firms
Oversee selection of engineering firms
Oversee performance of engineering firms
Oversee bidding for contractors
Oversee selection of contractors
Oversee performance of contractors
Ensure equipment validation during startup
Ensure operator training during startup
Ensure performance testing meets design intent
Maintain critical plant utilities
Ensure compliance with PSM
Ensure compliance with environmental permits
Ensure compliance with OSHA standards
Identify energy reduction opportunities
Improve energy sustainability
Oversee facility integrity
Maintain structural integrity
Maintain roofing integrity
Maintain flooring integrity
Maintain environmental controls
Drive Lean initiatives
Drive Six Sigma initiatives
Drive TPM initiatives
Drive Kaizen initiatives
How You'll Work.
Team & Collaboration
Cross-functional teams; Partner with Operations; Partner with Quality; Partner with Sanitation; Partner with Corporate Engineering
Process & Methodology
Capital project management, Scope development, Vendor management, Contractor management, Startup commissioning
Full Job Description
At Link Snacks , we show up hungry, roll up our sleeves, plaid or otherwise, and dive straight into the hard work. We don’t hide from challenges; we hunt them down. We push harder, move faster, and take the kinds of big swings that built this business in the North Woods of Wisconsin four decades ago. We’re everyday people who deliver extraordinary results. Innovation, creativity, and urgency aren’t buzzwords, they’re expectations. And just like the real protein snacks we make across our global house of brands—[Jack Link’s®](https://www.jacklinks.com/) , [Lorissa’s Kitchen®](https://www.lorissaskitchen.com/) , [Golden Island®](https://www.goldenislandjerky.com/) , [BiFi®](https://www.bifi.com/en) , and [Peperami®](https://www.peperami.tv/) and [KOOEE!®](https://www.kooeesnacks.com.au/) to name a few—there’s nothing artificial about us. What you see is exactly what you get: humble, gritty, passionate people who show up every day ready to not just be a participate in the meat snack industry that the Link Family created, but to move faster, innovate harder and keep raising the bar so high, the rest of the world needs a ladder just to see it. Dominating this space across the world takes a team. A team that runs together, succeeds together, and celebrates together. A team that’s full of relentless energy and spirit that can only be fueled by one thing: a fist full of our delicious meat snacks. Real Meat Protein. Real People. Real Results. THAT is Link Snacks. The Plant Engineering Manager oversees all engineering, maintenance, utilities, and automation systems within a large, highly automated USDA food manufacturing plant. This leader ensures equipment reliability, regulatory compliance, continuous improvement, and long‑term asset health while driving operational excellence in a 24/7 production environment. The role blends technical depth, leadership, strategic planning, and hands‑on problem solving across mechanical, electrical, controls, and facility systems. Annual Sal
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