Expert Project Engineer at Land O'Lakes

San Jose, California, United States

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Agriculture, Manufacturing, Food ProcessingIndustries

Requirements

B.S. degree with concentration in Mechanical, Agricultural, Food, Feed Process Engineering or related degree
10+ years related work experience
Technical experience in packaging equipment and robotics (highly preferred)
Technical processing expertise for Feed Operations (highly preferred)
Solid working knowledge of mechanical or agricultural engineering and processing plants and equipment
Highly organized, proficient, and knowledgeable in most current grain or food processing systems
Highly effective communications skills, with ability to modify approach for operators, supervisors, and Plant Managers
Strong interpersonal skills to sell and implement improvement projects
Ability to collaborate closely with operators on the plant and processing floor to understand equipment variables and operations
Ability to understand root cause of problems and develop solutions
Fact-based reasoning and recommendations
Ability to visualize process and building revisions and improvements
Willingness to travel 50%-75%, including exposure to all shifts, up to 3 weeks for project installations (including weekends), and work in feed manufacturing facilities with dust and noise

Responsibilities

Lead the design, installation, and start-up of plant construction or process equipment projects, focusing on packaging equipment
Develop project scope, working closely with Feed Engineering Manager and Plant Manager
Develop project and process design, capital and expense estimates
Select contractors, specify and purchase equipment
Develop implementation timeline and coordinate implementation plans
Provide recommended methods and standard operating practices to optimize processes and meet product specifications
Work closely with Directors of Operations to prepare capital plans
Manage business relationship with packaging equipment suppliers
Prepare process designs, equipment specifications, and capital estimates for process upgrades and modifications
Track equipment condition and provide long-term projections for repairs/replacements based on age and cycles
Work closely with Feed Engineering Manager and Plant Managers on capital approval and implementation steps
Validate expected improvements from capital investments
Prepare equipment standards for processing equipment
Provide project management with contractors, equipment vendors, and plant personnel to ensure on-budget and on-schedule implementations
Conduct process evaluations via audits and in-plant testing
Evaluate process variables and provide recommendations for processing and energy efficiency improvements
Implement process improvements and validate results
Provide equipment recommendations and methods to optimize processing

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Project ManagementProcess DesignEquipment SpecificationsCapital EstimationPackaging EquipmentContractor SelectionProcess OptimizationProcess AuditsEnergy EfficiencyPlant Operations

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

Is this position remote or does it require being in a specific location?

The target location is Land O’Lakes Corporate Headquarters in Arden Hills, MN, but the position can be remote (virtual) and located anywhere in the USA, with occasional international travel required for business meetings.

What education and experience are required for this role?

A B.S. degree with concentration in Mechanical, Agricultural, Food, Feed Process Engineering or related degree and 10+ years related work experience are required.

What technical skills are preferred for the Expert Project Engineer position?

Technical experience in packaging equipment and robotics is highly preferred, along with technical processing expertise for Feed Operations.

What key competencies are needed to succeed in this role?

Highly effective communications skills, adapting to operators, supervisors, and Plant Managers, strong interpersonal skills to sell and implement projects, and ability to collaborate closely with operations are required.

What makes a strong candidate for this Expert Project Engineer role?

Candidates with a relevant engineering degree, 10+ years of experience, technical expertise in packaging equipment and robotics for feed operations, and strong communication and collaboration skills stand out.