Assistant Plant Engineer
Denison, IA - USA
Job Summary
Title: Assistant Plant Engineer
Location: Denison Iowa
Employment Type: Direct Hire Full Time
Work Arrangement: Onsite (No Remote)
Compensation: $115000 $140000 Bonus
Benefits: Full Benefits Package Relocation Assistance
Employment Type: Direct Hire Full Time
Work Arrangement: Onsite (No Remote)
Compensation: $115000 $140000 Bonus
Benefits: Full Benefits Package Relocation Assistance
About the Opportunity:
We are seeking an experienced Assistant Plant Engineer to support engineering and maintenance operations within a high-volume food manufacturing facility. This position plays a critical role in maximizing equipment reliability reducing downtime improving plant efficiency and supporting continuous improvement initiatives across operations.
The ideal candidate will bring strong technical expertise hands-on leadership experience and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Position Summary:
The Assistant Plant Engineer will lead maintenance and reliability initiatives oversee capital improvement projects and support operational excellence throughout the facility. This role requires close collaboration with plant leadership production maintenance and safety teams to ensure equipment performance regulatory compliance and efficient plant operations.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead and support capital engineering projects from planning through execution
- Manage daily maintenance operations to ensure maximum equipment uptime and operational efficiency
- Develop and implement preventive and predictive maintenance programs
- Drive TPM (Total Productive Maintenance) and continuous improvement initiatives throughout the facility
- Supervise maintenance personnel scheduling and workflow prioritization
- Monitor and improve maintenance KPIs including downtime equipment reliability and response times
- Ensure compliance with OSHA food safety environmental and company safety standards
- Troubleshoot and resolve equipment automation and operational issues in a timely manner
- Support and maintain PLC-controlled systems and industrial automation equipment
- Assist in maintaining and supporting ammonia refrigeration systems
- Collaborate with production and plant leadership to improve efficiency reliability and throughput
- Coach mentor and develop maintenance team members and technical staff
- Maintain accurate maintenance documentation CMMS records and project reporting
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelors degree in Engineering or a related technical field
- Minimum 5 years of experience in a manufacturing environment
- At least 2 years of leadership or supervisory experience
- Hands-on experience with PLC systems and industrial automation
- Ammonia refrigeration experience required
- Food manufacturing experience required
- Strong knowledge of CMMS systems preventive maintenance and predictive maintenance programs
- Experience implementing TPM and reliability-centered maintenance initiatives
- Strong troubleshooting problem-solving organizational and communication skills
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in meat processing harvest floor or kill floor operations
- Background in high-volume production manufacturing environments
- Experience leading operational or cultural change management initiatives
- Knowledge of food industry regulations GMPs and HACCP standards