Lead Process Engineer- high-speed manufacturing

About LiDestri Foods

LiDestri Foods has grown from our roots as a pasta sauce and salsa manufacturer to become an R&D engine, formulating and producing innovative food products for our national and retailer brand partners. A family-run company based in Rochester, NY, LiDestri employs over 1,000 people across three U.S. locations. We have decades-long partnerships with some of the most respected consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies and the most highly inventive retailer brands. 

 Excellent Pay and Benefits:

• Great career-pathing 
• Professional development, including unlimited online training courses
• Health insurance with premium contributions
• Dental, vision, HSA
• 100% company paid life insurance and long-term disability
• 401k – with employer match
• Paid time off to include- vacation, sick pay, wellness time off, and 10 holidays
• Company bonuses
• And many more….

POSITION SUMMARY: 

The Lead Process Engineer will manage the capital project efforts involved in evaluating, designing and developing the ingredient handling systems required for batching, blending, cooking and delivering of the ingredients from raw materials to fully blended, cooked and package ready products for LFD across all sites.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITES:   

• Collaborate with the many departments involved in the life of a project to include and not limited to; Safety, Quality, Operations, Continuous Improvement, Plant Management, Senior Leadership, R&D, etc.
• Evaluate, design and develop ingredient handling systems for batching, blending, cooking and delivering ingredients from raw materials to fully blended, package ready ingredients
• Provide technical support and training for the plant operations on identifying problems, determining opportunities for improvement and effecting change to eliminate issues
• Establish the project plan using LFD Capital Project planning tools
• Lead weekly project update meetings with collaborative team members
• Remain current with latest technology related to the manufacture of LFD products
• Responsible for ensuring that all aspects of the plant process system equipment meet the specified internal and external regulations for both safety and quality
• Perform engineering calculations to develop solutions, including but not limited to environmental impact assessments, return on investment (ROI), static and dynamic fluid analysis, heat transfer, and labor requirements.
• Utilize LFD Mechanical and Electrical standards on all projects
• Work with vendors to drive to cost effective and value-added solutions from concept to install
• Review and lead continuous improvement activities associated with processes
• Support operations and maintenance to improve equipment reliability
• Perform analysis of failure data using statistical analysis tool
• Lead problem solving teams to identify, design and implement improvements;
• Work closely with maintenance to target maintainability issues, lower cost and improve productivity
• Work closely with operations and maintenance to communicate the opportunities for improved equipment operation, setup, changeover and maintenance
• Responsible for the oversight, creation and maintenance of Engineering Documentation, to include; specifications, assembly instructions, Engineering Change Forms, test protocols, process procedures, manufacturing SOP’s and instructions, and corresponding operator and maintenance trouble shooting guides
• Create and leverage internal and external partnerships with key suppliers and various support departments when necessary to provide technical input to problem solving initiatives.
• Prepare capital expenditure requests, drawings and specifications for improved processes and equipment in conjunction with the design packaging, and OPEX organizations.
• Responsible for the creation and management of the company’s future CAPEX project list, along with monitoring of Cash Flow with the Director of Engineering. 
• Work collaboratively with Plant Engineers and the Corporate Engineering Team
• Manage and guide work of contracted engineers and tradespeople
• Work in a safe manner, consistent with company safety rules and regulations
• Report food safety & quality problems to personnel with authority to initiate action

REQUIRED EDUCATION, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Chemical Engineering, or Process Engineering, or other related fields

• Minimum of 5 or more years of experience in a manufacturing facility preferred
• Minimum of 3 or more years of experience in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical or chemical industry preferred
• Experience with 3D modeling (AutoCAD) or and MS Office Suite
• Lean manufacturing and/or Lean Six Sigma experience (Yellow, Green, Black Belt) is a benefit

• Demonstrated Project Management experience as a hands-on project manager delivering project scope from concept to closure on-time and on-budget; Lean manufacturing and/or Lean Six Sigma experience
• Knowledge of control components and software
• Certified Project Management Professional is a plus
• Self-motivated and can motivate and influence others
• Strong communication, organizational and time management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, manage and document projects effectively.
• Strong team and interpersonal skills

WORKING CONDITIONS: 

• Regularly required to sit, use hands
• Occasionally need to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, with a potential of up to 25 pounds
• Sedentary office environment
• Frequent exposure to extreme loud noises
• Frequent standing and moving by foot
• Frequent exposure to extreme hot/cold (non-weather) environment
• Frequent work in high places and near moving mechanical parts / conveyors
• Regularly exposed to manufacturing plant floor requiring the use of personal protective equipment (ear plugs, safety glasses, bump cap, skid-resistant leather shoes, etc.)
• Must follow Good Manufacturing Practice (hair net, no jewelry, no fake nails or eyelashes, no food/drink, gum, etc. in manufacturing Plant)

DISCLAIMER: The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed and is not an inclusive summary of job duties and responsibilities.  The omission of specific statements of duties or responsibilities does not exclude them from the position.  This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee and is subject to change by the Company as the needs of the Company and requirements of the job change.