Senior Capital Project Engineer
Winland FoodsAbout the role
The Senior Capital Project Engineer will lead and execute capital improvement projects across multiple food manufacturing facilities. This role is responsible for managing projects from concept through startup, ensuring safe execution, on-time delivery, budget control, and long-term operational success. This role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys solving plant problems, managing projects, working directly with the operations teams, and delivering practical improvements in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.
Employee Type:
Full timeLocation:
US Works from HomeJob Type:
EngineeringJob Posting Title:
Senior Capital Project EngineerJob Description:
Schedule: Monday-Friday with flexibility as needed
Work Location: Hybrid remote role with 50%-60% travel time
Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) with match, STD/LTD/AD&D/Life, HSA, FSA, EAP, Hospital indemnity, Accident Insurance, Identity and Fraud Protection Plan, Legal, and Critical Illness.
Salary, based on experience and other qualifications: $74k to $124k Annually with additional bonus potential
Roles & Responsibilities:
Capital Project Execution & Management
- Lead capital projects ($250K - $5M) ranging from equipment upgrades to line expansions, utility improvements, packaging enhancements, and infrastructure improvements.
- Manage projects from concept development, scope definition, estimating, and approval through installation, startup, and closeout.
- Coordinate internal resources, contractors, vendors, and plant personnel to ensure successful execution.
- Develop and maintain project schedules, milestones, budgets, and risk mitigation plans.
- Track project budgets, invoices, timelines, and spend
- Prepare capital requests (CEAs) along with ROI justifications
- Deliver projects within approved budgets
Manufacturing & Plant Support
- Work with operations, maintenance, QA, sanitation, and safety teams to identify improvement opportunities
- Troubleshoot equipment/process bottlenecks
- Support reliability and maintenance initiatives
- Improve line efficiency and uptime
- Ensure projects comply with food safety, sanitary design, GMP, OSHA, environmental, and company standards
Technical & Continuous Improvement Execution
- Coordinate and participate in equipment FAT/SAT, installation, startup, and commissioning
- Ensure projects meet food safety, sanitary design, OSHA, and plant standards
- Support automation upgrades and controls integration with internal/external resources
- Develop startup plans, punch lists, operator training plans, and turnover documentation
- Apply Lean / Six Sigma / root cause problem solving methods
- Improve labor efficiency, waste reduction, OEE, and throughput
What Success Looks Like
- Projects completed safely, on time, and within budget
- Successful startups with minimal downtime
- Measurable improvements in capacity, efficiency, quality, or reliability
- Strong working relationships with plant teams
- Sustainable solutions that improve operations long term
Qualifications & Experience:
Required Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, Industrial, or related Engineering discipline
- 3+ years of engineering, manufacturing, or project management experience
- Experience managing capital projects in manufacturing environments
- Strong project management, organization, and communication skills
- Capital project planning and execution
- Budgeting and cost control
Preferred Experience
- Experience in food, beverage, consumer packaged goods, pharmaceutical, or packaging manufacturing
- Knowledge of sanitary design principles
- Experience with packaging systems, process equipment, conveyors, utilities, or material handling systems
- Familiarity with automation, PLC controls, or industrial networking
- Contractor and vendor management
- Equipment installation and startup
- Process improvement and troubleshooting
- AutoCAD / layout review
- Microsoft Project / Excel / SAP familiarity
Leadership Sty
Apply for this role
Generate a tailored application kit with a matched cover letter, interview prep, and CV highlights — in under 60 seconds.
Apply Now →Generate Application KitFree account required — sign up in 30s