Senior Plant Engineer

About SunOpta
SunOpta delivers customized supply chain solutions and innovation for top brands, retailers and foodservice providers across a broad portfolio of beverages, broths and better-for-you snacks. With over 50 years of expertise, SunOpta fuels customers’ growth with high-quality, sustainability-forward solutions distributed through retail, club, foodservice and e-commerce channels across North America.


Job Summary:

This position is responsible for planning, overseeing, coordinating, and managing all activities with development, design, construction, and modification of equipment, production lines and facility. The mission of the Plant Engineer is to support the growth of the business by leading capital projects, analyzing systems, and introducing ideas for innovation and improvement into our systems and processes to enhance our performance indicators. Key areas of responsibility include equipment reliability, sustainability and energy conservation, food safety and cost savings, process improvement and utility utilization.

Essential Functions of the Job:
• Provides reliability engineering expertise that supports our maintenance and reliability efforts and assures asset life at or beyond the standards.
• Manages and owns the project and equipment capital plan and budget with final recommendations made to the plant director on use of capital assets, equipment, modifications, and process improvements,
• Hands on Automation and Controls experience,
• Ensures required licenses and permits are obtained and maintained (air, water, fire, etc.),
• Prepares bid sheets and contract specifications.
• Tests newly installed equipment to ensure fulfillment of contract specifications.
• Develops and owns our PSM program.
• Manages on-site wastewater treatment plant serving as a liaison with local authorities to ensure wastewater discharge and BODs are within agreed upon limits,
• Collaborates with cross-functional groups including Safety, Production, Maintenance, Human Resources, Quality, Supply Chain, Warehouse, and Finance to meet production targets.
• Develops, recommends, and implements measures to improve machines and plant equipment to maximize efficiency.
• Oversees installation, modifications, quality control testing, operating procedure, and inspection processes adhering to engineering principles and safety regulations.
• Models a strong sense of ownership and accountability. Shows flexibility and a “whatever it takes” attitude to get the job done right, including being on-call at nights and weekends as needed.
• Responsible for ensuring work area is clean and organized.
• Serves as a safety model, promoting a high level of safety awareness and continuous improvement in safety practices.
• Ensure effective employee relations.
• Provides employee coaching and development.
• Resolves employee issues through problem resolution.
• Follows engineering standards on sanitation design for Food safety and quality of food. Demonstrates a commitment to Quality.
• Facilitates coordination between maintenance and operations in solving process issues.
• Adheres to company GMP’s (good manufacturing practices), safety procedures and all other quality processes.
• Wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) when required.
• All other duties, as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
• No direct reports.

Minimum Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Technology or related engineering discipline.
• 8+ years of engineering and maintenance experience in a production or manufacturing environment, food, or processing industries.
• Prior experience driving improvements in a production facility via sound engineering practices and capital deployment.
• Experience with utilities; chiller systems; cooling towers; boilers; wastewater.
• Aseptic Experience.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Certified/Licensed Professional Engineer.
• Tetra aseptic experience.
• Automation and controls experience.

Knowledge and Skills:
• Exceptional mechanical skills and aptitude are required.
• Knowledge of high-speed fillers in an aseptic plant preferred.
• Solid technical capability is required.
• Must possess excellent math skills and computer skills (experience with PC, AutoCAD, and PLC driven components is needed).
• Project Management skills are a must.
• Experience and demonstrated knowledge of thermodynamics and mechanics is required.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills are required.
• Must have a working knowledge of MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint software.
• SQF practical experience and training, preferred.
• TPM and/or LEAN manufacturing experience is preferred.
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