Senior Engineering Manager, Toppings, Creams & Culinary Solutions (Remote)

Rich’s, also known as Rich Products Corporation, is a family-owned food company dedicated to inspiring possibilities. From cakes and icings to pizza, appetizers and specialty toppings, our products are used in homes, restaurants and bakeries around the world. Beyond great food, our customers also gain insights to help them stay competitive, no matter their size. Our portfolio includes creative solutions geared at helping food industry professionals compete in foodservice, retail, in-store bakery, deli, and prepared foods, among others. Working in 100 locations globally, with annual sales exceeding $4 billion, Rich’s is a global leader with a focus on everything that family makes possible. Rich’s®—Infinite Possibilities. One Family.

Purpose Statement

Rich Products is a $5.5BN food company, headquarted in Buffalo, NY, with manufacturing facilities throughout the USA and around the globe. We believe in innovation, putting our customers and associates first, and always doing the right thing. Our company is transforming and growing across all areas, and as such we are looking for a Senior Engineering Manager who is passionate about leading, defining and executing complex, scalable technical solutions, and projects on time, in budget, safely, and most importantly, exceeding our customers’ expectations. 

You will lead the ownership of a variety of projects from start to finish - machine capability analysis, new designs & modifications of equipment, and developing robust technical solutions to a range of production issues. You will also identify and champion new breakthrough technologies and solutions that will bring our business categories to the future. 

You will look at ways to maximize efficiency and yields, optimize costs, as well as take ownership of capital project management, effective line design, equipment evaluation and operation performance, Factory Acceptance Tests, start-up and validation. 

The role will lead engineering activities across the Toppings, Creams and Culinary Solutions (TCCS) category for Rich’s, our largest product category by revenue. You will directly interface with Manufacturing Directors, VP of Engineering, R&D and other business leaders and functions.

We are happy to consider remote candidates for the role, which will require up to 30% domestic and international travel.

Key Accountabilities and Outcomes

•    Lead engineering technical solutions and capital projects from inception through completion. Initiate  concepts, develops designs and the best technical solutions, estimates costs, formulates justifications, coordinates installations, troubleshoots start-ups, trains required personnel on new technologies and supports the definition of a long-term technology master plan strategy.
•    Closely collaborate with R&D, QA, Sanitation and Manufacturing and other Engineers on the definition of equipment standards and standardization of current processes, the definition and improvement of technical solutions, and the development of new processes and packaging solutions.
•    Lead process equipment definition and selection, and champions the best engineering practices for improved performance. Analyze with R&D, Manufacturing teams and other functions the performance impacts of new equipment or equipment modifications across current operations.
•    The ideal candidate will apply Technical Readiness and Stage Gate methodology to lead  the development of new processes and products, ensuring they meet the ultimate standards of quality and efficiency.
•    Understand machine and line process controls architecture and components; PLCs, MMI, Switches, etc., including designing new processes and equipment with Factory 4.0 / Smart Factory principles.
•    Participate in business category, R&D and Engineering project reviews as required. Communicate and inform operational and business leaders of related work through scheduling, plant and business / operational meetings.
•    Demonstrate thorough knowledge of capital project procedures and follows Rich’s directives and guidelines.
•    Represent the company's position and interest effectively in dealing with outside contractors, vendors, and engineering consultants, as well as a constructive positive attitude across the organization and working teams.
•    Assist other department’s efforts to provide technical training and guidance