Director of Engineering

The Director of Engineering will lead all engineering and technical support functions for a food manufacturing organization specializing in dry ingredient processing and blending. This role is responsible for ensuring optimal performance of production systems, driving continuous improvement initiatives, and managing capital investments across processing and packaging operations.

The Director will play a key role in optimizing dry material handling, blending, batching, and packaging systems, while ensuring compliance with environmental health and safety, food safety, and regulatory standards. The ideal candidate will combine strong technical expertise in dry goods manufacturing environments with proven leadership skills to support operational excellence and future growth.

Primary Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee capital projects from concept through commissioning, including budgeting, scheduling, and vendor management.
• Lead engineering initiatives to optimize dry ingredient handling, blending, batching, conveying, and packaging systems.
• Drive operational improvements focused on efficiency, yield, product quality, and cost reduction.
• Develop, maintain, and report project timelines and KPIs to senior leadership.
• Utilize Lean, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies to support operational excellence.
• Design and improve automated material handling, bulk ingredient, and blending systems, along with packaging lines.
• Source and manage vendors for equipment, parts, repairs, and installations.
• Partner with internal and external teams to develop facility layouts, process flows, and equipment designs.
• Support equipment installation, start-up, and commissioning to ensure smooth transition into production.
• Ensure adherence to GMP, FDA, OSHA, EPA, and food safety standards.

Required Skills / Abilities

• Strong knowledge of dry ingredient processing, blending operations, bulk material handling, and packaging systems.
• Experience working with equipment such as ribbon blenders, paddle mixers, bulk conveying systems, batching systems, and automated packaging lines.
• Proven track record managing capital projects and engineering improvements in food manufacturing environments.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong mechanical aptitude with practical engineering knowledge.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering required; Master’s degree preferred.
• 7+ years of engineering experience in food manufacturing environments with a focus on dry goods processing, blending, batching, or powdered ingredient manufacturing.
• Experience troubleshooting and improving mechanical and electrical production systems.