Project Support Engineer

Location: Minster, OH

Contract: 6 to 12 months with potential to extend or convert

Pay Rate: Up to $50/hr

Overview

The Project Support Engineer supports capital projects and engineering initiatives within a high-volume food manufacturing facility. This role focuses on processing, filling, and packaging environments with emphasis on safety, food quality, sustainability, and operational efficiency.

You will manage projects from concept through commissioning, align supplier solutions to internal engineering standards, and serve as an on-site technical partner to operations, maintenance, and engineering teams.

This role requires strong project management skills, hands-on manufacturing engineering experience, and the ability to drive work to closure in a fast-paced plant environment.

Key Responsibilities

Project and Construction Management

• Manage small, medium, and large-scale capital projects to deliver business needs on time and within budget
• Serve as project manager and general construction coordinator for ongoing and new scopes
• Deliver turnkey, low total cost of ownership design-build solutions
• Lead projects from concept, budget, justification, and design through planning, risk analysis, installation, commissioning, and closeout
• Coordinate internal and external resources to ensure safe, timely, and successful execution

Engineering and Technical Support

• Investigate, recommend, and apply equipment, automation systems, and manufacturing technologies
• Support processing, filling, and packaging operations with a focus on personnel safety, food safety, and energy and water conservation
• Translate business needs into technical equipment and system requirements
• Support new construction and modification of existing systems and infrastructure
• Provide technical guidance to plant teams and serve as a consultant to maintenance for complex problem solving

Supplier and Scope Alignment

• Take internally developed scopes and align technically with suppliers and contractors
• Drive actions to closure and provide consistent status reporting
• Develop layouts, technical solutions, timelines, and cost estimates
• Lead internal design reviews and develop action plans based on outcomes
• Organize and integrate input from engineering, maintenance, and operations teams

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Packaging, Processing, Quality, Finance, and Plant Leadership
• Interface with Corporate Engineering, Sourcing, R&D, and external vendors and contractors
• Build strong relationships with technology providers and equipment suppliers
• Support feasibility studies, new product launches, and continuous improvement initiatives

Continuous Improvement and Planning

• Assist in development of master and strategic plans for processing and packaging
• Support layout planning, material handling, utilities, and future growth initiatives
• Improve engineering methods, tools, and project execution standards
• Prepare technical proposals and specifications aligned to global engineering standards

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, Chemical, or related Engineering discipline
• 5 to 7 years of engineering systems design experience in a manufacturing environment
• 2 to 3 years of direct plant or manufacturing engineering experience preferred
• Strong project management experience with capital projects
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, and MS Project
• Experience working with vendors, contractors, and cross-functional plant teams
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects and shifting priorities
• Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends or late shifts during installations
• Strong self-management skills with minimal supervision required

Preferred Experience

• Food or dairy manufacturing experience
• Knowledge of high-speed packaging systems and integrated automation and controls
• Knowledge of dairy process engineering
• Experience with regulatory compliance including OSHA and FDA
• Familiarity with TQM, Six Sigma, and team-based continuous improvement
• Strong financial and analytical skills related to capital project execution

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