In all roles, employees are expected to embody Rudolph Foods’ core values which include Caring, Humility, Integrity, Open & Honest Communication, Personal Responsibility, and Respect for Others. Additionally, all employees play an active role in fostering an inclusive culture and ensuring a safe work environment by adhering to safety practices and policies, including those related to Food Safety regulations. These core values are essential for creating a positive work environment and promoting a sense of belonging among team members. By embracing these principles, employees contribute to the overall success of the organization while prioritizing safety and respect for one another.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Project Engineer is responsible for leading engineering and capital projects from concept and ideation through design, installation, and close-out across all snack food manufacturing facilities. This role blends project management, engineering coordination, and technical design, serving as the central organizer who turns ideas on paper into safe, efficient, and successful real-world implementations.

This position requires a highly structured, organized, and communicative professional who can manage multiple priorities, adapt communication styles to different stakeholders, and maintain a clear vision of how projects move from concept to completion. This role leads projects independently while aligning with the Director of Engineering on scope, prioritization, and capital strategy.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Leadership & Management

Own and manage engineering and capital projects from initial concept through implementation and final sign-off
Develop and maintain project scopes, timelines, budgets, and milestones
Coordinate cross-functional teams including Engineering, Plant Leadership, Maintenance, Operations, Safety, and external contractors
Lead project reviews, approvals, and stakeholder communication throughout the project lifecycle
Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget

Engineering Coordination & Design

Collaborate with Engineering and Plant teams on project ideation, feasibility, and design
Create, update, and maintain facility layouts, process flow diagrams, and safety drawings in AutoCAD
Support equipment selection, layout optimization, and installation planning

Manufacturing & Process Insight

Develop a working understanding of the technologies, processes, and complexities across all Rudolph Foods facilities
Use process and equipment data to monitor performance, identify inefficiencies, and uncover improvement opportunities
Research questionable or inconsistent data and collaborate with plants to perform Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

Capital Planning & Execution

Support cost estimating, justification, and approval processes for capital expenditures
Manage contractors, vendors, and on-site activities during installation and commissioning
Lead project close-out activities including documentation, training support, and stakeholder sign-off

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

EMPLOYEE SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES

Follow and promote all employee safety policies and practices
Understand and enforce Lock Out / Tag Out (LOTO) and electrical safety principles
Ensure contractors and visitors comply with all safety requirements while onsite
Proactively identify and eliminate safety risks during projects and installations
Ensure no safety violations occur during any engineering or capital project activities

FOOD SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES

Ensure all visitors and contractors comply with food safety and GMP requirements
Ensure engineering and capital projects do not introduce food safety risks
Coordinate with plant teams to prevent food safety violations during all project phases

REQUIRED ATTRIBUTES & CORE COMPETENCIES

Highly organized and structured, with strong attention to detail
Excellent time management and ability to manage multiple active projects
Strong communication skills, with the ability to adapt style for different audiences (operators, engineers, leaders, vendors)
Ability to visualize a project from concept on paper to physical reality
Proactive problem-solver with a balance of technical and people skills

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s Degree (B.S.) from a four-year college or university
4–6 years of related engineering, manufacturing, or project management experience
or equivalent combination of education and experience

SOFTWARE SKILLS

AutoCAD (required)
Microsoft Office Suite
Microsoft Project (or similar project management tools)

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical documents, business reports, and regulations
Ability to write clear reports, procedures, and business correspondence
Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from managers, plant teams, and contractors
Spanish speaking/reading ability is a plus

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to perform calculations involving conversions, percentages, area, volume, and basic geometry
Ability to apply basic algebra concepts in engineering and project scenarios

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to solve practical problems in dynamic manufacturing environments
Ability to interpret instructions in written, verbal, diagrammatic, and schedule formats
Comfortable making decisions with limited standardization and evolving conditions

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Occasional travel to manufacturing facilities as required by project needs, during projects could be up to 60%.

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