What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Engineering Manager position at Inkinen Executive Search?
The Senior Engineering Manager is a high-impact capital project leader, with strong project management and manufacturing engineering experience, a strong background in food manufacturing, CPG, or agricultural processing, and a proven ability to drive cross-functional collaboration and operational efficiency improvements.
Position Overview
A beloved Hawaii food manufacturer with international distribution is seeking a Senior Engineering Manager to lead capital projects and drive manufacturing optimization across its production and agricultural processing operations. This role serves as a key technical leader responsible for modernizing equipment, improving production efficiency, and delivering high-impact capital initiatives in a fast-paced, high-volume manufacturing environment. You will partner cross-functionally with operations, maintenance, safety, and quality teams to enhance throughput, reduce costs, and support long-term growth.
Responsibilities
- Lead and manage a portfolio of capital projects from planning and approval through execution and commissioning
- Identify opportunities to improve manufacturing processes, equipment performance, and overall plant efficiency
- Partner with internal stakeholders and external vendors to implement new technologies and equipment upgrades
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on throughput, cost reduction, and operational efficiency
- Support maintenance and reliability strategies, including preventive and predictive maintenance programs
- Oversee plant infrastructure and utilities (power, water, refrigeration, etc.) with a focus on efficiency and reliability
- Ensure projects and engineering activities meet safety, quality, and regulatory standards
- Track project budgets, timelines, and performance metrics, delivering projects on time and within budget
Skills
- Strong project management and capital planning experience
- Expertise in manufacturing engineering, process improvement, and equipment optimization
- Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles (e.g., 5S, value stream mapping, line balancing)
- Experience with high-speed processing or packaging equipment
- Familiarity with automation, PLCs, and modern manufacturing technologies
- Ability to analyze data and improve performance metrics such as OEE and downtime
- Strong cross-functional collaboration and communication skills
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or related field)
- 5 years of experience in a manufacturing environment, including leadership or project ownership
- Proven experience managing capital projects from concept through implementation
- Background in food manufacturing, CPG, or agricultural processing preferred
- Experience working in plant environments with packaging or processing operations
- Familiarity with food safety and regulatory standards (e.g., GMP, HACCP) is a plus
Salary : $160,000 - $165,000