Director Engineering Automation & Capital Projects

Our client Sargento is seeking a Director of Engineering - Automation & Capital Projects to provide executive leadership for strategic engineering initiatives that support Innovation, Production, and enterprise priorities. This role serves as a key resource for Innovation/R&D, translating new product concepts into production reality while overseeing equipment-related engineering, including alignment of equipment plans with strategic objectives, budgeting and execution for capital projects, and ensuring operational reliability across facilities. The Director collaborates closely with other Engineering Directors and cross-functional teams to identify and prioritize business needs, assess capabilities, conduct build-or-buy analyses, and recommend optimal approaches.

This position requires strong strategic thinking, financial acumen, and expertise in advanced automation technologies (AGV, AMRs), greenfield site development, and large-scale capital projects. The Director will lead a team of engineers and technicians, fostering innovation, continuous improvement, and future leadership potential while ensuring compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory standards.

Leadership & People Management

• Provide executive leadership and direction for assigned engineering personnel.
• Coordinate workload and resource allocation to support project goals and corporate priorities.
• Foster a positive, collaborative work environment and act as a role model for teamwork.
• Develop and mentor team members, encouraging personal growth and leadership potential.
• Maintain technological skill levels for self and team; implement training and development plans.
• Provides continuous improvement to Engineering systems, processes, and procedures.

Strategic Engineering & Support

• Serve as a strategic resource for the translation of new product concepts into production reality.
• Provide front-end feasibility analysis and identify manufacturing methods to achieve desired product characteristics.
• Provide production alternatives to consider with pros/cons and the necessary capital.
• Align innovation, New Product Development, Growth, functional needs, and coordinate the full lifecycle of equipment with corporate strategic objectives to drive annual and long range view of strategic, capital, and operating plans for equipment and facilities.
• Identify and maintain external resources to supplement internal capabilities for strategic initiatives.
• Consider and assess risk and drive action to manage appropriately for the situation.

Capital Projects & Facility Expansion

• Lead planning and execution for site development, building expansions, and major capital projects.
• Develop and maintain a theoretical master plan for production operations to anticipate growth and technology needs.
• Manage project deliverables within scope, schedule, and budget; maintain compliance with USDA, FDA, and other regulatory requirements.

Financial & Strategic Responsibilities

• Examine, interpret, and evaluate financial data to provide insights into fiscal health and support informed decision-making and prioritization of resources and tasks.
• Review and give guidance working with finance to prepare accurate cost estimates, payback analyses, and feasibility studies for initiatives.
• Maintain financial control per CAR; verify invoicing accuracy and benchmark competitive bidding for best costs.
• Drive strategic initiatives aligned with enterprise priorities and long-term objectives.

Collaboration & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Work closely with Business teams, General Managers, Finance, Procurement, Legal, Marketing, Innovation, Plant Leadership, Manufacturing, Food Safety & Quality, People Safety, and other functional groups to ensure seamless execution of projects and process improvement.
• Act as technology leader for new-to-company technologies or arrange for development of internal expertise.
• Protect company interests in all dealings with vendors, contractors, and consultants; maintain confidentiality of all work.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or related field); Technical or Business master’s degree preferred.
• Experience: 15 years of progressive engineering experience, including leadership of multimillion-dollar manufacturing implementations and large-scale strategic and capital projects.
• Expertise in automation technologies (AGV, AMRs), greenfield site development, Mfg 4.0, and food manufacturing systems.
• Strong financial acumen with ability to drive ROI analysis, life cycle costing, and payback calculations.
• Proven ability to lead strategic initiatives, prioritize business objectives, and align support to enterprise goals.
• Familiarity with Lean Six Sigma methodology preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, Teams, Outlook, and project management tools.

Skills & Competencies

• Executive leadership and independent decision-making.
• Strategic planning and enterprise-level perspective.
• Advanced technical knowledge in food processing, packaging, and automation systems.
• Strong analytical, mathematical, and financial skills.
• Excellent communication and executive presence for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to manage complex projects from concept to completion.

Travel

• Daily travel between facilities and local suppliers; overnight travel as needed for projects, vendor visits, and training.