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Candy Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Smiths Group

Process Engineer

Salisbury, MD · On-site

Dive into new product development and process scale-up activities with the enthusiasm of a kid in a candy store (or an engineer in a robot factory). Remember, as a Process Engineer here, you're not ...

Smiths Group

Process Engineer

Salisbury, MD

Dive into new product development and process scale-up activities with the enthusiasm of a kid in a candy store (or an engineer in a robot factory). Remember, as a Process Engineer here, you're not ...

C. Cretors and Company

Be Seen First

Controls Engineer

Wood Dale, IL · On-site

$95K - $105K/yr

The Foodservice Equipment Division has expanded to include cotton candy, warmers, dispensing ... The engineers and designers in these divisions continually dedicate themselves to developing new ...

Russell Stover

Project Engineer

Abilene, KS · On-site

As a Project Engineer , you will be an important link in the Russell Stover Chocolate (RSC ... candy banks/steels - it's a dynamic environment where every day brings something new! * Active ...

Diedre Moire Corp.

Maintenance Technician

Bellevue, WA

$80K - $120K/yr

Field Service Candy Bar Pkg Machinery - Bellevue, WA Field Service Technician Mechanic Automated ... Mechanisms --- Programmable Logic Controllers - PLCs --- Human Machine Interfaces - HMIs ...

New

Sees

Seasonal Data Engineer

San Francisco, CA

$75/hr

... highest quality candy and providing superior customer service. See's is a leader in the ... POSITION OBJECTIVE: The Data Engineering - Data & Analytics (Contractor) will support the ...

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Candy Engineer information

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$16.5K

$68K

$159.5K

How much do candy engineer jobs pay per year?

As of May 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for candy engineer in the United States is $67,951.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $27,000.00 and $101,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Candy Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Candy Engineer, you need a strong background in food science, chemistry, and process engineering, typically supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with confectionery manufacturing equipment, quality control systems, and food safety certifications like HACCP is important. Creativity, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills help you innovate and maintain product consistency. These abilities are crucial for developing high-quality, safe, and appealing confections in a competitive market.

What are some common challenges faced by Candy Engineers in the product development process?

Candy Engineers often encounter challenges related to balancing taste, texture, and shelf stability while also considering large-scale manufacturing constraints. Ensuring that new recipes can be efficiently produced in bulk without compromising quality is a frequent hurdle. Additionally, complying with food safety regulations and adapting formulations to accommodate dietary trends (like sugar-free or allergen-free products) require innovative problem-solving skills. Working closely with food scientists, quality assurance teams, and production specialists is essential to address these challenges effectively.

What are Candy Engineers?

Candy Engineers are professionals who design, develop, and test new types of candies and confections. They use their knowledge of food science, chemistry, and engineering to create innovative sweets with appealing flavors, textures, and appearances. Candy Engineers also work to improve manufacturing processes, ensure product safety, and may be involved in quality control to meet regulatory standards. Their work can involve both hands-on experimentation and collaboration with research and development teams in the food industry.

What is the difference between Candy Engineer vs Confectionery Technologist?

AspectCandy EngineerConfectionery Technologist
CredentialsBachelor's in Food Science or Chemical EngineeringBachelor's in Food Science or Chemistry
Work EnvironmentManufacturing plants, R&D labsProduct development, quality control labs
Industry UsageFood manufacturing companies, candy producersConfectionery companies, R&D departments
Job FocusDesigning and optimizing candy production processesDeveloping new confectionery products and recipes

While both Candy Engineers and Confectionery Technologists work in the candy industry, Candy Engineers primarily focus on process design and manufacturing efficiency, whereas Confectionery Technologists concentrate on product development and recipe innovation. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and often collaborate in the candy production process.

More about Candy Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Candy Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Candy Engineer job openings:
What states have the most Candy Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Candy Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Candy Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Candy Engineer jobs are:
Candy Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Candy Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, 1% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $67,951 per year, or $32.7 per hour.
Mechanical Project Engineer

Mechanical Project Engineer

C. Cretors and Company

Wood Dale, IL • On-site

$90K - $100K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 17 days ago

Job description

Project Engineer – Industrial Food Processing Systems

Department: Engineering

Position Summary

The Project Engineer is responsible for the mechanical design and execution of large, highly automated industrial popcorn production systems. These systems integrate popcorn makers, sifters, seasoning and caramel coating equipment, and material handling conveyors into complete turnkey lines with project values up to $4M and build cycles of approximately 22 weeks.

This role owns projects from concept through installation, combining hands-on mechanical design in SolidWorks with cross-functional coordination of procurement, fabrication, assembly, testing, and on-site installation. The Project Engineer works closely with Engineering, Controls, Manufacturing, Procurement, and Field Service to ensure systems are delivered on time, within scope, and to quality and safety standards.

Key Responsibilities

Mechanical Design & Engineering

  • Design and develop complete industrial food processing systems and subsystems using SolidWorks.
  • Prepare customer layout drawings, detailed fabrication drawings, and assembly documentation.
  • Develop and maintain accurate Bills of Material (BOMs) and routings within the ERP system.
  • Support compliance with applicable safety, sanitation, and regulatory requirements (e.g., UL, CE, NSF).
  • Collaborate with controls engineering to ensure proper integration of PLCs, VFDs, sensors, and automation hardware.
  • Spend time on the production floor supporting fabrication, assembly, and continuous improvement of designs.

Project Execution & Coordination

  • Serve as the primary engineering owner for multiple concurrent large-scale projects.
  • Plan and maintain project schedules covering procurement, fabrication, assembly, testing, shipping, and installation.
  • Coordinate closely with Procurement to prioritize material purchasing and resolve supply issues.
  • Work with Manufacturing leadership and shop personnel to sequence work, manage constraints, and support on-time delivery.
  • Support factory acceptance testing (FAT) and assist with on-site installation and startup as needed.
  • Track project progress, identify risks, and proactively resolve issues impacting cost, schedule, or quality.
  • Maintain project tracking tools, schedules, and reporting dashboards.

Continuous Improvement & Quality

  • Identify opportunities to improve system designs, manufacturing efficiency, and project execution processes.
  • Promote a culture of safety, quality, and accountability throughout project lifecycles.
  • Support documentation standards and lessons-learned capture to improve future projects.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field; equivalent practical experience may be considered.
  • 3–7 years of experience in industrial equipment or machinery design within a manufacturing environment.
  • Strong proficiency in SolidWorks, including complex assemblies and production drawings.
  • Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, build-to-order environment.
  • Strong organizational, communication, and time-management skills.
  • Ability to work cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, procurement, and field teams.
  • Self-directed, detail-oriented, and comfortable owning projects from concept through installation.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with complex automated machinery and material handling systems.
  • Familiarity with PLC-controlled equipment, VFDs, and industrial automation concepts.
  • Experience with ERP systems (INFOR Syteline preferred).
  • Knowledge of food processing equipment, sanitary design principles, and safety standards.
  • Prior exposure to project management tools (e.g., Microsoft Project or similar).

Work Environment

  • Combination of office-based engineering work and regular time spent on the manufacturing floor.
  • Occasional travel to customer sites for installation, commissioning, or troubleshooting.

Company Description

C. Cretors & Company, established in 1885, is a leader in the multi-billion U.S. concession business, and is widely credited as being the catalyst for the creation of the modern concession industry with the original popcorn machine patent. Today, we are the leading designers and manufacturer of Concession, Food Service and Food Processing equipment that provides worldwide solutions and is long considered the cornerstone in the industry.
The Foodservice Equipment division, established in 1885, introduced the first patented steam driven popcorn machine that popped corn in oil. The Foodservice Equipment Division has expanded to include cotton candy, warmers, dispensing systems and other specialty equipment. A wide selection of caramel and savory coated popcorn and roasting equipment has been developed and is quickly expanding into gourmet retail popcorn shops and other specialty food outlets.
The core values of quality craftsmanship and technical innovation that guided Charles Cretors more than five generations ago continue to be the hallmark of all Cretors' products today. The engineers and designers in these divisions continually dedicate themselves to developing new equipment design while striving for product excellence.
The Food Processing Systems division, established in 1967, patented and introduced a continuous production line featuring a hot air fluidized bed oven for high-volume popcorn production. The production line has been adapted to produce other snack foods, cereals, and specialty products.
C. Cretors & Company was originally founded in Chicago, Illinois. As of 2026, we continue to manufacture in Illinois, where it continues to be family owned and operated.
We are a fifth-generation family owned and operated company in Wood Dale Illinois.
Come join us and be a part of our family. We can't wait to meet you!