Engineer Jobs in Defiance, OH (NOW HIRING)

Job Title: Facilities Engineer

Department: Engineering

Reports To: Operations Manager

FLSA Status

X Exempt
? Non-Exempt

Location: Vitakraft Sunseed INC. Weston, Ohio

Position Summary

The role of the Facilities Engineer at Vitakraft Sun Seed Company is multifaceted and requires a broad range of skills. The engineer is responsible for identifying and leading improvement projects including capital projects, participation in the new product development process, writing standard operating procedures, coordinating the maintenance team, monitoring the preventative maintenance activities, and working with Food Safety/QA to achieve and maintain SQF certification.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Lead manufacturing engineering activities to improve safety, quality, productivity, efficiency, cost performance while supporting production and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Maintain a “Safety First” work environment
• Optimize production workflows to improve efficiency, throughput, and product quality
• Evaluate and implement new manufacturing technologies, equipment, and automation solutions
• Develop and implement training programs
• Develop engineering interns throughout thier internship working on projects, SOP's and 5's 
• Develop and work within budget for area of responsibility
• Coordinate new processes and product trials to establish manufacturing feasibility and manufacturing costs
• Establish and maintain manufacturing standards, work instructions, and process documentation
• Optimize preventative maintenance program
• Manage capital equipment and facility improvement projects from concept through implementation
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure successful project execution
• Monitor project performance and ensure objectives are achieved on schedule and within budget
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen and continuous improvement initiatives
• Identify opportunities to reduce waste, improve cycle time, defect root cause analysis and increase productivity
• Oversee the development of the maintenance group by supporting the maintenance supervisor
• Establish departmental goals and performance expectations

Additional Duties

• Complete other tasks as directed by Operations Manager.

Required Qualifications

• Educational Level: Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering
• Minimum 3+ years’ experience in engineering or process improvement  
• 2-5 years of leadership or supervisory experience managing engineers, maintenance technicians, or project teams
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, equipment, tooling and production systems
• Experience leading capital projects, automation, or process improvement projects
• Proficiency with manufacturing software, ERP systems, and Microsoft Office applications
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and root-cause analysis skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt or Lean Certification
• Project Management Professional Certification
• Experience with automation, robotics, assembly operations, or other industry-specific manufacturing technologies
• PLC interpretations, troubleshooting, and diagnostics
• Experience in CAD software and manufacturing process simulation tools

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of manufacturing engineering principles, production processes, quality systems, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, continuous improvement methodologies, and applicable safety and regulatory requirements

• Strong leadership, team development, and performance management skills
• Ability to analyze complex technical and operational data to identify and implement process improvements
• Experience in project management, budgeting, resource allocation, and prioritization of multiple projects
• Strong verbal communication and presentation skills to a diverse audience

Competencies

• Leadership
• Team Development
• Communication
• Strategic thinking and planning
• Manufacturing process improvement
• Continuous improvement
• Project management
• Technical expertise
• Operational Excellence
• Data analysis and metrics
• Risk assessment and mitigation
• Time management and prioritization