Senior Engineering Manager

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