Project Engineer

Company: Sargento Foods Inc.
Location: Elkhart Lake
Posted on: May 5, 2025

Job Description:

The Project Engineer is responsible for the development and execution of projects for industrial manufacturing capital projects from initiation through closeout ensuring consistency with company strategy, culture, commitment, goals, and engineering standards. These projects will vary in scope, complexity, and production department / focus area. The scope of these projects will generally involve limited cross-functional leadership and influence and are typically a medium rating in complexity. The Project Engineer will also act as a subject matter expert and resource for ongoing manufacturing Continuous Improvement (CI) and strategic planning activities.Your Story.
You will be responsible for the development and execution of projects for industrial manufacturing capital projects from initiation through closeout ensuring consistency with company strategy, culture, commitment, goals, and engineering standards. These projects will vary in scope, complexity, and production department / focus area. The scope of these projects will generally involve limited cross-functional leadership and influence and are typically a medium rating in complexity. You will also act as a subject matter expert and resource for ongoing manufacturing Continuous Improvement (CI) and strategic planning activities.
Your Passion.Our Culture.
At Sargento, you work for a company you believe in, with a family of people who believe in you. Our culture stems from a simple premise: Hire good people and treat them like family. At Sargento, you can make decisions based on how they affect people as well as the long-term health of our company. You will be encouraged to make a meaningful difference in the community, in the company and in your career. With diverse experiences and tools to learn and develop, you can transform your aspirations into reality. If you're ready for the right place to belong and grow your career, you can find it here.
Benefits that set us apart.

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• Comprehensive medicalincluding Fertility, Adoption benefits, Dental, and Vision Insurance
  
• Flexible Work Week
  
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  • Hybrid work schedule - Onsite Tuesday - Thursday with the option to work remotely Monday and Friday
    
  • Compressed work week - Option of day Friday
    
    
    
  • Onsite Health & Wellness Center
    
  • Employer 401K contribution in the top 1% of the nation
    
  • Relocation Assistance
    
  • Tuition Assistance
    
  • Access to Employee Store
    
    What You Do.
    
    
    Provides Project Management and Engineering services:
    

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    • Conducts project estimates, designs, prototypes, project control & tracking (scope, schedule, cost), system start-up, system training, and project closeout services.
      
    • Acts as Project Manager in accordance with Engineering Department definition and "Capital Appropriation Request (CAR) Manager" for assigned projects.
      
    • Integrates varied engineering disciplines (mechanical, electrical, packaging, facilities, etc.) as required for successful project completion.
      
    • Conducts requests for bids or proposals (RFPs), competitive bid events, purchase order requests, invoice control, and other related financial and procurement activities.
      
    • Identifies, mitigates, prioritizes, manages, and helps drive resolution of project and team issues, conflicts, constraints, dependencies, and risks in a time sensitive manner. Recommends and manages changes to project scope, deliverables, timelines, and resources to ensure project success. Escalates risks to management in a timely manner and provides recommendations to resolve.
      
    • Provides transparency to stakeholders with effective communication through meeting minutes, project updates, status reports, presentations, and participation in leadership meetings as requested.
      
    • Establishes and maintains essential project and process documentation and retention. Provides project portfolio management and documentation as requested.
      
    • Conducts post project evaluations, lessons learned, and assesses results. Works with cross functional project teams to optimize and create new processes to deliver project results.
      
    • Uses and supports the team utilization of standard operating procedures and other established business processes. Recommends process improvements.
      
    • Provides oversight, direction, and control of external contractors while on site.
      
    • Ensures that projects result in food safe, human safe, and ergonomically favorable solutions.
      
    • Assists manufacturing personnel with the development and documentation of equipment baseline run settings (i.e., centerlines or home settings), the creation of operation or maintenance training materials, development of equipment preventative maintenance plans, and ordering spare parts.
      
    • Stays current with technology and industry best practices to provide Sargento with best available technology solutions.
      
    • Researches new technologies to prove out project concepts or to find solutions to manufacturing challenges.
      
    • Learns industry leading business process and project management practices by participating in forums, seminars, training, user groups, and other organizations.
      
      Provides and coordinates engineering services (internal and external) with other stakeholders as needed:
      
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      • Works cross-functionally on a limited basis with various internal stakeholders, such as Research & Development, Innovation, Manufacturing, Quality, IT, and HR.
        
      • Assists in interfacing with regulatory agencies (WDA, USDA-AMS, FDA, OSHA, etc.) and responds to manufacturing facility audits to provide compliant equipment and projects.
        
      • Assures proper engineering drawing and documentation methods, approvals, control, and archival independently or through collaboration with other internal drafting resources.
        
      • Works with Indirect Procurement department in specifications development, bid preparation, and bid solicitation to secure best pricing for Sargento. Assists in developing / reviewing vendor Statements of Work (SOWs) as required.
        
      • Works with Legal department to execute contracts and agreements with outside parties.
        
        
        
        Provides manufacturing support:
        

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        • Provides expertise for cheese cutting, conversion, processing, freezing, cooling, packaging, case packing, palletizing, material handling, and other processes or technologies.
          
        • Provides subject matter expert support for Continuous Improvement (CI) activities. May participate in lean activities such as Kaizen or Root Cause Analysis investigation events.
          
          
          
          Travel required as needed to complete the functions within this position
          

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          • Daily travel between facilities and local suppliers is to be expected with the use of the person's own vehicle required.
            
          • Overnight travel may be required as needed to support projects or for training purposes.
            
          • Extended periods of overnight travel may be required to support project and manufacturing needs at current and future manufacturing facilities that are not located within the immediate Plymouth, WI area.
            
            Confidentiality is required for all work.
            Your Education and Experience.
            
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            • Bachelor of Science degree in a relevant technical area required. Preferred technical areas are mechanical engineering or electrical engineering.
              
            • At least 2 years combined progressive engineering experience within a manufacturing industry with demonstrated experience working in the areas listed under What You Do.
              
            • Additional educational courses may be required to sustain departmental/individual technological knowledge.
              
              Our Story.
              With over 2,400+ employees and net sales of nearly $1.8 billion, Sargento is a family-owned company that has been a leader in cheese for more than 70 years. We created the world's first, successful pre-packaged sliced and shredded natural cheeses. Sargento is based in Plymouth, Wisconsin, where we manufacture and market shredded, sliced and snack natural cheese products, as well as ingredients and sauces. Sargento is known for the exceptional quality of our products and for product design, packaging and merchandising innovations that have transformed our industry.
              To learn more about our culture and values, please visit our website athttps://careers.sargento.com/us/en.Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
              
              This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
              For further information, please review the notice from the Department of Labor.

Keywords: Sargento Foods Inc., Oshkosh , Project Engineer, Engineering , Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin