We make pet food taste great! For over 30 years, AFB International has been providing pet food solutions that enrich the lives of pets and their people.  Our palatants are specially designed to make pet foods, treats and supplements taste better, ensuring pets receive the vital nutrients they need. We know wagging tails, licking whiskers and empty bowls equal happy pets and happy pet parents. Join AFB and you'll be a part of a team of highly skilled professionals that provide the greatest contribution to our success as an organization. Our team members are diverse, creative, passionate experts who are genuinely dedicated to our mission, our customers, and the pets we serve worldwide. ​

Job Description

Designs and maintains plant systems by performing the following duties personally or through the plant engineering team under the supervision of the plant engineering and maintenance manager.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Implements capital plan for Aurora including CAR design, development, writing, bidding and management of alternatives.  Manage project within budget and schedule including vendor selection, contract negotiations and all purchases, installation, and start-up.
• Provide process engineering support for significant changes in processing method and product manufacturing troubleshooting.  Design and justify equipment or processes in concert with project teams to support new product or business development
• Provide on-site manufacturing support, engaging well with operators and educating both operators and management as to how and why we make products the way we do.
• Successfully contribute to and/or lead process improvement efforts that lead to improvement of standard metrics including yield, productivity or other sound performance metrics.
• Work closely with Product Development Team to create processes and identify processing parameters that ensure successful translation of products through ideation, development and manufacturing.
• Utilize and implement applicable state of the art technologies and/or processes that can provide value to AFB.
• Design and justify equipment or processes in concert with project teams to support new product or business development.
• Provides technical support to the plant as required including quality, reliability or other areas as needed.
• Analyzes technology trends, human resource needs, and market demand to plan projects.
• Confers with production management staff to determine engineering feasibility, cost effectiveness, and customer demand for new and existing processes.
• Provides direction and example for interpretation and application of company policies and procedures to the engineering activities.
• Maintains a working knowledge of new technologies which may improve operations, and develops recommendations accordingly.
• Maintains a working knowledge of safety policies and regulations to ensure duties of self and others are performed in a safe manner.

Qualifications To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience                                             

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Chemical, and Electrical Engineering from four-year ABET accredited college or university

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities To perform this job successfully, an individual must have the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Knowledge of safety practices applicable to flavors production and ability to follow designated safety procedures.
• Ability to maintain accurate records relating to jobs as they are planned performed and completed.  Skill to use electronic means for recording data.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills to interact effectively with peers, co-workers, supervisors, and vendors as required.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations.  Ability to effectively present information to team members, top management, and/or public groups.
• Ability to read drawings and interpret line diagrams, equipment layout drawings, and electrical prints.
• Knowledge and understanding of plc ladder logic programming and interpreting line diagrams and electrical schematics is beneficial.
• Proficient skill level in MS Office Applications such as Word and Excel
• Knowledge of algebraic and calculus mathematical concepts, theory, and application
• Knowledge of food product manufacturing equipment including but not limited to meat grinders, extrusion machines, and dry blend equipment is highly desired. Previous experience with food safety programs, including HACCP and cGMPs is beneficial.
• The ability to convey technical requirements through the use of AutoCAD or similar software to generate drawings, process flow diagrams as well as process and instrumentation drawings.

Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Must be available on call 24 hours per day; 7 days per week.

AFB International is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, national origin, or veteran status.