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

Summary – The Senior Plant & Process Engineer will develop conceptual and detailed engineering projects and process improvements, effectively execute and implement projects requiring functional and industry expertise while developing relationships and mentoring other team members to deliver business results. This position requires the ability to demonstrate and apply technical knowledge, problem solving and optimization skills.  Collaborate with cross-functional teams, provide technical expertise, and implement continuous improvement initiatives to drive operational excellence.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Execute on the capital plan for Aurora through management of multiple, often concurrent, projects utilizing the stage-gate process. Responsible for achieving the project financial targets in support of business objectives. Maintains project controls and reporting for cost, scope, and schedule. Develops execution strategy including vendor selection, procurement, installation, start-up and project closeout.

• Lead engineering efforts in support of the root cause identification of non-conformances. Take ownership of implementing corrective and preventive action.

• Provide process engineering support for continuous improvement in processing method and product manufacturing troubleshooting.  Develop and justify equipment and process improvements in concert with cross functional teams to support current processes, new processes or business development.

• Provide on-site manufacturing support, engaging well with operators and management to implement permanent counter measures.

• Successfully lead process improvement efforts to positively impact standard metrics including yield, productivity and other sound performance metrics.

• Provide mentorship to other engineers. May participate in the evaluation of other team members and in the identification of development needs. May provide day to day work direction to other engineers or technicians.

• Maintain a working knowledge of new technologies which may improve operations and develop recommendations accordingly.

• Maintain a working knowledge of safety policies and regulations to ensure duties of self and others are performed in a safe manner.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• This position will not have direct reports.

Qualifications

• Required:

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

  • 5+ years of significant, relevant work experience

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Knowledge of safety practices applicable to a production environment 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 food product manufacturing equipment including but not limited to meat grinders, extrusion machines, spray dryers, 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 using 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, may occasionally be required to; sit, stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel & reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and lift up to 50 lbs.

Work Environment

The primary working environment for this position will be in an office setting, but the requirements for the position will include exposure to a plant environment with the requisite noise, heat and other factors.  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, electrical devices and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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.