Plant Engineering Specialist – Knoxville Position Available In Bradley, Tennessee

Plant Engineering Specialist – Knoxville Laborup Cleveland, TN 37311 Overview We are the nation’s leading name in prepared beans—a beloved, time-honored brand with deep roots in East Tennessee and a major footprint in households across America. Our flagship facility near Knoxville is the heart of that legacy, blending cutting-edge food manufacturing with small-town values and family-driven culture. As we continue to grow and modernize, we’re seeking a hands-on plant engineering leader to help shape the future of this nationally significant operation. Relocation to

Knoxville Metro:

Full reimbursement of all expenses related to interviewing Relocation stipend Capital Project Execution & Management This role leads capital project management efforts across Production, Distribution, Utilities, Facilities, and the Farm. Projects may include replacing aging equipment, expanding lines, enabling new products, upgrading wastewater systems, or meeting evolving food safety standards. These high-impact initiatives require broad coordination and play a critical role in driving innovation, sustainability, and compliance across the entire site. As a Plant Engineering Specialist, you’ll be the conductor of these efforts—scoping and justifying projects, building technical plans and timelines, managing contractors and internal teams, and leading execution through installation, validation, and handoff. These initiatives are deeply cross-functional by nature. You’ll need to navigate the entire spectrum of plant collaboration—earning buy-in from front-line operators and maintenance techs, while also presenting clear, data-driven recommendations to plant leadership, quality teams, finance, and regulatory partners.

Additional Responsibilities:

Drive Process Improvements:

Identify inefficiencies and lead initiatives to improve reliability, throughput, and quality.

Support & Coach Technical Teams:

Mentor maintenance and PLC teams while advising on complex systems and upgrades. Bridge the

Floor & Leadership:

Translate plant capabilities and constraints clearly across all organizational levels.

Champion Plant-Wide Impact:

Ensure engineering solutions align with long-term growth, compliance, and brand legacy.

Responsibilities Capital Project Management & Execution Scope & Alignment:

Collaborate with operations, maintenance, safety, and leadership to define scope, objectives, constraints, and success metrics. Apply systems thinking to understand how proposed changes affect plant-wide material and process flows.

Team Leadership & Communication:

Assemble cross-functional teams, including internal staff and contractors. Establish clear communication channels to align everyone from operators to executives.

Site Evaluation & Feasibility:

Evaluate infrastructure using mechanical and electrical engineering expertise. Consult with front-line teams to understand constraints. Use CAD/SolidWorks to model early layouts and validate system fit.

Design & Cost Estimation:

Develop lean-based conceptual designs tailored to plant constraints. Prepare accurate cost estimates considering equipment, utilities, space, and control systems.

Capital Justification:

Build and present project proposals with technical plans, ROI analysis, risk assessments, and implementation timelines to secure leadership and financial approval.

Detailed Design & Procurement:

Oversee final mechanical, electrical, and control designs. Prepare bid packages, assess vendor quotes, and confirm compatibility with existing systems.

Construction & Installation:

Lead safe, on-time project execution with internal teams and contractors. Maintain strong communication with affected departments to ensure minimal disruption.

Commissioning & Integration:

Direct system startup, validation, and integration with plant IT and PLC systems. Ensure all performance, safety, and quality standards are achieved.

Closeout:

Finalize documentation, update schematics and records, and lead post-project reviews to share lessons and drive continuous improvement.

Process Improvement Initiatives Analysis & Identification:

Use plant data and direct observation to identify process gaps. Combine analysis with operator feedback to determine root causes.

Cross-Functional Planning:

Align with operations, maintenance, quality, and controls teams to set clear improvement goals. Present business cases using technical insights, ROI, and risk assessments.

Solution Development:

Create and evaluate options using lean tools, equipment analysis, and controls feasibility. Use CAD tools for any required layout or component changes.

Implementation & Monitoring:

Lead testing, training, and calibration with cross-functional teams. Validate outcomes through performance tracking and integrate solutions into SOPs and maintenance routines.

Technical Management & Coaching Mentorship & Support:

Guide maintenance and PLC teams in troubleshooting, system upgrades, and skill-building across mechanical, electrical, and controls areas.

Leadership Education:

Help leadership understand plant capabilities, limitations, and systems interdependencies to support better strategic decisions.

Representation & Communication:

Lead plant tours and technical walkthroughs for internal teams, auditors, and external stakeholders with clarity and confidence.

Overview Fiscal Responsibility:

Capital project specific (typical range is $100K – $2M)

Internal Partners:

Operators, Maintenance, Quality, Safety, AU Engineering, and Plant Leadership.

External Partners:

Equipment Manufacturers, Suppliers, Contractors, Regulatory Agencies, Engineering Firms Qualifications Education Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field (Electrical, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Engineering preferred) Experience 10+ years’ experience in consumer packaged goods manufacturing Experience with design and implementation of electrical, controls, and mechanical hardware / systems. Experience in food manufacturing and canning processes is preferred but not required Specialized Skills Proficient in power distribution systems Proficient in controls systems (PLCs, networking, HMIs, virtual servers, etc.), Proficient in

CAD / 3D

modeling software (Solidworks) Systems and process thinking Technical and business writing skills and presentation skills Ability to communicate clearly and concisely Highly collaborative Time management and organizational skills.

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

$105,000.00 – $140,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Relocation assistance Vision insurance

Schedule:

8 hour shift Day shift Application Question(s): Do you have a degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Manufacturing Engineering? If not, what continued education do you have in applicable fields? Have you worked in consumer packaged goods (CPG), food processing, or a canning facility before? If so, how many years and in which industries? Can you describe your experience managing end-to-end capital projects in a manufacturing or food production environment? Please describe the full range of projects you’ve managed and your role on those projects. Please describe how you utilize both technical engineering skills and interpersonal collaboration skills to take capital projects from ideation to execution. Tell us about a time you had to balance the needs of operators, maintenance, quality, and leadership within a single project. How did you approach alignment? How do you balance your time between the plant floor and the office? Where do you believe the most value is created in each setting, and how do you ensure you’re effective in both? What motivates you to continue your career in engineering? What are your professional growth goals over the next five years, and how do you see this role supporting that path? What kind of company culture brings out your best work? This job requires relocating to the Knoxville Metro Area. Is that something you’re open to? (Relocation expenses will be covered)

Work Location:

In person