Job Description:

• Position: Assistant Plant Engineer
• Location: Denison, Iowa
• Duration: Full Time / Permanent
• Salary up to $115,000 – $140,000

 

 

About the Opportunity

• We are recruiting for an Assistant Plant Engineer to support maintenance and engineering operations in a high-volume food manufacturing environment.
• This role focuses on maximizing equipment reliability, minimizing downtime, and driving continuous improvement across plant operations.

 

Position Overview

• The Assistant Plant Engineer will lead maintenance initiatives, support capital projects, and drive operational efficiency.
• This is a hands-on leadership role requiring strong technical expertise and the ability to operate in a fast-paced, challenging environment.

 

Key Responsibilities

• Lead capital project development and execution
• Manage maintenance operations to minimize downtime
• Implement preventive and predictive maintenance programs
• Drive TPM and continuous improvement initiatives
• Oversee maintenance team performance and scheduling
• Ensure compliance with safety, food safety, and environmental standards
• Develop KPIs and track maintenance performance
• Collaborate with plant leadership on operational improvements
• Coach and develop maintenance team members

 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field
• 5+ years in manufacturing environment
• 2+ years leadership experience
• PLC and ammonia refrigeration experience (required)
• Food manufacturing experience required
• Strong knowledge of maintenance systems and CMMS
• Experience with TPM, preventive/predictive maintenance
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills

 

Preferred Experience

• Meat processing or kill floor / harvest floor experience
• Experience in high-volume production environments
• Strong change management experience