Company Name: Lakeside Foods

Job Title: Process Engineer

Location: Manitowoc, WI 

About the US

Albert Landreth, an entrepreneur from Pennsylvania, came to Manitowoc in the 1800s to grow vegetable seed. He began experimenting with the canning process at a small hotel on the shores of Lake Michigan. In 1887 he built a canning plant and packed Wisconsin’s first commercially canned peas from his local crop. He sold his product to local markets under the “Lakeside” brand.

Since our founding, we’ve operated continuously as the successor to Landreth’s early venture and the Lakeside name he established. We remain Wisconsin-based and family-owned. We employ more than 850 people year-round and hire 1,000-plus seasonal employees during the summer harvest season. We operate 13 locations in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Ohio and partner with retail and foodservice customers across the U.S., as well as some international export business. Our products are on the shelves of all major U.S. retailers under their store label offerings

The Process Engineer conducts engineering studies geared toward developing the technical and business justification for capital projects. Identifies and selects the best option during conceptual design and leads internal teams and consulting engineering firms during schematic design, detailed design and implementation. Supports construction, commissioning, and qualification. In addition to capital projects, identifies and executes continuous improvement projects related to process and process utility systems for canned and frozen food manufacturing and packaging. Supports ongoing manufacturing troubleshooting as needed.

What We Offer 

• Competitive starting salary
• Comprehensive benefits plan
• Generous PTO package including holidays
• Annual Bonus earning potential
• Great Company Culture with a friendly and teamwork drive department and organization

What You'll Do:

• Lead and participate in cross-functional teams to develop project drivers and business justification, evaluate options, and develop project scope, schedule, and budget. Communicate and present project status reports to company personnel and leadership. Monitor project progress and work with team members and company leadership to address issues.

• Work independently and in teams to develop engineering documents, such as process descriptions, user requirements, mass balances, flow diagrams, and piping and instrumentation diagrams. Exercise good judgment in selecting methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for obtaining results.

• Champion continuous improvement initiatives and cost reduction efforts. Coordinate cross-functionally to identify, prioritize and implement process improvement plans for safety, food safety, quality, and productivity. Determine the business case to support new production processes or equipment and participate in analysis for capital project justification.

• Participate in the design, configuration, and start-up of new manufacturing processes, equipment and utility systems, including technology transfer and support of qualification activities.  Establish process controls for new and existing manufacturing systems.

• Utilize troubleshooting methodologies (e.g. DMAIC, RCFA, FMEA, Fish-Bone diagrams, 5 Whys, etc.) to investigate issues with process equipment, utility systems, and automation systems.  Develop and train process improvement teams at each facility utilizing these methods.

• Stay current on trends and technology advancements within the food industry through internal and external networks and areas of influence and expertise.

• Understand and comply with ethical, legal and regulatory requirements applicable to our business.

• Perform all other duties assigned by the VP of Operations.

What You'll Bring:

   Knowledge:

• B.S. in Process Engineering or related discipline.

• Working knowledge and experience in food manufacturing or similar industry.

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.

• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

   Skills:

• Strong organizational and communication skills and a demonstrated ability and desire to share experience and knowledge with team members.

• Basics of PLC Programming, machine design, time studies, and industrial engineering.

• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

• Experience with AutoCAD or equivalent preferred.

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret blueprints, construction drawings, business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations.

• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.

• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, customers, and the general public.

   Mathematical Skills:

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide into all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

 TEAMWORK AT LAKESIDE (TAL):

• Through individual and team efforts, enthusiastically work toward the continuous improvement of his/her job, work area, department and Lakeside as a whole. Fully participate in TAL by "living" Lakeside's Standards of Conduct and being an active member of operational and project teams.  By action and work, clearly and visibly demonstrate the spirit of teamwork, cooperation and respect for others in all business transactions and exchanges.

• Proactively create an environment that clearly and sincerely encourages the spirit of TAL in all areas of responsibility.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, use hands and fingers.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

We Make it Easy
• Applying takes less than 2 minutes. No passwords or accounts to register or sign-in for.
• You are hired directly by the company – MRA does not make hiring decisions.

MRA is a not-for-profit employers association serving over 4,000 companies throughout the upper Midwest. We partner with these companies working directly with their HR department and leadership to hire their talent. We are a direct line to the company, not an agency recruiter.