Senior Project Engineer | Denison, IA | Avg $100K–$130K + Bonus

Senior Project Engineer | Denison, IA | Avg $100K–$130K + Bonus

Role Overview

A high-volume food manufacturing organization is seeking an experienced Senior Project Engineer to lead engineering initiatives, capital projects, process improvements, and operational optimization efforts within a fast-paced production environment.

This role is responsible for managing medium to large-scale engineering projects from concept through execution while partnering closely with plant operations, vendors, contractors, and leadership teams to improve production efficiency, reliability, and plant performance.

The ideal candidate has strong project engineering experience within manufacturing environments, excellent technical and project management abilities, and experience leading capital improvement initiatives in production facilities.

Key Responsibilities

Project Engineering & Execution

Manage engineering and capital projects from concept through completion

Develop engineering designs, specifications, and project cost estimates

Conduct feasibility studies and support technical decision-making

Lead project planning, scope development, and bid evaluation processes

Coordinate project timelines, budgets, and resource allocation

Ensure successful project execution while meeting operational objectives

Manufacturing & Process Improvement

Support production line modifications and operational improvements

Drive process optimization and plant efficiency initiatives

Collaborate with production teams to improve reliability and performance

Support continuous improvement projects across manufacturing operations

Identify opportunities for equipment and system enhancements

Vendor & Contractor Management

Coordinate activities with vendors, contractors, and plant personnel

Oversee installation projects and ensure compliance with engineering standards

Ensure projects remain on schedule and within approved budgets

Monitor contractor performance and project deliverables

Support procurement and technical review processes

Compliance & Documentation

Review engineering work for compliance with applicable codes and standards

Maintain project documentation including drawings, specifications, manuals, and records

Ensure engineering processes align with operational and regulatory requirements

Support plant safety and quality initiatives throughout project execution

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field required

Minimum 5 years of project engineering experience

Strong project management and budget management experience

Manufacturing environment experience required

AutoCAD experience required

Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities

Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously

Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills

Ability to travel up to 50% as needed

Preferred Qualifications

Food manufacturing experience

Meat processing or kill floor experience

Experience managing large-scale capital projects

Knowledge of food processing systems and production equipment

Strong continuous improvement and operational optimization mindset

Compensation & Benefits

Avg Salary: $100,000–$130,000

Performance Bonus Opportunity

Full Benefits Package

Relocation Assistance Available

Work Environment

Onsite in Denison, Iowa

High-volume food manufacturing environment

Cross-functional collaboration with engineering, production, and operations teams

Fast-paced plant environment supporting operational growth and efficiency initiatives

Travel up to 50% required

Ideal Candidate

Experienced project engineer with strong manufacturing background

Skilled at leading engineering projects from concept through execution

Strong technical problem solver with operational mindset

Organized and capable of managing multiple priorities simultaneously

Collaborative leader comfortable working across departments and external partners

Focused on efficiency, reliability, and continuous improvement