Senior Project Engineer

Senior Project Engineer
LaSalle Network is partnering with a leading global confectionery manufacturer to hire a Senior Process Engineer to support the development and launch of a brand-new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in the Columbia, South Carolina area. This is a unique opportunity to join a major capital project from the ground up and play a key role in designing, implementing, commissioning, and optimizing the manufacturing processes and equipment that will support the organization’s next generation of growth.

The ideal candidate is an experienced process or project engineer with a strong manufacturing background who has led large-scale capital projects from concept through installation, integration, commissioning, and startup. Experience in food, beverage, CPG, or another highly automated manufacturing environment is strongly preferred.

Key Details

• Location: Columbia, SC area

• Work Model: Onsite

• Employment Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire

• Relocation: Open to candidates willing to relocate to Columbia, SC area; relocation assistance may be available

• Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• Compensation: $120,000-$140,000

• Bonus: Eligible to earn a 15% annual bonus

What's the job?

• Lead large-scale capital engineering projects from concept and design through installation, commissioning, and startup

• Define project scope, budgets, timelines, technical requirements, and execution plans

• Develop and implement process solutions for a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility

• Lead process design, equipment integration, process trials, and qualifications in a production environment

• Support the selection, sizing, specification, procurement, and installation of process and utility equipment

• Work directly with equipment suppliers and technology vendors to evaluate solutions, review technical submittals, and incorporate equipment data into engineering designs

• Manage trades contractors and installation activities to ensure projects are executed safely, efficiently, and according to specifications

• Lead and participate in Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs), equipment commissioning, and manufacturing startup activities

• Develop and review process flow diagrams (PFDs), P&IDs, process design documentation, and technical specifications

• Support mass and energy balances as well as hydraulic and thermal calculations used to design and optimize manufacturing processes

• Evaluate manufacturing processes and equipment to improve throughput, reliability, efficiency, scrap rates, and overall plant performance

• Partner with R&D, Quality, Packaging, Supply Chain, Operations, PMO, and other cross-functional teams to support process design and technology decisions

• Coach and train factory operations teams on process functionality and the theory of operation

• Apply Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma principles to identify root causes, eliminate waste, and drive continuous improvement

• Support food safety, environmental, health and safety, and sustainability initiatives throughout project development and plant operations

• Help establish manufacturing processes, standards, and operating practices for a new facility being built from the ground up

What's needed?

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline

• 10+ years of project or process engineering experience in a manufacturing environment; candidates with 5–7 years of highly relevant large-scale project experience may also be considered

• Proven experience leading large-scale capital projects from process design through installation, integration, commissioning, and startup

• Experience with major manufacturing facility construction, expansion, greenfield projects, or other large-scale capital investments strongly preferred

• Experience in food, beverage, CPG, FMCG, confectionery, snacks, or prepared food manufacturing is strongly preferred

• Strong understanding of food safety, sanitary design, and manufacturing standards such as HACCP, GMP, and ISO is preferred

• Experience with process equipment such as mixers, cookers, ovens, vessels, pumps, agitators, heat exchangers, conveyors, dryers, filling, packaging, and related equipment

• Experience with manufacturing utility systems such as boilers, compressors, chillers, cooling towers, and water treatment systems

• Experience with automation, controls, robotics, and industrial IT systems

• Experience developing or working with PFDs and P&IDs

• Experience managing equipment suppliers, technology vendors, contractors, and installation teams

• Experience supporting equipment procurement, technical evaluations, and bid analysis

• Strong understanding of process design, including mass and energy balances and hydraulic or thermal calculations

• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders

• Comfortable working in a highly collaborative, hands-on, and fast-moving manufacturing environment

Thank you,
Giovanna Breslin

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