Project Engineer - Food Processing

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Cozzini, LLC is looking for a Project Engineer to oversee the execution of custom protein-processing machinery and integrated food-processing systems. This position is ideal for an engineer who enjoys working at the intersection of technical design, manufacturing, customer communication, and hands-on execution.

You’ll take ownership of assigned projects from the initial handoff from Sales through engineering, fabrication, installation, commissioning, and final acceptance. Along the way, you’ll bring together teams across the organization, keep technical and commercial requirements aligned, and help ensure each solution is delivered according to schedule, budget, and agreed specifications.

Cozzini is a manufacturer of capital equipment serving the protein-processing industry. Our systems are designed to help food manufacturers enhance production efficiency, consistency, food safety, quality, and overall operational performance.

Your Role

In this position, you will guide the execution of custom machinery and processing systems while acting as a central point of contact for both internal teams and customers.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Take ownership of assigned projects beginning with the Sales-to-Engineering transition and continuing through final customer acceptance.
• Translate customer requirements and commercial commitments into clear technical scope, deliverables, and execution plans.
• Develop and maintain equipment layouts, production plans, schedules, and project milestones.
• Bring together Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing, Purchasing, Quality, Sales, and Field Service to keep work moving efficiently.
• Maintain clear communication regarding specifications, open items, deadlines, changes, and customer expectations.
• Track project costs, schedules, materials, and internal resources to identify potential issues before they affect delivery.
• Work with suppliers and purchasing teams to obtain specialized components and externally sourced equipment.
• Manage customer review cycles for drawings and other engineering documentation, securing approvals required before fabrication.
• Organize testing, inspections, documentation, and quality activities throughout the build process.
• Work closely with Field Service during equipment installation, startup, troubleshooting, and commissioning at customer locations.
• Investigate technical, scheduling, and execution challenges and drive them toward resolution.
• Keep customers and internal stakeholders informed of progress, changes, risks, and required decisions.
• Look for practical ways to improve how engineering and manufacturing teams plan, communicate, and execute work.
• Contribute to standardization efforts, project-management practices, and continuous-improvement initiatives.
• Take on additional responsibilities as needed to support the engineering and operations teams.

What You Bring

We’re seeking an engineer who is comfortable balancing technical details with schedules, budgets, and relationships.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Professional experience managing engineering or technical projects in a manufacturing, machinery, automation, or capital-equipment environment.
• The ability to understand engineering requirements while also keeping production, purchasing, installation, and commercial considerations in view.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Confidence working directly with customers as well as with engineers, designers, production personnel, suppliers, and field technicians.
• A proactive approach to identifying risks, resolving issues, and keeping deliverables on track.
• The ability to move comfortably between high-level project discussions and detailed technical conversations.

Why Join Cozzini?

This role offers the opportunity to work on highly customized industrial systems and see your work progress from an initial concept through fabrication, installation, and operation at a customer's facility.

Cozzini offers a benefits package that includes:

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contribution
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) with employer contribution
• Company-paid life insurance
• Company-paid disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid holidays
• Paid time off (PTO)
• 401(k) plan

Cozzini, LLC is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EOE/M/F/Vets/Disabled) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants.

Requirements:

• Experience with food processing systems, protein processing equipment , or capital equipment manufacturing environments a major plus
• 3 to 5 years of experience in Project Engineering, Applications Engineering, Sales Engineering, or capital equipment manufacturing
• Experience managing custom equipment or industrial system projects from design through installation
• Proficiency with AutoCAD and the ability to interpret engineering drawings, layouts, and technical specifications
• Strong project management, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects, schedules, budgets, and priorities simultaneously
• Experience coordinating efforts across Engineering, Manufacturing, Purchasing, and Customer-facing teams
• Willingness to travel as needed to support customer meetings, site visits, equipment installations, and project commissioning