Operations Engineering Manager

Summary

The Engineering Manager is a hands-on technical leader and key partner to Operations responsible for equipment reliability, OEE improvement, and operational performance across fill-pack systems. This leader manages a team of engineers at varying career stages, owns engineering initiatives, and works cross-functionally with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Automation to solve complex operational challenges in a fast-paced, 24/7 manufacturing environment.

Chobani is in a period of significant investment and expansion. Success in this role requires a leader who gets into the technical details, develops their team, and thrives when priorities shift. Projects may evolve, timelines may accelerate, and business needs may change, requiring someone who can adapt quickly while maintaining focus on execution and results.

Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead and develop a team engineers, adapting coaching and management style to each engineer’s career stage
• Build a cohesive, accountable team with strong succession depth—measure success by how the team performs, not just individual output
• Delegate effectively, develop technical capabilities in junior engineers, and create space for growth through real operational challenges
• Foster a culture of ownership, continuous learning, and constructive feedback; model accountability and avoid blame-oriented behavior

Equipment Reliability & Troubleshooting

• Own equipment reliability and OEE across fill-pack systems (fillers, cappers, labelers, sealers, case packers, palletizers) and upstream equipment
• Personally engage in troubleshooting—gather the team during downtime events, lead structured root cause analysis (RCA), and drive lasting corrective actions, not just temporary fixes
• Standardize centerlines, preventive maintenance strategies, and equipment care practices across assigned production areas
• Use performance data and analytics to identify failure trends, prevent recurring downtime, and improve overall reliability

Operational Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Drive OEE improvement, waste reduction, and yield performance across fill-pack areas
• Lead Lean Manufacturing, TPM, and continuous improvement initiatives; champion SMED and changeover performance
• Prioritize and execute engineering initiatives in a fast-moving environment with changing business and production needs
• Evaluate and implement new technologies, automation solutions, processes, and best practices
• Partner closely with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Automation to solve cross-functional problems proactively—take initiative rather than wait for direction
• Support 24/7 operations by responding to critical equipment and production challenges as needed, including off-shift and weekend events
• Ensure compliance with food safety, quality, regulatory, and Chobani standards across all engineering activities

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or a related Engineering discipline
• 6+ years of engineering experience in a manufacturing environment, including direct leadership of an engineering team
• Hands-on technical depth—demonstrated personal involvement in troubleshooting, RCA, and corrective action development (not a delegator-only profile)
• Proven track record delivering operational and engineering improvement projects in a fast-paced, 24/7 manufacturing operation
• Strong understanding of equipment reliability principles, Lean Manufacturing, TPM, and continuous improvement
• Leads and develops engineers at all career stages, tailoring coaching and support to individual strengths and growth opportunities while building a highly engaged, accountable team that delivers results through collaboration, partnership, and a strong team culture.
• Comfortable making decisions under pressure when priorities shift, timelines compress, and information is incomplete
• Strong cross-functional communication skills with frontline teams, maintenance, quality, and senior leadership
• Willingness to support off-shift needs, weekend events, and critical production situations as required
• Ability to travel as needed between plant sites and vendor locations

Preferred

• Experience in food or beverage manufacturing; familiarity with fill-pack systems (fillers, cappers, labelers, case packers, palletizers) strongly preferred
• Familiarity with electronic maintenance and quality management systems

About Us

Chobani is a food maker with a mission of making high-quality and nutritious food accessible to more people, while elevating our communities and making the world a healthier place. In short: making good food for all. In support of this mission, Chobani is a purpose-driven, people-first, food-and-wellness-focused company, and has been since its founding in 2005 by Hamdi Ulukaya, an immigrant to the U.S. The Company manufactures yogurt, oat milk, and creamers – Chobani yogurt is America's No.1 yogurt brand, made with natural ingredients without artificial preservatives. Following the 2023 acquisition of La Colombe, a leading coffee roaster with a shared commitment to quality, craftmanship and impact, the Company began selling cold-pressed espresso and lattes on tap at cafés nationwide, as well as Ready to Drink (RTD) coffee beverages at retail. In 2025, Chobani acquired Daily Harvest, a modern brand offering consumers nutritious, delicious and convenient ready-to-make meals.

Chobani uses food as a force for good in the world – putting humanity first in everything it does. The company's philanthropic efforts prioritize giving back to its communities and beyond. Chobani manufactures its products in New York, Idaho, Michigan and Australia, and its products are available throughout North America and distributed in Australia and other select markets.

For more information, please visit or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Chobani is an equal opportunity employer. Chobani will not discriminate against any applicant for employment on any basis including, but not limited to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, military and/or veteran status, marital status, predisposing genetic characteristics and genetic information, or any other classification protected by federal, state, and local laws.

The salary range for this full-time position is 130,000- 160,000.00 + bonus + equity + benefits. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

Chobani provides a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision coverage, disability insurance, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, and tuition reimbursement. To help save for the future, all employees are eligible for a 401k match of 100% on up to 5% of eligible pay. To support growing families, we provide fertility and childcare assistance, and 12 weeks of parental leave at full pay after six months of continuous employment. In addition, we provide wellness resources which include an employee assistance program, fitness discounts, a wellness reimbursement, on-site gym access (certain locations) and a monthly wellness newsletter to connect you with resources and timely information. We offer various types of paid time of including: 120 hours of paid time off, 11 holidays, and paid volunteer time off.