Project Engineer, Environmental Engineer

Green Era is a leading provider of sustainable waste management solutions, specializing in the conversion of food waste into renewable energy through anaerobic digestion. We are committed to environmental stewardship and innovation, aiming to create a greener future by recycling food waste, reducing carbon emissions and promoting circular economy principles.

We are seeking a hands-on Project Engineer to bridge daily operations and capital project execution at Green Era's food waste anaerobic digester recycling facility. The Project Engineer will independently own small capital projects (under $500K), manage all vendor and OEM relationships, and provide on-site engineering support for conveyor, de-packaging, digester, and biogas systems. This role reports to the Chief Strategy Officer and works closely with the Plant Manager and maintenance team to drive continuous improvement across the facility.

• Scope, estimate, and schedule conveyor, digester, and gas system upgrades independently for projects under $500K.
• Manage the RFQ/RFP process and contractor selection from an approved vendor list.
• Lead on-site construction coordination with electrical, mechanical, and general contractors.
• Document as-built drawings and update O&M manuals upon project completion.
• Track project spend versus approved budget and report to leadership on a bi-weekly basis.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all equipment OEMs and service contractors.
• Manage preventive maintenance service contracts with electrical and mechanical contractors.
• Build and maintain an approved vendor list and spare parts inventory within the facility’s CMMS.
• Negotiate service agreements in coordination with the CSO/COO/CEO.

• Troubleshoot conveyor, de-packaging, and digester process deviations on a daily basis.
• Develop and update standard operating procedures (SOPs) for equipment changes and new system integrations.
• Lead commissioning efforts around feedstock receiving upgrades and gas upgrade modifications.
• Lead root-cause analysis for recurring equipment failures using CMMS data.
• Collaborate with the Plant Manager and maintenance team to drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop best in class operating practices for managing anaerobic digester. Ensure process variables are adequately monitored and normal conditions adhered to.

• Lead the preparation, submission, and tracking of all required permits (environmental, construction, air, water, waste handling, and zoning)
• Interface with regulatory agencies including IEPA, OSHA, EPA, and local municipalities.
• Engage with 3rd party resources to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations (e.g., air emissions, wastewater discharge, stormwater, solid waste handling).
• Maintain a master permit register with renewal deadlines, conditions, and reporting requirements.
• Manage environmental monitoring and reporting requirements (air, water, odor control, digestate handling).
• Prepare and submit compliance reports on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.
• Conduct internal audits to ensure adherence to permit conditions and SOPs.

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Chemical, or Environmental Engineering (preferred).
• 5-7 years of experience in industrial plant operations, food processing, biogas, or project engineering.
• Demonstrated experience managing capital projects (scoping, budgeting, scheduling, and contractor coordination).
• Familiarity with conveyor systems, material handling, or de-packaging equipment is strongly valued.
• Working knowledge of anaerobic digestion processes, biogas production, and wastewater…