Assistant Plant Engineer

Location: Denison, Iowa

Salary: $115K to $140K plus bonus

As the Assistant Plant Engineer, reporting to the Plant Engineer, you will take charge of managing the maintenance and engineering operations within the plant, keeping the building and equipment in top condition. Your work will minimize mechanical downtime and keep production lines running at peak efficiency. This is a hands‑on leadership role built for an experienced engineering professional who thrives in a fast‑paced food manufacturing environment and wants to make a measurable impact.

• Own capital project development and post‑approval management, delivering projects on time, on budget, and with minimal disruption to plant operations.
• Collaborate closely with the Plant Engineer to manage project scheduling and execution, making sure all projects meet safety, food safety, and environmental standards.
• Lead the Maintenance Department in developing and implementing advanced systems aligned with High‑Performing Manufacturing Organizations, including Preventive and Predictive Maintenance, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), and more.
• Optimize resource scheduling to maximize work output while reducing downtime and costs, boosting plant capacity, decreasing unscheduled downtime, and increasing plant efficiency.
• Lead the maintenance team by delegating tasks, enforcing policies, and assigning clear work responsibilities.
• Serve as the champion of plant safety, driving and enforcing safety standards through training, procedure implementation, and continuous monitoring.
• Partner with the Plant Engineer to develop and maintain Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that track and report maintenance performance, including supplier effectiveness, equipment reliability, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Foster a positive employee experience through leadership, employee development, and coaching.

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Engineering or a related field, plus 5 or more years of related experience in a manufacturing environment, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Required.
• 2 or more years of experience in a leadership position, including team development and management. Required.
• PLC and ammonia refrigeration experience. Must have.
• Food manufacturing background required. Meat or kill floor/harvest floor experience is a plus.
• Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and CMMS systems.
• Advanced technical skills in the mechanical and/or electrical fields (for example, PLCs, instrumentation, and mechanical systems).
• Ability to lead resource planning and management efforts in a large manufacturing environment.
• Thorough knowledge of maintenance systems, work order processes, preventive and predictive maintenance, TPM, and related practices.
• Ability to use exposure monitoring equipment and to interpret and communicate results.
• Ability to communicate and express ideas clearly and concisely, in both written and oral formats.
• Strong critical thinking and problem‑solving skills.
• Strong interpersonal, technical, and presentation skills required.