Foodservice Equipment Specialist

If you can answer ‘YES’ to any of these questions below, your next career move may be waiting for you at Rippe Associate’s as a Food service Equipment Specialist:

• Do you have experience in food service operations, equipment, or manufacturing and enjoy understanding how kitchens and equipment work together?
• Are you looking to use your food service knowledge in a more structured work environment with steady hours and strong benefits?
• Are you interested in taking your food service equipment experience in a new direction with opportunities to learn, grow, and build a long-term career?

At Rippe Associates, an Equipment Specialist owns the equipment portion of a project—researching and selecting equipment, developing specifications and cost estimates, and coordinating equipment needs with the project team. They combine food service knowledge, technical detail, and industry expertise to help create successful Kitchens That Work™.

• You understand food service operations and how equipment contributes to a kitchen that functions well.
• You are curious and detail-oriented, with an interest in learning about equipment, technology, and industry innovations.
• You enjoy working as part of a team and want to build your expertise and career in the food service design industry.

• Research and recommend equipment and manufacturers that best support each project's operational needs.
• Develop and maintain equipment lists, cutsheets, specification narratives, and final equipment specifications, coordinating with team members to ensure consistency across project documents.
• Research applicable codes and assist with facility and equipment assessments.
• Develop and maintain equipment cost estimates throughout the project lifecycle, including value engineering as needed.
• Review project bids against estimates and provide recommendations for bid award.

• Support projects through bidding and construction, including bidder lists, specification updates, addenda, and change documentation.
• Respond to equipment-related RFIs, review submittals, and perform and document onsite Punchlists.

• Participate in client meetings, project conference calls, and internal and external design team coordination meetings.
• Work closely with project teams to finalize equipment selections and resolve equipment-related questions throughout the project.

• Stay current on food service equipment, technologies, manufacturers, and industry trends to make informed equipment recommendations and specifications.
• Actively pursue equipment knowledge through research, manufacturer resources, training, and industry connections, and share relevant knowledge with the project team.

$60,000–$70,000 base salary, with consideration given based on experience, plus potential annual bonus and employee profit sharing based on company performance.

Exempt Position

No supervisory responsibilities; mentoring opportunities may be assigned.

Twin Cities-based hybrid position preferred; remote work may be considered for the right candidate.

Rippe Associates is a 25+ person food service design consulting firm with more than 45 years of experience designing kitchens and food service spaces across a variety of markets. We work with architects, owners, and operators across the country to create Kitchens That Work™.

• Growth at Rippe: Training and career development, both internal and external opportunities.
• Work/Life Integration: Paid time off, paid holidays, and company events.
• Retirement: Robust 401(k) and profit-sharing plan with employer contributions.
• Benefits: Health, dental, and vision plan options; employer-paid basic life, AD&D, and long-term disability insurance; and additional voluntary benefits.
• Culture: A stable, established company with long-tenured employees and a strong reputation in our industry.

More than 45 years of experience. A team that knows its craft. The personal feel and individual impact of a smaller company. At Rippe, people take pride in doing excellent work, share what they know, keep learning, and genuinely care about their coworkers, clients, and community.