Project Engineer

Location: Whitestown, Indiana - Onsite, 5 days per week (No Remote)

Position Summary

The Project Engineer is responsible for the development and safe execution of assigned capital projects for the factory. This role is a member of the factory engineering team and works in close collaboration with the cross-functional Factory Leadership Team, corporate partners, and valued vendor and community relationships.

The Whitestown plant is part of The Hershey Company's Salty Snacks business, manufacturing Ready-to-Eat popcorn for the Skinny Pop brand. This is an exciting time of growth for the Salty Snacks business as we invest in new capacity and integrate new factory teams into the Hershey culture, leveraging our 130+ years of food manufacturing expertise.

The Project Engineer will report to the Sr. Technical Assurance Manager for the Indiana Hub. This position will collaborate with the Engineering team across Indiana and Kansas Hubs, as well as the broader Hershey manufacturing network, playing a key role in developing our manufacturing capabilities.

Responsibilities:

• Improve the safety of the site by participating in risk assessments and Quality audits to identify opportunities and lead the implementation of corrective actions to bring facility and manufacturing systems into alignment with The Hershey Company standards and into compliance with local, state and federal regulations.
• Collaborate with Maintenance, Operations and the site CI Team to identify and act upon engineering action items for continuous improvement opportunities.
• Lead the development and safe execution of all assigned capital projects, including:
  
  
  
  • Collaborate with internal factory and corporate stakeholders to develop the project KPIs and scope.
  • Collaborate with internal and external design resources, equipment vendors, and contractors to develop project budgets and timelines.
  • Develop and present all project documentation for Capital Governance approval.
  • Execute projects while controlling scope, schedule, budget and risk to achieve project objectives.
  • Ensures project design and execution activities align with The Hershey Company standards, processes, and policies, including capital administration tasks.
  • Complete the final documentation and Close Out process.
  
  
  
  
• Maintain the site's intellectual property by updating engineering documentation throughout the course of all project and continuous improvement initiatives, as well as identify and close gaps in existing documentation.
• Collaborate with the Technical Assurance Manager to:
  
  
  
  • Develop the site master plan.
  • Develop and implement the site capital plan.
  • Identify opportunities to mentor and develop site resources.
  
  
  
  

Relationships and Contacts:

• Participate in interactions with local, state, regional, and federal agencies.
• Collaborate with the Maintenance Team.
• Identify, select, and manage suitable service providers for various projects.
• Collaborate on projects with Operations, Safety, and Quality functions.
• Build relationships with Subject Matter Experts across the Salty Snacks network and the broader Hershey manufacturing network.

Minimum Experience and Educational Requirements:

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering from an ABET accredited school or an international institute with equivalent accreditation.

• 4 years of experience in a manufacturing environment
• 2 years of experience on project teams

Preferred Qualifications:

• EIT or PE License
• CAPM or PMP Certification from PMI
• 2 years of experience in the Food and Beverage or the CPG industry
• Subject Matter experience in one or more primary domains:
  
  
  
  • Process (Bulk Receiving, Batching & Mixing, Baking)
  • Fill & Pack (VFFS, Carton & Case Pack, Palletizing)
  • Electrical & Automation
  • Maintenance & Reliability
  
  
  
  

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• Typical manufacturing environment conditions. Required to stand, walk, climb ladders, use hands and arms, speak, hear, and lift up to 50 pounds.
• Primary work location is office-based, but extended time on the manufacturing floor, outdoors, or on the roof may be required, weather permitting.
• Extended working hours, including nights, weekends and holidays are occasionally required to support a 24/7 manufacturing operation through shutdowns, key construction and commissioning activities, training, or extraordinary factory events.
• Must observe food GMPs, including wearing hair nets, beard nets, smocks, etc.
• Must wear PPE required for manufacturing or construction sites, including hearing and eye protection, hard hat, steel-toe boots, gloves, etc.
• Work environment contains multiple allergens.

About the Area:

Whitestown is located in Boone, County Indiana just 30 minutes northwest of downtown Indianapolis. This community of approximately 10,000 residents is undergoing a transformation, retaining its small-town Main Street feel, while simultaneous expanding suburban housing and a separate bustling commercial and manufacturing district. A few minutes' drive away, the northern Indianapolis suburbs of Carmel and Fishers are routinely ranked in the Top 5 nationwide for best places to raise a family due to their unique combination of affordability, low crime, outstanding schools and overall quality of life.

The Indianapolis metropolitan area is home to over 2.1million Hoosiers and offers affordable housing, high-quality education, diverse employment opportunities, dining, entertainment, and a convenient airport with direct flights to 18 destinations.

Education options include many top-rated school districts, Purdue University's Main Campus is 30 minutes away and both Purdue and Indiana University have campuses in downtown Indianapolis

Family-friendly attractions include the Indianapolis Zoo, Indianapolis Children's Museum, the White River Gardens museum district and canal walk, Newfields Art Museum, as well as many other parks and botanical gardens across the region. Professional sports include the Colts, Pacers and Fever, as well as minor league teams such as the Indians baseball, Fuel hockey and Indy Eleven soccer teams, and of course, the world-famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The city also boasts a thriving food scene and numerous music and performing arts venues. Chicago and Louisville are both less than two and a half hours away.

Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the numerous lakes and reservoirs of Central Indiana, outstanding golf courses, as well as the short drive to the hills of southern Indiana for hiking, biking and camping opportunities starting with Brown County, Indiana.

Whether you prefer a peaceful setting away from city noise or want to be close to urban amenities, Whitestown offers a balanced lifestyle to suit your needs.

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