Assistant Plant Engineer - Ammonia Refrigeration

Assistant Plant Engineer

Denison, Iowa
$115,000 to $140,000 per year, plus bonus

This Assistant Plant Engineer role reports to the Plant Engineer at a food manufacturing facility in Denison, Iowa, and owns maintenance and engineering operations for the plant, including capital project execution, preventive and predictive maintenance systems, and equipment reliability, with the goal of minimizing downtime and keeping production running at peak efficiency. This is a 1st shift position and may occasionally require additional hours or weekend coverage based on plant needs.

Schedule
1st shift, full-time, on-site in Denison, Iowa. May occasionally require additional hours or weekend coverage based on plant operations.

Compensation
$115,000 to $140,000 per year, based on experience, plus bonus eligibility.

What You'll Do
This role owns capital project development and post-approval management, working closely with the Plant Engineer on scheduling and execution to keep projects on time, on budget, and compliant with safety, food safety, and environmental standards. It also leads the Maintenance Department in building out preventive and predictive maintenance programs and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) practices, and in optimizing resource scheduling to reduce downtime and costs while increasing plant capacity and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

The Assistant Plant Engineer leads the maintenance team directly, delegating tasks, enforcing policies, and keeping work responsibilities clearly assigned. This person holds primary responsibility for plant safety, driving training, procedure implementation, and ongoing monitoring, and works with the Plant Engineer to build and report on maintenance KPIs, including supplier effectiveness and equipment reliability. The role also supports employee development and coaching across the maintenance team.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Engineering or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• 5+ years of related experience in a manufacturing environment
• 2+ years of experience in a leadership role, including team development and management
• PLC experience
• Ammonia refrigeration experience
• Food manufacturing background
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and CMMS systems
• Advanced technical skills in mechanical and/or electrical systems, including PLCs and instrumentation
• Experience leading resource planning and management in a large manufacturing environment
• Working knowledge of maintenance systems, including work order processes, preventive/predictive maintenance, and TPM
• Ability to use exposure monitoring equipment and interpret and communicate results
• Strong written and verbal communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Meat processing, kill floor, or harvest floor experience
• Experience implementing TPM programs in a food or beverage manufacturing environment
• Experience developing or reporting on OEE and other maintenance KPIs
• Experience managing capital projects in a regulated manufacturing environment

Compensation and Benefits

• $115,000 to $140,000 per year, based on experience
• Bonus eligibility
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Paid time off

To apply, submit your resume for consideration.