Senior Project Engineer

Perdue Foods has a goal of becoming the most trusted name in premium proteins by creating products for consumers and for retail and foodservice customers around the globe while changing the way animals are raised for food. It is part of Perdue Farms, a fourth-generation, family-owned food and agricultural business deeply rooted in tradition yet with a forward-thinking mindset. We believe that success starts with our people, and our culture is built on a foundation of teamwork, integrity, and respect, where every voice matters and everyone is encouraged to contribute to our shared goals. We are dedicated to creating a supportive, inclusive environment where associates feel valued and inspired to make an impact, both within the company and in the communities we serve. From promoting growth and development to prioritizing work-life balance, we’re committed to helping our team members thrive. That's Perdue.

Summary

Lead transformational capital and process‑improvement projects across a fast‑paced, highly regulated food manufacturing network. As Senior Project Engineer, you will own projects from concept through design, installation, commissioning, and handoff, delivering solutions that strengthen food safety, employee safety, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance while minimizing production disruption. You’ll collaborate daily with Operations, FSQA, Maintenance, EHS, Procurement, Finance, and external contractors to translate business needs into practical, cost‑effective engineering designs and controls. This role is ideal for a results‑oriented engineer who excels at cross‑functional leadership, project execution, and driving measurable improvements in a dynamic manufacturing environment.

Principal Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead planning and execution of capital projects and major equipment installations across processing, packaging, cold storage, rendering, and support operations.
• Develop clear scopes of work, budgets, schedules, and risk‑mitigation plans that prioritize production continuity.
• Select, manage, and oversee contractors, original equipment manufacturers, integrators, and engineering partners to ensure compliance with food safety, sanitary design, and plant standards.
• Direct equipment installation, commissioning, validation, and performance verification.
• Ensure all engineering activities align with United States Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Food and Drug Administration (as applicable), Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and environmental regulatory requirements.
• Partner with Food Safety and Quality Assurance to ensure designs meet sanitation, hygienic zoning, allergen control, and biosecurity expectations.
• Integrate Good Manufacturing Practices and sanitary design principles into equipment, layouts, and construction methods.
• Support audit readiness and implement corrective actions tied to engineering systems or controls.
• Provide technical oversight on process flow, utilities including steam, refrigeration, compressed air, and wastewater, material handling, and automation systems.
• Troubleshoot and lead root‑cause analysis for equipment or process failures affecting yield, uptime, or food safety.
• Recommend and implement engineered solutions that reduce downtime and improve reliability.
• Evaluate, standardize, and deploy equipment and technologies across multiple facilities when beneficial.
• Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Food Safety and Quality Assurance, Environmental Health and Safety, Procurement, and Finance throughout the project lifecycle.
• Coordinate production trials, startups, and off‑shift installations to minimize operational impact.
• Ensure all documentation, training, and equipment handover steps are properly completed for seamless transition to plant teams.
• Serve as a technical mentor to Project Engineers and plant engineering teams, building capability across the organization.
• Promote and model consistent project‑management, documentation, and change‑management standards.
• Partner with plant and complex leadership as a trusted engineering advisor on capital planning and long‑term infrastructure strategy.

Minimum Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 7-10 + years of engineering or project‑management experience in food, poultry, meat, or other regulated manufacturing sectors.
• Demonstrated success leading capital projects within active production facilities.
• Strong understanding of food safety systems, sanitary design, and plant utilities.
• Excellent communication, problem‑solving, teamwork, and organizational skills.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Professional Engineer license or Project Management Professional certification.
• Experience within United States Department of Agriculture‑inspected poultry or meat‑processing facilities.
• Familiarity with refrigeration systems, wastewater treatment, automation and controls, and packaging systems.
• Experience supporting audits through engineering processes or documentation.

Physical Requirements and Environmental Factors

• Ability to work in cold, wet, and high‑noise production areas.
• Frequent time on the plant floor; occasional off‑shift, weekend, or emergency work as needed.
• Thirty to sixty percent travel to support projects across the enterprise.

Perdue Farms Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.