Engineering Operations Manager

Engineering Manager

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Engineering Manager is a hands-on technical leader and key partner to Operations responsible for equipment reliability, OEE improvement, and operational performance across fill-pack systems. This leader manages a team of engineers at varying career stages, owns engineering initiatives, and works cross-functionally with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Automation to solve complex operational challenges in a fast-paced, 24/7 manufacturing environment.

Chobani is in a period of significant investment and expansion. Success in this role requires a leader who gets into the technical details, develops their team, and thrives when priorities shift. Projects may evolve, timelines may accelerate, and business needs may change, requiring someone who can adapt quickly while maintaining focus on execution and results.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead and develop a team engineers, adapting coaching and management style to each engineer’s career stage
• Build a cohesive, accountable team with strong succession depth—measure success by how the team performs, not just individual output
• Delegate effectively, develop technical capabilities in junior engineers, and create space for growth through real operational challenges
• Foster a culture of ownership, continuous learning, and constructive feedback; model accountability and avoid blame-oriented behavior

Equipment Reliability & Troubleshooting

• Own equipment reliability and OEE across fill-pack systems (fillers, cappers, labelers, sealers, case packers, palletizers) and upstream equipment
• Personally engage in troubleshooting—gather the team during downtime events, lead structured root cause analysis (RCA), and drive lasting corrective actions, not just temporary fixes
• Standardize centerlines, preventive maintenance strategies, and equipment care practices across assigned production areas
• Use performance data and analytics to identify failure trends, prevent recurring downtime, and improve overall reliability

Operational Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Drive OEE improvement, waste reduction, and yield performance across fill-pack areas
• Lead Lean Manufacturing, TPM, and continuous improvement initiatives; champion SMED and changeover performance
• Prioritize and execute engineering initiatives in a fast-moving environment with changing business and production needs
• Evaluate and implement new technologies, automation solutions, processes, and best practices
• Partner closely with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Automation to solve cross-functional problems proactively—take initiative rather than wait for direction
• Support 24/7 operations by responding to critical equipment and production challenges as needed, including off-shift and weekend events
• Ensure compliance with food safety, quality, regulatory, and Chobani standards across all engineering activities

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or a related Engineering discipline

• 6+ years of engineering experience in a manufacturing environment, including direct leadership of an engineering team

• Hands-on technical depth—demonstrated personal involvement in troubleshooting, RCA, and corrective action development (not a delegator-only profile)

• Proven track record delivering operational and engineering improvement projects in a fast-paced, 24/7 manufacturing operation

• Strong understanding of equipment reliability principles, Lean Manufacturing, TPM, and continuous improvement

• Leads and develops engineers at all career stages, tailoring coaching and support to individual strengths and growth opportunities while building a highly engaged, accountable team that delivers results through collaboration, partnership, and a strong team culture.

• Comfortable making decisions under pressure when priorities shift, timelines compress, and information is incomplete

• Strong cross-functional communication skills with frontline teams, maintenance, quality, and senior leadership

• Willingness to support off-shift needs, weekend events, and critical production situations as required

• Ability to travel as needed between plant sites and vendor locations

Preferred

• Experience in food or beverage manufacturing; familiarity with fill-pack systems (fillers, cappers, labelers, case packers, palletizers) strongly preferred
• Familiarity with electronic maintenance and quality management systems