Plant Engineer

Who We Are and What We Do

Farmer Focus’s mission is to promote and protect generational family farms by shifting farm-level decision-making and chicken ownership back to farmers and empowering them to farm the way they know is best. We are committed to consistently producing 100% organic and humanely raised chicken that is better for people, the planet, and animals.  Our culture is rooted in servant leadership, and we live by our Farmer Focus CARES values: Community, Accountability, Respect, Excellence, and Stewardship.

How this Role Will Be Impactful

As the Maintenance & Engineering Project Engineer at Farmer Focus, you will lead critical projects that directly impact the efficiency and reliability of our poultry production facilities. Your work will drive improvements in equipment performance, preventive maintenance programs, and long-term engineering solutions. By overseeing key projects from conception to completion, you will ensure that our operations remain sustainable and efficient, aligning with our company’s mission of protecting the environment and producing high-quality products.

What You Bring to the Role

In this role, you will manage and execute engineering and maintenance projects, focusing on improving equipment uptime and operational effectiveness. You will develop project plans, timelines, and budgets for maintenance upgrades and new equipment installations, ensuring timely delivery while meeting safety and operational standards. Working cross-functionally with operations, maintenance, and external vendors, you will oversee all phases of project implementation, including design, procurement, execution, and post-project evaluation.

Your responsibilities will also include optimizing preventative and corrective maintenance strategies to reduce downtime and extend the life of critical assets. You will analyze equipment performance data, lead root cause analyses, and implement continuous improvement initiatives to drive operational excellence. Additionally, you will be responsible for managing multiple engineering projects simultaneously, ensuring that all maintenance and capital improvements align with both production goals and sustainability standards.

Work Requirements & Environment

• 5+ years of experience in project management within a manufacturing or food production environment.
• Proven experience managing engineering and maintenance projects, including budgeting, scheduling, and vendor coordination.
• Strong understanding of preventative maintenance programs and reliability-centered maintenance.
• Experience in troubleshooting and optimizing plant equipment, including mechanical, electrical, and refrigeration systems.
• Proficiency in project management tools, CAD software, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to manage cross-functional teams and contractors.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced production environment, with exposure to temperature variations (28°F to 100°F) and operational noise.
• Capable of performing physical tasks such as standing for long periods, climbing ladders, and working in confined spaces.
• Must comply with safety protocols and wear necessary protective equipment.
• A willingness to work within the framework of our Farmer Focus CARES values of Community, Accountability, Respect, Excellence, and Stewardship

The following help make you an even better potential candidate for the position:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering (or related field).

Work Requirements and Environment Reasonable Accommodations Statement

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Subject to odors and areas with moderate to extreme levels of noise.
• Bending, twisting, climbing, stacking, pushing and standing for long periods of time.
• Required to access the poultry production environment. Must be able to tolerate the varying heat, wet, and chill of the plant. Hearing and eye protective equipment required in the production area.
• Required to wear hair and beard nets in the production area. 
• Must be able to traverse a two-story staircase multiple times per day. Must be able to tolerate outdoor environment with varying temperatures, walking on uneven surfaces and exposure to live animals.

Farmer Focus is committed to the principles of equal employment and to complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities, and all other employment laws and regulations. It is our intent to maintain a work environment that is inclusive and equitable, free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation based upon an individual's age, race (including traits historically associated with race, which includes hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation (including transgender status, gender identity, or expression), pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), military status (including status as a uniformed servicemember, a veteran, or dependent of a servicemember), or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. Farmer Focus is dedicated to the fulfillment of this policy regarding all aspects of employment, including but not limited to recruiting, hiring, placement, transfer, training, promotion, rates of pay and other compensation, termination, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.