Mechanical Engineer

*Overview* The Mechanical Engineer will play a vital role in supporting the company’s operations and growth by managing production equipment, minimizing downtime, and driving strategic projects. This is a hands-on position requiring a strong presence on the production floor during active operations to quickly address issues and maintain peak equipment performance. The role will also include carrying out assignments from the Executive Director and COO, providing timely follow-up and clear communication upon completion. Initial Training: * Learn and follow policies and procedures of EPD, Inc. * Some travel may be necessary at the request of the Executive Director or COO. * Learn to carefully review, interpret and understand SDS/MSDS * Responsible for satisfactorily completing Good Manufacturing Practices training annually and/or when needed. Note: Any work performed on Food Grade Equipment, or equipment that might affect the quality of products, or equipment that might affect personnel safety, must be thought out carefully before work commences. Assume a written SOP is required. Agreement from Quality and the Executive Director is absolutely required before the equipment is put back into service. This is a critical step. The Quality Manager , COO and the Executive Director will determine if and when the equipment is ready to be returned to operations. Food Grade equipment must be cleaned, inspected and VERIFICATION tested via ATP swab before returning to operations. * Electrical hot work is not to be performed or permitted. * Learn and follow current and future regulatory requirements (For example, including but not limited to 21 CFR parts 110, 111 and 117). * Identify process deficiencies & efficiencies. Develop solutions to improve deficiencies with the approval of the Executive Director (ED). Be creative about ways to capitalize on efficiencies. Project Work: * Submit a scope of work for each project that includes budgetary numbers and goal of project. * Develop project drawings and review drawings with Executive Director and COO. * Perform initial and ongoing design reviews. * Job Costing for potential new jobs/projects. * Within the first six – twelve months, take on and complete a minimum of one major project. Daily Operations: * Take an active role in all production runs. Be present and involved full-time on the production lines. Learn the total job from the inside out. Until you are fully trained and intimately familiar with the production equipment, work closely with the Executive Director before making changes to the equipment or settings. * Directing and assisting the packaging crew leaders and machine operators in daily activities of the packaging operations after achieving intimate knowledge of each job. * Take a leadership role in all Audits. Strive for perfect scores on all audits. Realize that auditors, the FDA and others can visit us unannounced. EPD, Inc. must be audit-ready at all times. Not only must the facility be kept clean, but documentation must be correct and in order. Take a leadership role in the audit readiness process. * Interface directly with EPD’s customers and suppliers related to packaging operations. * Conducting monthly safety training and implementing EPD’s safety rules, policies, and procedures. * Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) for all packaging operations in conjunction with ED, CFO, Quality and others familiar with the job. * Maintain current Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for all materials handled at EPD. * Oversight for the maintenance of all equipment and vehicles used in EPD operations to ensure that the highest standards of safety and quality are met in the production and delivery of goods and services. * Develop a “Team Concept” within EPD where input from employees is encouraged and a sense of “ownership” in EPD processes is instilled, making the employees more accountable for EPD success. * Fire alarm responsibilities, especially after hours. Respond to fire alarms. * Ensure any spare part(s) that is/are removed from inventory is ordered and replaced in the correct bin location. Initially, work closely with the Executive Director in this endeavor. * Attend all meetings which you are invited to attend. E.g. staff meetings, project meetings, others as requested. * Lead all weather-related or emergency plant shut-down procedures. * After-hour call out – when the plant is running extended hour shifts or multiple shifts, the plant engineer is expected to respond to telephone calls and to return to the plant if needed, to ensure the production lines stay running or to respond to other needs. Shutting the production lines down is not an option unless there are no other choices (such as a catastrophic failure that cannot be addressed after hours) *Qualifications* * Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field is required. * Experience in maintenance or plant engineering, preferably in a packaging or manufacturing setting. * Previous experience with AutoCAD or coding is preferred. * Strong organizational, budgeting, and team management skills. * Familiarity with safety and regulatory standards, with a proven ability to lead successful audits. Job Type: Full-time Pay: $74,741.47 - $95,000.00 per year Benefits: * Dental insurance * Employee assistance program * Health insurance * Retirement plan * Vision insurance Application Question(s): * Do you have hands-on experience working directly on production or industrial equipment (not just design or oversight)? If yes, please describe your experience and types of equipment you've worked on. * Have you worked with Allen Bradley PLCs or similar automation/control systems? * Describe a time when you troubleshot an equipment failure. What was the issue? How did you identify the root cause? What was the outcome? * Provide an example of how you improved the efficiency, reliability, or performance of a piece of equipment or process. (Briefly explain what you did and what measurable improvement resulted.) * This position requires hands-on maintenance and mechanical improvements on equipment. Do you feel confident in your ability to maintain and improve mechanical systems independently? Please explain your comfort level and experience with mechanical repair, troubleshooting, and preventive maintenance. Work Location: In person