Consumer Connection, Inc.
Director of Engineering
Consumer Connection, Inc., Bakersfield, California, United States, 93399
Position Overview
Our high-growth CPG client is seeking an innovative and results-driven Director of Engineering to lead manufacturing engineering within a modern food and beverage production environment. This role oversees engineering and maintenance functions and is accountable for delivering reliable, efficient, and high-performing production operations. The ideal candidate combines strategic thinking with a hands-on approach, brings deep expertise in food processing, and excels in fast-moving, growth-oriented settings. Key Responsibilities
Operational & Process Excellence
Ensure manufacturing processes consistently achieve exceptional product quality, safety, and operational efficiency Partner closely with production leadership to support complex food manufacturing operations, including ingredient handling, mixing and reconstitution, thermal processing, in-process quality controls, CIP systems, and related engineering systems Lead the design, optimization, and continuous enhancement of manufacturing systems to meet performance, regulatory, and quality requirements Develop, maintain, and improve engineering documentation and standard operating procedures to ensure scalability and repeatability Capital & Strategic Planning
Define annual capital upgrade strategies aligned with capacity, risk mitigation, innovation, and business priorities Build and manage multi-year (3–5 year) capital investment plans Oversee execution of capital projects to ensure safety, quality, schedule, and budget targets are met Provide hands-on leadership in identifying, analyzing, and resolving process and equipment issues, with a strong focus on safety, quality, and compliance Develop engineering leaders to deliver the same level of hands-on problem-solving to frontline teams Serve as a primary escalation point for critical production or quality incidents Communicate issues, root causes, and corrective actions clearly to stakeholders Drive process improvements using data collection, analytics, and performance trending Apply structured root-cause analysis to eliminate recurring issues and improve reliability Utilities Oversight
Define and manage facility utility requirements and preventative maintenance strategies Resolve utility-related issues impacting production Ensure compliance with applicable regulations related to utilities, wastewater, potable water, air quality, and building systems Engineering Project Leadership
Lead the design and implementation of new manufacturing and utility systems from concept through commissioning Manage cross-functional teams to deliver complex engineering projects on time and within budget Partner with product development to integrate manufacturability, quality, and efficiency into product design and commercialization Perform additional duties as required Qualifications
10–15 years of progressive experience in food manufacturing and processing, with strong hands‑on exposure to aseptic beverage or thermal processing environments Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or a related engineering discipline (Food Technology preferred) Strong expertise in sanitary design, CIP systems, and food equipment standards Experience with ammonia refrigeration or chiller systems Working knowledge of PLC‑based control systems, including the ability to read and interpret logic Demonstrated commitment to world‑class manufacturing performance and process innovation Creative mindset for developing and implementing novel food processing solutions Proven leadership in fast‑paced environments, including complex troubleshooting and concurrent projects Experience leading cross‑functional engineering teams Strong track record managing engineering budgets, schedules, and capital projects Preferred Qualifications
Experience with beverage sterilization technologies Knowledge of microbiological testing and analytical methods Advanced experience with PLC systems and industrial automation Seniority Level
Director Employment Type
Full‑time Job Function
Engineering and Manufacturing Industries
Food and Beverage Manufacturing, Food and Beverage Services, Wholesale Food and Beverage
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Our high-growth CPG client is seeking an innovative and results-driven Director of Engineering to lead manufacturing engineering within a modern food and beverage production environment. This role oversees engineering and maintenance functions and is accountable for delivering reliable, efficient, and high-performing production operations. The ideal candidate combines strategic thinking with a hands-on approach, brings deep expertise in food processing, and excels in fast-moving, growth-oriented settings. Key Responsibilities
Operational & Process Excellence
Ensure manufacturing processes consistently achieve exceptional product quality, safety, and operational efficiency Partner closely with production leadership to support complex food manufacturing operations, including ingredient handling, mixing and reconstitution, thermal processing, in-process quality controls, CIP systems, and related engineering systems Lead the design, optimization, and continuous enhancement of manufacturing systems to meet performance, regulatory, and quality requirements Develop, maintain, and improve engineering documentation and standard operating procedures to ensure scalability and repeatability Capital & Strategic Planning
Define annual capital upgrade strategies aligned with capacity, risk mitigation, innovation, and business priorities Build and manage multi-year (3–5 year) capital investment plans Oversee execution of capital projects to ensure safety, quality, schedule, and budget targets are met Provide hands-on leadership in identifying, analyzing, and resolving process and equipment issues, with a strong focus on safety, quality, and compliance Develop engineering leaders to deliver the same level of hands-on problem-solving to frontline teams Serve as a primary escalation point for critical production or quality incidents Communicate issues, root causes, and corrective actions clearly to stakeholders Drive process improvements using data collection, analytics, and performance trending Apply structured root-cause analysis to eliminate recurring issues and improve reliability Utilities Oversight
Define and manage facility utility requirements and preventative maintenance strategies Resolve utility-related issues impacting production Ensure compliance with applicable regulations related to utilities, wastewater, potable water, air quality, and building systems Engineering Project Leadership
Lead the design and implementation of new manufacturing and utility systems from concept through commissioning Manage cross-functional teams to deliver complex engineering projects on time and within budget Partner with product development to integrate manufacturability, quality, and efficiency into product design and commercialization Perform additional duties as required Qualifications
10–15 years of progressive experience in food manufacturing and processing, with strong hands‑on exposure to aseptic beverage or thermal processing environments Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or a related engineering discipline (Food Technology preferred) Strong expertise in sanitary design, CIP systems, and food equipment standards Experience with ammonia refrigeration or chiller systems Working knowledge of PLC‑based control systems, including the ability to read and interpret logic Demonstrated commitment to world‑class manufacturing performance and process innovation Creative mindset for developing and implementing novel food processing solutions Proven leadership in fast‑paced environments, including complex troubleshooting and concurrent projects Experience leading cross‑functional engineering teams Strong track record managing engineering budgets, schedules, and capital projects Preferred Qualifications
Experience with beverage sterilization technologies Knowledge of microbiological testing and analytical methods Advanced experience with PLC systems and industrial automation Seniority Level
Director Employment Type
Full‑time Job Function
Engineering and Manufacturing Industries
Food and Beverage Manufacturing, Food and Beverage Services, Wholesale Food and Beverage
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