Lead Engineer, RM Grading & Storage Facility

Position Title: Lead Engineer, RM Grading & Storage Facility
Position Type: Regular - Full-Time
Grade: Grade 04
Requisition ID: 38950
In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and passionate about creating exceptional work experiences - together. With a customer-first mindset, we make doing business with McCain easy.
About the role .
As a Lead Engineer, RM Grading & Storage Facility you will be responsible for overseeing the design, construction, integration, and startup of a state-of-the-art potato receiving, grading and Dynamic Storage plant as part of a large greenfield project. This role combines core mechanical engineering competencies with strong expertise in logistics, warehousing, and innovation-driven automation. Yo u will work cross-functionally to lead the development of a facility that efficiently sorts, evaluates, stores, and transports raw materials using advanced digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions.
Join this exciting assignment for our Greenfield Project in Germany for a permanent contract. A relocation bonus is offered if a move is necessary.
What you'll be doing.
Project Management:

• Collaborate with subject matter experts and stakeholders to meet project deliverables.
• Coordinate with global teams to drive and track innovation progress, organize pilot testing, and ensure technology readiness to meet project timelines.
• Maintain responsibility for quality, cost, and schedule of the grading station portion of the greenfield project.

Logistics Project Lead:

• Collaborate with stakeholders to develop, implement, and integrate intelligent sorting systems and categorization of raw material.
• Implement systems that drive logistics efficiency in material storage and handling.

Warehouse Project Lead:

• Implement warehouse automation technologies, including robotics, AI-driven inventory forecasting, and smart storage systems.
• Ensure a robust and efficient storage system that meets the needs of the manufacturing facility.

Digital Technology & Artificial Intelligence Implementation & Project Lead:

• Champion the adoption of digital tools (IoT devices, cloud platforms) and AI-driven process optimization across grading, sorting, and warehousing operations.
• Evaluate, deploy, and maintain machine learning models for automated defect detection, grading accuracy, and predictive maintenance.
• Liaise with IT and data science teams to pilot new technologies, ensuring seamless integration with existing systems.

Project Team Leadership & Training:

• In partnership with digital manufacturing, lead and develop teams, focusing on upskilling teams in the use of digital tools, data systems, and AI-based platforms.
• Foster a culture of innovation, digital literacy, and continuous learning.

Quality Assurance & Compliance requirement implementation Lead :

• Monitor product quality using data-driven dashboards and automated alerts powered by artificial intelligence.
• Ensure compliance with digital data governance, cybersecurity, and industry regulations.

Process Improvement:

• Analyze operational data to identify efficiencies using advanced analytics and AI insights.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives in automation, digital workflow, and lean management.

Technical & Equipment Installation & commissioning:

• Supervise receiving station, digital grading machinery, smart conveyors, warehouse robots, and AI-enabled process controllers, potatoes multi-boxing storage, washing station & blending station.
• Coordinate maintenance requirements in collaboration with IT and engineering teams.

Reporting & Documentation:

• Deliver digital reports, AI-generated trend analyses, and operational performance summaries for leadership review.
• Maintain comprehensive records within secure digital platforms.

Operations Management Support

• Provide support in overseeing day-to-day grading station operations, ensuring compliance with quality standards and engineering parameters.
• Leverage digital track-and-trace systems and AI-powered analytics to optimize workflows, throughput, and accuracy.

What you'll need to be successful.
Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, logistics, or a related technical field.
• Direct experience in managing large capital projects, ideally with budgets exceeding €100 million.
• Proven track record in constructing and commissioning digitally enabled operations, with an emphasis on warehouse, logistics, or grading station environments.
• Strong project experience in designing and maintaining complex logistics systems is considered a significant advantage.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in driving both digital and cultural change.

Technical & Language Skills

• Excellent analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Fluency in German and English; knowledge of French or Dutch is a plus.
• Ability to present findings and recommendations at all levels.

Leadership Practices & Soft Skills

• Agile, innovative, resilient, and committed to the McCain Leadership principles.
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated stakeholder engagement.
• Experienced in team management, training, risk assessment, hazard control, and incident investigation.
• Deep understanding of regulatory compliance, digital governance, and ethical standards.

Problem-solving & Decision-making

• Ability to coordinate capability-building sessions and synthesize results and recommendations for all organizational levels.

Benefits of the role .

• Opportunity to be a part of a global iconic brand, fun and high performing team
• Opportunity to be a part of Greenfield Project in Germany
• A varied and responsible job in an effective and international team with flat hierarchies
• Competitive salary
• A relocation bonus is offered if a move is necessary
• Local benefit (Health and Pension insurance)
• Friendly atmosphere.

Our purpose is grounded in building meaningful relationships. We're big believers in the power of working together in person-it helps us stay connected, collaborate more effectively, and grow as a team. At the same time, we recognize the importance of flexibility. Most office-based roles follow a hybrid model, with the option to work remotely two days a week. There may be exceptions depending on the role and location, so we encourage you to speak with your recruiter for more details.
About McCain .
Click Here to learn more about McCain and how we provide you with opportunities to make an impact that matters.
Leadership principles .
At McCain, our leadership principles guide how we engage with customers, collaborate as a team, and achieve success. We focus on understanding customer needs, driving innovation, empowering people, and taking ownership to clear obstacles and deliver results.
The McCain experience .
We are McCain. This statement is a testament to our collective strength and our individual value. Your contributions play a vital role in our success. Our winning culture is rooted in authenticity and trust, empowering us to bring out the best in one another. Here, you'll find opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Join us and experience why we're better together.
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McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions.
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Job Family: Engineering & Technical
Division: Global Operations and Growth
Department: Engineering Project October MEHRUM
Location(s): DE - Germany : Lower Saxony : Hannover
Company: McCain GMBH