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Have a seat at our table. When you join Smithfield, you become part of something special – a company that's sustainably feeding people around the world, producing good food the right way with respect for our people, animals, communities and planet. With opportunities across locations and functions, a culture grounded in our Core Four values - gratitude, communication, respect and accountability - and a strong commitment to learning, collaboration, and innovation, Smithfield offers challenging and rewarding careers where you can grow, contribute and make a real impact. Apply Now!
THE VALUE YOU’LL BRING:
The position summary states the general nature and purpose of the job. Overall accountabilities are defined in this section.
As a Senior Regional Engineering Manager, you’ll lead the development of game-changing operational strategies and drive excellence across multiple locations. You’ll provide expert technical guidance, optimize M&E processes, and tackle key challenges to elevate plant performance. By closing skill gaps, and fostering strong cross-functional relationships, you’ll empower your team to succeed.
With your extensive expertise in fresh and packaged meat manufacturing equipment and maintenance & engineering processes, you’ll be a driving force in sustaining high-performance operations. You’ll influence key decisions, lead lower-level engineers, collaborate seamlessly with peers, and ensure plant management is equipped with the right technical insights to maintain peak operational success. Your strategic vision and leadership will be the catalyst for transforming the M&E landscape and driving consistent improvement.
The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. May perform other duties as assigned.
- Leadership & Performance Management You'll lead engineering team members to cover multiple plants to ensure optimal plant performance, overseeing Project Engineering teams and projects at all locations. Manage direct reports from diverse engineering disciplines (e.g., Reliability, Strategic, Automation and /or Project Engineering) to maintain excellence. Ensure priority projects and capital/expense plans are effectively managed and properly resourced. Guide and participate in equipment comparison tests, FAT’s/SAT’s, master plans, and research of new equipment opportunities. Oversee the effective execution of plant utilities and process discipline by collaborating with the Infrastructure Group.
- Strategic Oversight & Continuous Improvement Manage an Annual Capital Budget of up to $50mm, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and resource optimization. Partner with Plant Operations and Maintenance leadership to identify opportunities and implement strategies that boost operational performance. Lead the evaluation and identification of M&E process gaps across multiple plants, driving continuous improvement initiatives. Develop and maintain a culture of improvement within M&E departments, focusing on cost savings and process optimization. Lead the refinement and enhancement of the Engineering Excellence assessment process to ensure continuous evolution and relevance.
- Technical & Operational Excellence You'll also provide technical leadership, overseeing the development and implementation of production technologies and technical improvements. Ensure plant teams have the expertise and troubleshooting capabilities to effectively handle major outages and complex equipment issues. Drive clarity in engineering standards and resource scheduling, aligning performance with established processes. Develop and implement programs, policies, and practices to ensure safe, high-quality food production that meets regulatory and company standards.
- Compliance & Risk Management You will ensure compliance with Federal, State, and Local engineering codes and regulations by keeping M&E programs, policies, and procedures up-to-date. Lead and execute cross-functional teams to resolve quality issues and transfer knowledge across the organization, maintaining high standards for Quality, Food Safety, and Safety Systems.
- Employee Development & Team Leadership Lead, inspire, and develop high-performing engineering teams, providing clear direction to achieve business objectives and innovative solutions. Partner with HR to deploy leadership development opportunities, drive performance management, and build a diverse, engaged workforce. Foster a culture focused on workplace safety, open communication, empowerment, and employee recognition.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.
- Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Engineering or related field and 8+ years of relevant experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience, required.
- 2+ years of demonstrated experience in team management/development or project leadership is required.
- Ability to apply sound engineering principles to operational and design issues.
- Must possess Project Management skills; Contract Administration skills; National codes and standards interpretation skills.
- Proficient in engineering economics.
- Proficient in AutoCAD.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office suite.
- Energized by collaboration through travel to other locations. (50% of the time).
- Knowledge of engineering principles and techniques related to food processing and the meat industry.
- Previous experience in the management of multi-million dollar projects with large scopes.
- Ability to work well with others in fast paced, dynamic environment.
- Ability to be respectful, approachable and team oriented while building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, organizational planning, teamwork, analytical reasoning, and adaptability.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of their team.
- Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.
- Responsibilities include supporting the interviewing and hiring of skilled trade employees and the training of these employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
Smithfield Foods provides pay ranges that reflect its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the company reasonably expects to pay for a position at the time of hire. Individual compensation will be determined based on several factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the role, location of the position, the candidate’s qualifications and experience, internal equity, external market pay for comparable positions and budget considerations. At Smithfield Foods, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive total rewards package. Learn more about our benefits package here.
Relocation Package Available YesEEO Information
Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law.
If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757-357-1595.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
- 8+ years of relevant experience
- 2+ years of team management, team development, or project leadership experience
- Ability to apply sound engineering principles to operational and design issues
- Project management skills
- Contract administration skills
- Knowledge of national codes and standards interpretation
- Engineering economics proficiency
- AutoCAD proficiency
- Microsoft Office proficiency
- Ability to travel to other locations 50% of the time
- Knowledge of engineering principles and techniques related to food processing and the meat industry
- Experience managing multi-million-dollar projects with large scopes
- Strong written and oral communication, organizational planning, teamwork, analytical reasoning, and adaptability skills
Smithfield Foods Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Smithfield Foods and has not been reviewed or approved by Smithfield Foods.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support stands out as a strong component of the package, with a 401(k) match repeatedly characterized as competitive. This element is portrayed as a meaningful contributor to overall total rewards beyond base pay.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare offerings are described as comprehensive, including medical, dental, vision, prescription, disability, and life coverage. Insurance quality is often positioned as a notable strength relative to other parts of the employment experience.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Compensation is frequently framed as competitive for the industry, particularly for skilled trades and certain salaried roles. Overtime availability is depicted as a major lever that can materially increase take-home pay in many settings.
Smithfield Foods Insights
What We Do
Headquartered in Smithfield, Va. since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is an American food company with agricultural roots and a global reach. With more than 60,000 jobs globally, we are dedicated to producing "Good food. Responsibly®" and serve as one of the world's leading vertically integrated protein companies. We have pioneered sustainability standards for more than two decades, including our industry-leading commitments to become carbon negative in U.S. company-owned operations and reduce GHG emissions 30 percent across our entire U.S. value chain by 2030. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to our communities. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield®, Eckrich® and Nathan's Famous®, among many others.







