Plant Engineer

CKS Packaging is seeking an experienced Plant Engineer to join our plant in Naugatuck, CT. The Plant Engineer will be responsible for improving the reliability, efficiency, safety, and performance of plant equipment, production processes, utilities, and infrastructure.

This position will work closely with Plant Management, Production, Maintenance, Quality, and Process Technicians to troubleshoot technical issues, improve equipment performance, support capital projects, reduce downtime and scrap, and implement continuous improvement initiatives.

The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on manufacturing engineering experience and a solid understanding of plastic blow molding equipment, automation, electrical systems, hydraulics, pneumatics, PLCs, compressed air, chillers, and industrial utilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide engineering support for daily manufacturing operations
• Troubleshoot equipment, process, and production issues and develop long-term corrective actions
• Identify opportunities to improve equipment reliability, production efficiency, safety, and operating costs
• Evaluate plant equipment and recommend upgrades, modifications, or replacement
• Support installation, startup, commissioning, and qualification of new equipment
• Maintain plant engineering documentation, equipment specifications, drawings, and operating standards
• Develop and maintain equipment and process improvement plans
• Support and optimize blow molding processes
• Work with Process Technicians and Maintenance to improve machine performance and reduce downtime
• Troubleshoot blow molding equipment, molds, auxiliaries, and material-handling systems
• Analyze cycle times, scrap, downtime, throughput, and OEE
• Assist with process optimization and establishing standard operating parameters
• Identify opportunities to improve machine speeds, cycle times, material usage, and product consistency
• Support new mold, tooling, equipment, and product trials
• Help establish and maintain standard operating procedures and process documentation
• Troubleshoot and support PLC, HMI, and industrial control systems.
• Assist Maintenance with electrical, controls, instrumentation, and automation issues.
• Review machine controls and recommend improvements or upgrades
• Work with Maintenance and outside vendors on controls and automation projects
• Support integration of new automation and production technologies
• Partner with Maintenance to improve equipment reliability and reduce unplanned downtime
• Identify chronic equipment failures and lead root-cause analysis
• Develop and improve preventive and predictive maintenance strategies
• Assist with critical spare parts identification and equipment documentation
• Support reliability initiatives involving motors, drives, pumps, hydraulics, pneumatics, electrical systems, compressors, chillers, and auxiliary equipment
• Provide engineering support for plant utilities and infrastructure: Compressed air systems, chilled water systems, electrical systems, water systems, HVAC, material handling systems, auxiliary equipment
• Assist with facility improvement and expansion projects.
• Lead or support capital improvement projects from concept through installation and startup
• Develop project scopes, budgets, schedules, and equipment specifications
• Coordinate contractors, vendors, and internal departments
• Support equipment commissioning and employee training following project completion
• Lead and participate in Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, 5S, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Use data and root-cause analysis to identify opportunities for improvement
• Reduce scrap, downtime, labor costs, energy consumption, and production bottlenecks
• Develop and implement SOPs

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field preferred
• 3–5+ years of engineering experience in a manufacturing environment
• Plastic manufacturing or blow molding experience strongly preferred
• Strong mechanical and electrical troubleshooting skills
• Working knowledge of PLCs, HMIs, electrical controls, hydraulics, pneumatics, motors and drives, automation systems, chillers and compressors
• Experience with capital projects and equipment installations
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and equipment reliability