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Salary: USD 130,000 - 160,000 / annual
Chobani is seeking an Operations Engineering Manager to lead a team of engineers and drive equipment reliability, OEE improvement, and operational performance across fill-pack systems in a 24/7 manufacturing environment. This is a hands-on technical leadership role where you will manage engineers at varying career stages, own engineering initiatives, and work cross-functionally with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Automation teams.
Key Responsibilities:
Team Leadership & Development: Lead and develop a team of engineers, adapting your coaching and management style to each person's career stage. Build a cohesive, accountable team with strong succession depth. Delegate effectively, develop technical capabilities in junior engineers, and foster a culture of ownership, continuous learning, and constructive feedback.
Equipment Reliability & Troubleshooting: Own equipment reliability and OEE across fill-pack systems (fillers, cappers, labelers, sealers, case packers, palletizers) and upstream equipment. Personally engage in troubleshooting during downtime events, lead structured root cause analysis (RCA), and drive lasting corrective actions. Standardize centerlines, preventive maintenance strategies, and equipment care practices. Use performance data to identify failure trends and prevent recurring downtime.
Operational Performance & Continuous Improvement: Drive OEE improvement, waste reduction, and yield performance. Lead Lean Manufacturing, TPM, and continuous improvement initiatives; champion SMED and changeover performance. Evaluate and implement new technologies, automation solutions, and best practices. Partner closely with cross-functional teams to solve problems proactively. Support 24/7 operations by responding to critical equipment and production challenges, including off-shift and weekend events. Ensure compliance with food safety, quality, and regulatory standards.
Chobani is in a period of significant investment and expansion. Success requires a leader who gets into technical details, develops their team, and thrives when priorities shift. The company manufactures yogurt, oat milk, creamers, and ready-to-make meals, with facilities in New York, Idaho, Michigan, and Australia.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or related Engineering discipline
- 6+ years of engineering experience in a manufacturing environment, including direct leadership of an engineering team
- Hands-on technical depth with demonstrated personal involvement in troubleshooting, RCA, and corrective action development
- Proven track record delivering operational and engineering improvement projects in a fast-paced, 24/7 manufacturing operation
- Strong understanding of equipment reliability principles, Lean Manufacturing, TPM, and continuous improvement
- Ability to lead and develop engineers at all career stages, building a highly engaged, accountable team
- Comfortable making decisions under pressure when priorities shift, timelines compress, and information is incomplete
- Strong cross-functional communication skills with frontline teams, maintenance, quality, and senior leadership
- Willingness to support off-shift needs, weekend events, and critical production situations
- Ability to travel as needed between plant sites and vendor locations
Preferred:
- Experience in food or beverage manufacturing
- Familiarity with fill-pack systems (fillers, cappers, labelers, case packers, palletizers)
- Familiarity with electronic maintenance and quality management systems
