Job Description

Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Holland, MI | Full-time, on-site

Lead people. Deliver capital projects. Strengthen modern manufacturing.

Since 1926, Hudsonville Ice Cream has been proudly making ice cream in Michigan. Following a recently completed $40 million expansion, our Holland operation includes modern, highly automated manufacturing systems - and we are continuing to invest in what comes next.

We are looking for a proven engineering leader with two clear priorities: lead and develop our manufacturing and controls engineering team, and manage the successful delivery of our 2027 capital plan and beyond.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Lead and develop the engineering team.

Provide day-to-day direction, clear priorities, regular coaching, and accountability for people and projects. Help engineers grow their technical capability, judgment, and leadership skills through thoughtful delegation and candid feedback. Support the hiring of an additional Manufacturing Engineer and build a team that works well together and with the rest of the plant.

Plan and deliver capital investments.

Lead execution of the 2027 capital plan and help shape future investments in complex automated equipment. Develop project scopes and business cases, coordinate engineering resources, and manage budgets, schedules, risks, vendors, and contractors through commissioning. Follow through after startup to ensure investments deliver their intended safety, quality, reliability, and operating results.

Across both priorities, you will:

• Set equipment and automation standards, including specifications, controls requirements, documentation, and an automation roadmap that supports future investment.
• Build food safety, sanitary design, reliability, and maintainability into equipment decisions with Operations, Maintenance, and Quality.
• Evaluate manufacturing capabilities for new products and process changes, and improve performance by reducing downtime, waste, and variation.

WHAT YOU BRING

Required

• Proven people leadership. At least two years directly managing engineers or related technical teams, with demonstrated success in coaching, delegation, performance management, and employee development.
• Capital planning and execution. A track record of planning and delivering investments in complex automated manufacturing equipment, from business case and equipment selection through startup and operating results.
• Technical credibility. Demonstrated controls and automation capability through prior hands-on engineering work or successful leadership of teams that program, integrate, and troubleshoot these systems. You can evaluate technical proposals and guide sound decisions; this role is not the team's primary programmer.
• An established engineering foundation. A bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering and at least six years of engineering experience in manufacturing.

Especially valuable

Food manufacturing experience, particularly dairy or ice cream processing, is preferred, not required. We welcome leaders from other complex automated manufacturing environments who meet the requirements above and are prepared to learn food and dairy manufacturing.

THE WORK ENVIRONMENT

This job splits office time with plant floor time, including cold and wet production areas that require GMP gear. It includes occasional travel to suppliers and some off-hours support during critical equipment issues.

WHY HUDSONVILLE

At Hudsonville, how we work matters as much as what we accomplish. We expect leaders to live the Hudsonville Way: Lead with Humility, Give Back, Build Into Teams, Good Enough Never Is, Focus Our Curiosity, and Play to Win. We value curiosity, constructive challenge, high standards, and succeeding together.

Our benefits include competitive pay and a bonus plan; a 401(k) with generous employer match; premium health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance starting day one; paid vacation; and wellness incentives.

We speak plainly, take pride in our work, and still think ice cream can make almost anything better. We'd love to meet you.

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