Senior Engineering Manager
Kerry · Rome, GA
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Base pay
- $102k–$168k
- Travel
- 50%
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 10+ years
- Industry
- Food & beverage
- Posted
- 6 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A management manufacturing role at Kerry (food & beverage) in Rome, GA. Drive packaging and process improvements across the plant network by collaborating with plant personnel.
- They ask for
- 10+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- PLC, Robotics, Automation, Painting / coating
- Base pay
- $102k–$168k
- Day to day
- about 50% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in Georgia: typical posted base $85k–$158k. This one lists $102k–$168k.
Median of the low and high ends of 16 live postings that list pay, out of 42 manufacturing engineer openings in Georgia, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Georgia plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 41 other live manufacturing postings in Georgia.
- Base pay
- About 16% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- More than usual (10+ vs 5+)
Typical $85k–$148k, from 15 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Automation 36%
- Tooling 36%
- Lean 26%
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 26%
- Root cause 24%
- ✓ Robotics 21%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for PLC, Painting / coating, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at Kerry
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- The posting says about 50% travel. Between which sites?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Kerry in Rome
3 other open roles at this site.
- Maintenance Technician - 8Hr Day shift · Reliability · Technician
- Maintenance Manager · Reliability · Manager
- Engineering & Maintenance Manager · Reliability · Manager
Full description from KerryAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
About the role
We are hiring a Senior Engineering Manager to lead packaging and process improvements, and capital projects across the Coatings and Proteins plant network.
This role will be based out of Rome, GA plant; however, other l ocations (Melrose Park IL, Evansville, IN) are possibilities, too. This is an individual contributor role and reports to the Director of Engineering & Maintenance. Travel (within USA 48 states) is expected to be 50%, to the various plants.
Key responsibilities
- ◆Drive packaging and process improvements across the plant network by collaborating with plant personnel
- ◆Lead capital projects in the realm of packaging, process and plant infrastructure improvement
Qualifications
and skills
- ✓Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, Industrial or similar) is mandatory
- ✓10+ years of progressive experience in plant engineering
- ✓Experience in multi-site engineering role preferred
- ✓Food, consumer goods or chemical manufacturing experience preferred
- ✓Able to work on factory floor for extended periods, climb multiple floors and silos when needed.
The pay range for this position is $102,400 - $168,250 in Annual Salary. Kerry typically does not hire an individual at the top or near the top of the range, as we are a pay-for-performance company, and this range is set to continue to reward performance annually while in role. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. The specific compensation offered to a candidate within the above range may be influenced by a variety of factors including skills, qualifications, experience, and internal equity. In addition, this position is also eligible to earn a performance-based incentive compensation. Kerry offers a competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, paid time off, a 401(k) plan with employee and company contribution opportunities, Employee Share Plan, Life, disability, and accident insurance, and tuition reimbursement. This job posting is anticipated to expire on 1/30/2027.
Ready to make an impact? Apply today and help us deliver better food for a better world.
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About Kerry
Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.
Technical Competencies
- •Deep technical skills and hands-on experience with troubleshooting and installing packaging equipment - 25-50lb bagging, heat sealing, conveying and palletizing (conventional and robotic arm)
- •Experience with powder handling processes and equipment - silos, pneumatic conveying, mixing, dust collection
- •Basic project management skills with experience leading $100K-$1M capital projects – scope development, budget management, schedule and risk mitigation
- •Basic knowledge of plant automation, such as PLCs, robotics, IT/OT
- •Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
- •Basic knowledge of AI (Copilot, Claude, Gemini, etc.) is a bonus
Behavioral Competencies
- •Result-oriented and ability to clearly understand & articulate what it takes to deliver successful outcomes
- •Attention to detail
- •Ability to follow-up promptly and successfully execute plans
- •Excellent interpersonal and communications skills, ability to influence (up, down, sideways)
- •Able to coach and mentor plant personnel
- •Able to work autonomously across multiple sites and stakeholders