Plant Engineer

Ventura Foods · Chambersburg, PA

Level: Engineer
Team: Production
Degree: Required (or equivalent experience)
Experience asked: 10+ years
Industry: Food & beverage
Posted: Recently

The role in 30 seconds

An engineer-level production role at Ventura Foods (food & beverage) in Chambersburg, PA. Research, design, specify, purchase, and implement processing, packaging, utility, and facility equipment to improve safety, quality, reliability, efficiency, capacity, and cost performance.

They ask for: 10+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience)
Tools it names: Lean, TPM, Root cause, PLC, Automation, Welding
Day to day: some off-shift / weekend coverage

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026

Production Engineer roles in Pennsylvania: typical posted base $132k–$167k.

Median of the low and high ends of 8 live postings that list pay, out of 43 production engineer openings in Pennsylvania, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

Pennsylvania plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 42 other live production postings in Pennsylvania.

Base pay: Not listed in this posting
Experience asked: More than usual (10+ vs 7+)

Skills these teams ask for most

✓ Lean 51%
Team leadership 47%
EHS / safety 33%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

Stands out: this posting asks for TPM, PLC, Welding, AutoCAD, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.

It asks for 10+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Off-shift / weekend coveragePromotion path mentioned

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 Production team at Ventura Foods
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?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- 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: Ventura Foods in Chambersburg

3 other open roles at this site.

Lead Maintenance Technician · Reliability · Technician
Electrical Controls Technician · Controls · Technician
Maintenance Technician · Reliability · Technician

Full description from Ventura FoodsAs posted on their careers site.Show

Position Summary

Maintain and improve the Plant operations making it more cost effective. Improve the Plant Facilities. Improve the equipments operation; design and install equipment, processing systems and utilities to meet customer needs. Promote future growth of the plant and the company as a whole.

Responsibilities

◆Develop, justify, and manage capital projects from concept through startup, including project scoping, budgeting, scheduling, procurement, installation, commissioning, training, and closeout.
◆Research, design, specify, purchase, and implement processing, packaging, utility, and facility equipment to improve safety, quality, reliability, efficiency, capacity, and cost performance.
◆Prepare RFEs, cost estimates, project justifications, and supporting documentation for capital investments, operational improvements, and cost-saving initiatives.
◆Coordinate contractors, vendors, consultants, and internal resources to ensure projects are completed safely, on schedule, and within approved budgets.
◆Develop and maintain engineering documentation, including process flow diagrams, P&IDs, equipment layouts, technical specifications, drawings, and project records.
◆Provide technical support and troubleshooting for mechanical, electrical, controls, processing, packaging, refrigeration, and utility systems.
◆Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Safety, Sanitation, and R&D to implement process improvements, new products, equipment upgrades, and reliability initiatives.
◆Ensure projects, equipment, and installations comply with food safety, sanitation, environmental, safety, regulatory, and company standards.
◆Support equipment commissioning, startup, operational training, and continuous improvement activities to improve plant performance and equipment reliability.
◆Manage multiple projects and priorities while maintaining project timelines and efficiently supporting daily plant operations.

Education and Experience

✓Bachelors degree in Mechanical, Electrical or Chemical Engineering or equivalent work experience (10+ years in related trade field).
✓2+ years experience with electrical and mechanical systems, power transmissions, hydraulics, pneumatics, certified refrigeration, ammonia/Freon, HVAC, PLC and VFD, welding (Arc, MIG, TIG) of all alloys including non-rerrous metals.
✓Previous experience with AutoCAD and JDE, preferred.
✓Emphasis on project management, safety, total productive maintenance, lean manufacturing, visual factory concepts. ACAD capable.
✓Effective interpersonal and collaboration Anskills.
✓Excellent written and verbal communication/presentation skills.
✓Excellent computer skills and technical documentation.

Show full description ↓

Employment Type: Salaried

Shift: First

Work Arrangement: Onsite

Knowledge and Skills

•Strong knowledge of food processing, packaging, utility systems, manufacturing operations, sanitary design, and food plant sanitation practices.
•Experience with processing and packaging equipment, including pumps, mixers, blenders, swept-surface heat exchangers, fillers, cappers, sealers, coders, conveyors, case packers, and palletizers.
•Working knowledge of mechanical and electrical systems, including PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, instrumentation, motor controls, hydraulics, pneumatics, power transmission, and industrial automation.
•Knowledge of industrial refrigeration systems, including ammonia and Freon, Process Safety Management (PSM), boilers, HVAC, compressed air, steam, water, wastewater, and related plant utilities.
•Knowledge of Clean-in-Place (CIP) systems, sanitary equipment design, GMPs, HACCP principles, allergen controls, food safety requirements, and plant sanitation programs.
•Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, maintain schedules, prioritize workloads, coordinate resources, and meet deadlines.
•Experience developing project scopes, budgets, cost estimates, RFEs, and financial justifications, with the ability to monitor project spending and control costs.
•Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify root causes and implement effective, sustainable solutions.
•Effective written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Safety, Sanitation, R&D, contractors, vendors, suppliers, and all levels of the organization.
•Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, P&IDs, electrical schematics, equipment manuals, and technical specifications; proficiency with Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, and project management tools.

Why Join Us

Ventura Foods innovates and manufactures food solutions for foodservice and retail businesses. We make exclusive products for the world's most iconic restaurants and retailers, we provide ready-to-go product solutions for professional kitchens, and we make consumer brands everyone knows and loves. When you work for Ventura Foods, you get a strong foundation of training, a manager who cares about you and celebrates your success, a safe environment, and challenging work. As part of our team, your future is limited only by how much you’re willing to push yourself to get there. We invest in your growth because you invest in ours.

Ventura Foods offers career growth opportunities as well as competitive compensation and benefits:

•Medical, Prescription, Dental, & Vision – coverage beginning on your 1st day for eligible employees
•Profit Sharing and 401(k) matching (after eligible criteria is met)
•Paid Vacation, Sick Time, and Holidays
•Employee Appreciation Events and Employee Assistance Programs

Physical Demands

All jobs require sufficient physical strength and dexterity to perform the required task(s) and typically also require at a minimum: intermittent sitting, standing, walking, climbing, squatting, kneeling, pushing, and pulling. Occasional lifting and/