Engineering & Maintenance Manager
Ripple Foods
New Orleans, LA, USA
USD 120k-135k / year
Engineering & Maintenance Manager
Location: New Orleans, LA
We are seeking an Engineering & Maintenance Manager to lead both maintenance and engineering functions at a high-volume manufacturing facility in the NOLA area. This role reports directly to the Plant Manager and is a great opportunity for someone ready to expand from maintenance leadership into full engineering oversight.
About the Role
This position is responsible for driving plant performance across maintenance, engineering, and capital projects. You will play a key role in improving reliability, reducing downtime, and leading strategic initiatives that support long-term growth and operational excellence.
What You’ll Do
- Lead and manage Maintenance, Project Engineering, and Process Engineering teams
- Oversee capital projects including planning, budgeting, and execution
- Drive reliability improvements, downtime reduction, and continuous improvement initiatives
- Develop and implement preventative maintenance programs and CMMS strategies
- Partner with plant leadership to meet production, safety, quality, and cost objectives
- Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory standards
- Support long-term strategic planning including equipment upgrades and capacity expansion
- Manage departmental budgets and identify cost-saving opportunities
Team Structure
- 3 direct reports: Maintenance Team Manager, Project Engineer, Systems IT Engineer
What We’re Looking For
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering required
- 7+ years of experience in manufacturing environments (food, chemical, or similar preferred)
- Strong background in maintenance leadership; reliability engineering experience is a plus
- Experience with PLCs, robotics, and plant systems
- Knowledge of CMMS and preventative maintenance programs
- Proven leadership experience with the ability to develop and mentor teams
- Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
Leadership & Soft Skills
- Strong leadership presence with excellent communication skills
- Ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and drive alignment
- Comfortable presenting to executive leadership and leading high-level meetings
- Strategic mindset with the ability to stay hands-on on the plant floor
- Visionary leader who can drive change and build scalable processes
Compensation & Schedule
- Salary: $120,000 – $135,000+
- Schedule: Monday–Friday, typically 10-hour days
Why This Role?
This is a strong opportunity for someone who has led maintenance teams and is ready to step into broader leadership, overseeing both engineering and maintenance while driving meaningful impact across the plant.