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Job Title: Manufacturing Engineer

Location: Appleton, WI

Job-Type: Full-time

Job Description:

We are seeking a manufacturing engineer to join our dynamic production team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for improving manufacturing processes, driving operational efficiency, and supporting production operations with a focus on safety, quality, and continuous improvement. This hybrid role blends industrial engineering principles with hands-on manufacturing support, offering opportunities to work directly on the shop floor while contributing to long-term process enhancements.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop, evaluate, and improve manufacturing processes and methods.
• Collaborate with production, quality, and maintenance teams to troubleshoot and optimize operations.
• Design, procure, and implement tools, fixtures, and equipment for manufacturing.
• Conduct time studies, workflow analysis, and line balancing to improve productivity and efficiency.
• Implement lean manufacturing principles (5S, Kaizen, value stream mapping, etc.) to reduce waste and improve flow.
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) activities, including process validation and documentation.
• Prepare and maintain process documentation, SOPs, and work instructions.
• Track and report production metrics (cycle time, downtime, scrap, OEE).
• Participate in root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA).
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across safety, quality, and productivity.
• Assist with layout improvements, equipment integration, and workflow optimization.
• Learn and apply ERP/MES systems for production planning and tracking.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering (or related field).
• 3+ years of experience in a manufacturing or production engineering role.
• Proficiency in CAD software (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or similar).
• Strong understanding of lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Familiarity with ERP/MES systems and production scheduling.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Willingness to work directly on the shop floor and gain hands-on experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and basic data analysis tools.

The ideal candidate possesses both a high level of technical expertise and an innate passion to build. You will play a critical role in creating and refining processes in order to improve manufacturing safety, quality, and productivity.

Responsibilities

• Create and maintain work instructions and manufacturing specifications
• Identify and recommend methods for improving worker efficiency and reducing waste of materials and utilities
• Collaborate cross-functionally to facilitate production process and evaluate potential changes

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in either Industrial or Mechanical Engineering
• At least 1 - 2 years' of engineering experience
• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, Kanban and 5S

About Us:

Trilliant Food & Nutrition is a leading, vertically integrated manufacturer of premium coffees and powdered beverages, proudly headquartered in Little Chute, Wisconsin. With a legacy rooted in quality, innovation, and service, Trilliant delivers branded and private label solutions across retail, foodservice, and e-commerce channels.

Horseshoe Beverage Company, based in Neenah, WI, is a leading ready-to-drink beverage manufacturer dedicated to delivering an exceptional beverage experience. By combining industry-leading talent, cutting-edge equipment, and a vertically integrated supply chain, we drive innovation and consistently deliver the highest quality products to our customers—first and fast.

Our brand portfolio includes Victor Allen’s®, Dutch Bros® beverages and Nurri™, our better-for-you protein beverage line. We are passionate about beverages – and about building a team that’s just as energized. We invite you to explore opportunities at Trilliant or Horseshoe, to see if your talents and career aspirations may fit with our openings.

Position Overview: The Director of Co‑Manufacturing is a senior leadership role responsible for defining and executing the company’s co‑manufacturing strategy across a growing network of external manufacturing partners. This role owns the end‑to‑end governance, performance, and scalability of the co‑manufacturing network, ensuring alignment with enterprise growth objectives, brand standards, food safety requirements, and financial targets. This role is directly accountable for enabling revenue growth, protecting EBITDA, and de-risking supply through the scalable expansion and performance management of the co-manufacturing network.

The Director serves as the executive owner of all co‑manufacturing relationships, providing strategic direction, operational oversight, and cross‑functional leadership to ensure reliable supply, optimized cost structures, and continuous improvement across the network. This role partners closely with Supply Chain, Quality, Procurement, Finance, Commercial, and Executive Leadership to enable long‑term growth and capacity flexibility

Responsibilities:

Co‑Manufacturing Strategy & Network Leadership

• Define and lead the enterprise co‑manufacturing strategy, including network design, capacity planning, and long‑term partner roadmap aligned to business growth and portfolio expansion.
• Establish a scalable operating model for co‑manufacturing that supports multiple product categories, technologies, and geographic regions.
• Evaluate make‑buy decisions, capacity investments, and external manufacturing risks to support executive‑level planning and decision‑making.
• Lead the identification, qualification, and strategic selection of new co-manufacturing partners.
• Establish a clear co-manufacturing operating model, including decision rights, governance cadence, escalation paths, performance management routines, and cross-functional ways of working with Quality, Planning, Procurement and Commercial.

Partner Governance & Executive Relationships

• Own executive‑level relationships with all co‑manufacturing partners, setting expectations for performance, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Provide strategic oversight of commercial agreements, contracts, and compliance to ensure alignment with operational, financial, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead partner performance governance, including formal business reviews, escalation management, and corrective action planning.
• Serve as the primary executive escalation point for supply, quality, cost, or compliance issues within the co‑manufacturing network.

Performance, Planning & Financial Accountability

• Establish and oversee standardized KPIs and performance management frameworks across all co‑manufacturing partners, including:
• On‑Time In‑Full (OTIF)
• Schedule Attainment
• Yield / Production Loss
• Cost, throughput, and service performance
• Drive working capital optimization, cost of goods improvement, and productivity initiatives across the network.
• Own the co-manufacturing cost agenda, driving measurable improvements in COGS, tolling costs, conversion efficiency, and working capital tied to external manufacturing.
• Partner with Finance and Supply Chain to ensure accurate forecasting, capacity commitments, and financial transparency.
• Leverage ERP, planning, and analytics systems to provide enterprise‑level visibility into co‑manufacturing performance and risks.

Quality, Compliance & Risk Management

• Provide executive oversight of food safety, quality systems, and regulatory compliance across all co‑manufacturing partners.
• Ensure robust audit, qualification, and monitoring programs are in place and consistently executed.
• Lead risk identification and mitigation strategies related to supply continuity, quality, capacity, and regulatory exposure.
• Champion a culture of quality, safety, and continuous improvement across internal teams and external partners.

Organizational Leadership & Capability Building

• Build, lead, and develop the Co‑Manufacturing team, including managers, analysts, and functional support roles as the network scales.
• Establish clear roles, processes, and governance models to support effective cross‑functional collaboration.
• Drive talent development, succession planning, and organizational capability aligned with long‑term business needs.
• Act as a visible leader within Operations and Supply Chain, influencing enterprise priorities and ways of working.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Food Science, Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing, co‑manufacturing, supply chain, or operations leadership within the food & beverage industry.
• Demonstrated experience leading external manufacturing networks at scale, including strategy, governance, and financial performance.
• Deep knowledge of food safety, quality systems, and regulatory requirements (e.g., SQF, GFSI, HACCP).
• Proven ability to lead teams, influence executive stakeholders, and drive change across complex, cross‑functional environments.
• Strong commercial, analytical, and negotiation skills with experience managing large external partner portfolios.
• Willingness to travel 24-40% to support partner engagement and oversight.
• Experience supporting high-growth, multi-brand portfolios in a PE-backed or highly performance driven environment, preferred.
• Demonstrated experience building business cases for make/buy decisions, network expansion, and capital trade-offs.

Hours, Location and Pay:

We offer a competitive base pay rate and comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees. This role works at our Little Chute, WI manufacturing facility.

Physical and Mental Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, hear, use hands to type data, use a personal computer and telephone. This employee may occasionally have to operate business machines and lift and/move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required in this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Mental demands include multi-tasking, decision making, problem solving, comparing, copying, computing, compiling, analyzing, coordinating, and synthesizing data.
• Potential for exposure to chemicals, heights, loud noises, mechanical equipment, wet environments, and other potential hazards exists.

Safety Statement:

At Trilliant and Horseshoe, safety is every employee’s first responsibility. We expect all employees to adhere to all safety practices, have the moral courage to stop other individuals from performing unsafe acts, and immediately report unsafe conditions.

Disclosures:

• The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.
• Responsible for following food safety/regulatory policies and procedures, executing responsibilities as identified in standard operating procedures, and reporting food safety/regulatory concerns to the Production or Quality Manager.
• Trilliant Food & Nutrition and Horseshoe Beverage Company are Drug Free Workplaces. All applicants are subject to a drug screen and background check as a condition of employment.
• Trilliant Food and Nutrition and Horseshoe Beverage participate in the E-Verify process.
• EEO/AA including Vets and Disabled
• If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.
• Trilliant Food and Nutrition and Horseshoe Beverage are Equal Opportunity Employers.
• The principles of the OECD and UN have been taken into consideration and used as guidance in our human rights practices and procedures.

Why Join Us:

You’ll play a vital role in scaling our operations while maintaining product quality and customer satisfaction. This is a high-impact position for someone who thrives in a dynamic, fast-growing environment and enjoys working with both internal teams and external partners.

About Us:

Trilliant Food & Nutrition is a leading, vertically integrated manufacturer of premium coffees and powdered beverages, proudly headquartered in Little Chute, Wisconsin. With a legacy rooted in quality, innovation, and service, Trilliant delivers branded and private label solutions across retail, foodservice, and e-commerce channels.

Horseshoe Beverage Company, based in Neenah, WI, is a leading ready-to-drink beverage manufacturer dedicated to delivering an exceptional beverage experience. By combining industry-leading talent, cutting-edge equipment, and a vertically integrated supply chain, we drive innovation and consistently deliver the highest quality products to our customers—first and fast.

Our brand portfolio includes Victor Allen’s®, Dutch Bros® beverages and Nurri™, our better-for-you protein beverage line. We are passionate about beverages – and about building a team that’s just as energized. We invite you to explore opportunities at Trilliant or Horseshoe, to see if your talents and career aspirations may fit with our openings.

Position Overview:

Driven by a relentless pursuit of operational excellence, the Maintenance Manager in the Trilliant Food & Nutrition family will lead all reliability and maintenance initiatives to unlock the full potential of plant performance. This role is pivotal in fostering cross-functional collaboration across operations, engineering, quality, and logistics; while championing a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate will bring deep technical expertise, strategic leadership, and a passion for developing high-performing teams. This position oversees all aspects of maintenance management, including asset reliability, budget control, CMMS utilization, and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities:

Safety & Compliance Leadership

• Champion a safety-first culture across all maintenance operations
• Ensure strict adherence to safety protocols for employees and contractors
• Maintain compliance with USDA, FDA, OSHA, and EPA regulations

Cost Optimization & Asset Management

• Develop and manage the maintenance budget to optimize costs and reduce waste
• Implement cost-effective asset management strategies to extend equipment life
• Oversee maintenance inventory and vendor relationships to ensure parts availability and economic stockroom practices

Reliability & Maintenance Execution

• Maximize equipment uptime through predictive, preventative, and corrective maintenance programs
• Leverage CMMS data to plan and execute maintenance and project activities
• Coordinate major maintenance and capital projects with manufacturing and engineering teams

Data-Driven Decision Making

• Report and analyze weekly/monthly KPIs to drive proactive maintenance strategies
• Conduct reliability studies to identify CAPEX opportunities and operational improvements
• Lead root cause analysis (RCA) initiatives and share best practices across departments

Team Development & Leadership

• Mentor maintenance staff in technical skills, CMMS usage, and problem-solving methodologies
• Set and evaluate departmental goals in collaboration with plant leadership
• Manage performance, training, and development plans for all maintenance personnel

Continuous Improvement & Strategic Initiatives

• Partner with CI teams and operations leaders to implement Lean and Six Sigma improvements
• Lead change initiatives and facilitate improvement projects across the plant

Facility & Utility Oversight

• Ensure utilities (air, steam, water, nitrogen, glycol, etc.) and wastewater systems meet production demands
• Maintain facility and equipment per GMP standards to meet internal and external expectations
• Support capital planning through evaluation of facility, utility, and equipment reliability

Additional Responsibilities

• Execute duties assigned by the Director of Manufacturing to support factory operations

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Maintenance, or related technical field preferred
• Minimum 7 years in operations, maintenance, or engineering; 10+ years in managerial leadership

• Strong expertise in packaging/mechanical systems, electrical, automation/PLC, and utility systems (boiler, glycol refrigeration, wastewater)

• Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop diverse teams

• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills

• Strong CMMS experience; skilled in RCA, predictive maintenance, and continuous improvement

• Ability to manage a 24/7 continuous operation

Compensation: We offer a competitive salary that meets cost of living and a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees.This position works at our Little Chute, WI manufacturing facility.

Physical and Mental Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, hear, use hands to type data, use a personal computer and telephone. This employee may occasionally have to operate business machines and lift and/move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required in this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Mental demands include multi-tasking, decision making, problem solving, comparing, copying, computing, compiling, analyzing, coordinating, and synthesizing data.
• Potential for exposure to chemicals, heights, loud noises, mechanical equipment, wet environments, and other potential hazards exists.

Safety Statement:

At Trilliant and Horseshoe, safety is every employee’s first responsibility. We expect all employees to adhere to all safety practices, have the moral courage to stop other individuals from performing unsafe acts, and immediately report unsafe conditions.

Disclosures:

• The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.
• Responsible for following food safety/regulatory policies and procedures, executing responsibilities as identified in standard operating procedures, and reporting food safety/regulatory concerns to the Production or Quality Manager.
• Trilliant Food & Nutrition and Horseshoe Beverage Company are Drug Free Workplaces. All applicants are subject to a drug screen and background check as a condition of employment.
• Trilliant Food and Nutrition and Horseshoe Beverage participate in the E-Verify process.
• EEO/AA including Vets and Disabled
• If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.
• Trilliant Food and Nutrition and Horseshoe Beverage are Equal Opportunity Employers.
• The principles of the OECD and UN have been taken into consideration and used as guidance in our human rights practices and procedures.