Senior Director, Engineering Operations

Job DescriptionJob Description

Position: Sr Director, Engineering Operations
Department: Manufacturing / operations - Engineering
Reports To: Chief Manufacturing Officer
Salary Type: Director
Location: Irwindale, CA
Salary: Exempt

Compensation:
The base salary for this position typically ranges from $180,000 to $217,000 annually. Actual compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including relevant skills, experience, job-related expertise, and geographic location. Depending on the position, target bonuses and other forms of compensation may also be offered as part of a comprehensive total rewards package, which includes a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits

Make a greater impact at Bonduelle Americas!
Bonduelle Americas is a certified B Corp inviting people to embrace a flexitarian lifestyle with an expanding portfolio of plant-rich products available in and beyond the produce aisle. We operate four facilities and employ nearly 3,000 Associates in the US.

Bonduelle Americas is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Groupe Bonduelle (BON.PA), an established global brand with more than 170 years of family heritage bringing the joy of plants to tables around the world. Globally, our ready-to-eat plant-rich food products are grown on 173,000 acres by our grower partners and marketed in nearly 100 countries. Our mission is to inspire the transition toward a plant-rich diet to contribute to people's well-being and planet health.

Join us at Bonduelle Americas for an opportunity to advance your career in a culture that places people first. As a valued member of our company, you will work in a mission-driven environment aimed at preserving the planet’s resources while providing healthy plant-based products to millions of consumers around the world.

Position Summary:
Bonduelle Americas is seeking a visionary and results-driven Senior Director of Engineering to lead and elevate our engineering function across our North American operations. This key leadership role will drive strategic direction, innovation, and execution for engineering, automation, and maintenance programs spanning three manufacturing sites. You will be responsible for managing the entire CAPEX project portfolio across all three locations, ensuring alignment with operational goals, safety standards, and financial targets.

As a critical business partner to site and operations leaders, you will oversee the development and deployment of capital projects, asset reliability, and technical solutions that support Bonduelle’s long-term vision. This position requires a bold, hands-on leader who is passionate about continuous improvement, digital transformation, and building high-performing teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Serve as a key business partner to site leadership and cross-functional leaders for all matters related to engineering, automation, and maintenance.
• Capital Project Ownership: Lead the full CAPEX cycle including budget planning, approvals, execution, and reporting. Oversee project portfolio management for all site capital investments.
• Engineering & Automation Standards: Drive standardization, scalability, and implementation of best practices across Bonduelle Americas (BA), ensuring alignment with global objectives
• Risk & Issue Management: Proactively identify, escalate, and resolve technical and operational risks with clarity, urgency, and precision.
• Innovation & Transformation: Lead the design and implementation of cutting-edge automation systems, smart manufacturing initiatives, and digital tools to optimize plant performance.
• EHS Compliance & Culture: Direct Bonduelle’s Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) programs, ensuring compliance with local and federal regulations while fostering a culture of safety and accountability.
• Talent Development: Mentor and develop a team of engineers, managers, and technical specialists. Support long-term workforce development initiatives including “Workforce of the Future” and continuous learning programs.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Collaborate with Quality, Operations, Finance, HR, and IT to drive business alignment and successful project delivery.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical field required; Master’s degree .
• 15+ years of progressive engineering leadership experience, ideally in food & beverage, CPG, or other process-driven manufacturing industries.
• At least 5 years managing managers and technical specialists in a matrixed, multi-site environment.
• Demonstrated success leading large-scale capital projects, automation initiatives, and continuous improvement programs.
• Strong understanding of EHS, OSHA (CA/Federal), and sustainability regulations.
• Proven ability to drive results while building strong cross-functional relationships and a culture of trust and accountability.

Qualifications

• Passion for engineering excellence and asset management, including reliability, performance, and sustainability.
• Strong grasp of digital manufacturing technologies, process engineering, automation, master data, and maintenance systems.
• Exceptional communication, change management, and leadership skills.
• Proven track record of delivering innovative solutions and driving organizational growth.
• Ability to manage complexity, prioritize effectively, and inspire high-performance teams.