Job Location: Whitestown, Indiana — Onsite, 5 days per week (No Remote)
Travel: Up to 20%
Position Summary
The Factory Engineering Manager – Popcorn is responsible for the stewardship of the factory’s assets, ensuring their safety, productivity, and cost-effectiveness. This role leads the Engineering Team in close collaboration with the cross-functional Factory Leadership Team, corporate partners, and valued vendor and community relationships.
The Whitestown plant, and it’s sister plant in Bethlehem, PA, are part of The Hershey Company’s Salty Snacks business, manufacturing SkinnyPop popcorn. This is an exciting time of growth for the Salty Snacks business as we invest in new capacity and integrate new factory teams into the Hershey culture, leveraging our 130+ years of food manufacturing expertise.
Responsibilities
Ensure all manufacturing site assets, including process equipment and facilities, operate safely and comply with all applicable regulations.
Ensure assets are available and capable of sustaining expected production rates while meeting product quality requirements.
Lead the safety culture of the engineering team by prioritizing Safety by Design, coaching/enforcing safe practices, and delivering capital projects with Zero Recordable Injuries.
Collaborate with the Sr. Technical Assurance Manager to develop staffing strategies and training/development plans, the factory 5-year Capital Plan, and align with leadership and capital governance teams to support factory investment priorities.
Partner with the Factory Engineering & Maintenance Team to lead the full lifecycle of small and minor capital project execution.
Review all project budget requests and confirm that cash flow forecasts align with the factory budget.
Serve as the factory’s technical representative for corporate-led major capital investments.
Collaborate with Operations and Maintenance teams to identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities.
Work with R&D to recommend new manufacturing technologies.
Partner with the Factory Maintenance Manager to resolve complex maintenance and repair issues and request specialized services when needed.
Lead root cause analysis of equipment failures and recommend rebuilds or replacements.
Relationships and Contacts
Manage interactions with local, state, regional, and federal agencies.
Manage staff scheduling within the established budget.
Act as the primary liaison between Factory Engineering and Corporate Engineering.
Identify, select, and manage suitable service providers for various contracted services.
Collaborate on projects with Operations, Safety, and Quality functions.
Build relationships with Factory Engineering Managers and Subject Matter Experts across the Salty Snacks network and the broader Hershey manufacturing network.
Minimum Experience and Educational Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from an ABET‑accredited institution or international equivalent.
10+ years of experience in a food and beverage manufacturing environment.
5+ years of team leadership experience.
5+ years of project management experience, including at least 3 years using a stage‑gate process.
3+ years of experience with SAP.
Experience managing minor capital projects or workstreams within major capital projects, with budget responsibility of at least $3–5MM.
Experience managing a portfolio of small capital projects totaling $1MM+ annually.
Experience with Allen Bradley PLC controls, focusing on ControlLogix, SLC, PLC5, PanelView, and PanelView Plus.
Preferred Qualifications
PMP Certification from PMI.
EIT or PE License.
Subject Matter Expertise in Process (Bulk Receiving, Batching & Blending, Kettle Cooking).
Subject Matter Expertise in Fill & Pack (VFFS, Carton & Case Pack, Palletizing).
Subject Matter Expertise in Electrical & Automation.
Subject Matter Expertise in Maintenance & Reliability.
Subject Matter Expertise in Functional Safety.
Subject Matter Expertise in Process Wastewater Treatment Systems.
Subject Matter Expertise in Dust Hazard Management.
Subject Matter Expertise in Hygienic Air Handling Systems.
Subject Matter Expertise in Fire Protection Systems.
Physical Demands and Work Environment
Typical manufacturing environment conditions. Required to stand, walk, climb ladders, use hands and arms, speak, hear, and lift up to 50 pounds.
Primary work location is office-based, but extended time on the manufacturing floor, outdoors, or on the roof may be required, weather permitting.
Extended working hours, including nights, weekends and holidays are occasionally required to support a 24/7 manufacturing operation through shutdowns, key construction and commissioning activities, training, or extraordinary factory events.
Must observe food GMPs, including wearing hair nets, beard nets, smocks, etc.
Must wear PPE required for manufacturing or construction sites, including hearing and eye protection, hard hat, steel‑toe boots, gloves, etc.
Work environment contains multiple allergens.
About the Area
Whitestown is located in Boone County Indiana just 30 minutes northwest of downtown Indianapolis. This community of approximately 10,000 residents is undergoing a transformation, retaining its small‑town Main Street feel, while simultaneously expanding suburban housing and a separate bustling commercial and manufacturing district. A few minutes’ drive away, the northern Indianapolis suburbs of Carmel and Fishers are routinely ranked in the Top 5 nationwide for best places to raise a family due to their unique combination of affordability, low crime, outstanding schools and overall quality of life.
The Indianapolis metropolitan area is home to over 2.1 million Hoosiers and offers affordable housing, high‑quality education, diverse employment opportunities, dining, entertainment, and a convenient airport with direct flights to 18 destinations.
Education options include many top‑rated school districts, Purdue University’s Main Campus is 30 minutes away and both Purdue and Indiana University have campuses in downtown Indianapolis.
Family‑friendly attractions include the Indianapolis Zoo, Indianapolis Children’s Museum, the White River Gardens museum district and canal walk, Newfields Art Museum, as well as many other parks and botanical gardens across the region. Professional sports include the Colts, Pacers and Fever, as well as minor league teams such as the Indians baseball, Fuel hockey and Indy Eleven soccer teams, and of course, the world‑famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The city also boasts a thriving food scene and numerous music and performing arts venues.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The policy of The Hershey Company is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual’s race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other categories protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Minority/Female/Disabled/Protected Veterans.
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