Senior Manager, Engineering

From a small family business to a multi-billion-dollar global company, Sonoco has been changing the face of products and packaging since 1899 — all while keeping the heart of “People Build Businesses” alive.

Our talented people are at the core of our growth, constantly reinventing the Sonoco wheel with brilliant solutions every year. Today we are a world leader in global packaging solutions with diversified operations in over 34 countries. We're extremely proud of our portfolio of brands, our achievements in sustainability and industrialization and the groundbreaking work accomplished by our people. 

The Senior Manager, Engineering will lead our growing and highly skilled Field and Process Engineering Team. The Engineering Team is tasked with designing, building, testing, and supporting new equipment, processes, and procedures from concept through continuous improvement. A successful candidate will be expected to support this team in identifying and integrating advanced technologies like robotics, coordinated motion, embedded safety, vision systems, automated guided vehicles and machine-learning, while maintaining a focus on advanced training and development opportunities for his team.

The Engineering Manager will work with division and plant leadership to analyze, investigate, and/or develop new business, new products, new machinery, acquisition studies, etc. This work shall be performed in a highly professional manner with minimum supervision. The Division Engineering Manager will have responsibility for budget, schedule control of major programs consisting of multiple projects, and managing Automation Team performance.

Job Description

• Works safely and promotes safety in all aspects of employment.
• Create and manage personnel development plans for direct reports that will include Engineers, Engineering Co-Ops, Automation Technicians, and Fabrication Crew.
• Oversee long-term, on-site contractor assignments and performance.
• Maintains a broad working knowledge of Sonoco’s business goals and strategies, products, processes and machinery.
• In conjunction with other experts, identifies new product and process opportunities for the corporation. Provided technical input to the analysis and participates in formulating conclusions and recommendations for significant business unit decisions. Evaluates new facilities (acquisition candidates) and new technologies.
• Coordinates with consultants, outside resources, equipment vendors, prototype lab, pilot plant, sales, production managers, quality control, research and development, accounting, marketing, information systems, and others in developing appropriate design criteria, economic analysis, cost control systems, product specifications, performance specifications, etc.
• Evaluates and selects from among alternative equipment and process systems based on information collected and analyzed in item 6 above.
• Manages major engineering programs that include multiple projects often including various disciplines. Responsible for directing construction and installation of engineering projects which may involve buildings, equipment, and utility services at  all  manufacturing sites or service centers.
• Oversees project workflow including concept development, engineering design, fabrication, assembly, testing, installation and startup from Automation Center through plant install.
• Track and manage labor and material spend against both Capital and Expense projects.
• Travels as needed to customer plants, branch plants/mills, to consult on projects, present reports and review proposals. Makes plant trips or vendor visits as required to accomplish project objectives.
• Makes cost and schedules estimates on project proposals. Develops project plan for proposed projects. Is the project leader of assigned major capital projects and is responsible for all aspects of the project management (budget and schedule control, status reporting, customer interface, performance to design objectives, etc.).
• Maintains a high skill level in product, process, and mechanical development as well as project management by means of outside reading, technical courses, etc.
• Maintains and improves advanced computer skills (word processing, spread sheets, CAD, project management, etc.).
• Maintains an engineering notebook to protect intellectual property.
• Contributes ideas for product development, process improvement, and machinery development that will improve safety or competitive advantage. Participates in division strategic planning.
• Has a good working knowledge of Sonoco procedures, Global Technology Department procedures and knows key technical people in the organization. May have an engineer or designer assigned to him for orientation and initial learned phase on the job. Helps establish performance objectives; conducts performance reviews, and maker recommendation for promotion for those supervised.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and we strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any legally protected characteristic.