POSITION OVERVIEW

Join our team as a Principal Manufacturing Process and Packaging Engineer, also known internally as a Principal Systems Engineer. In this pivotal role, you will lead technical initiatives aimed at optimizing and eliminating losses within the External Supply Chain (ESC) systems across North American Retail (NAR), North American Foodservice (NAF), and Pet divisions. Your mission will be to identify, develop, and implement innovative solutions that enhance performance and drive loss reduction. Collaborating deeply with the GMI External Supply Chain community and supplier leadership, you will build solid relationships that are crucial for success. Your contributions will focus on strategic productivity, capacity improvements, and fostering a culture of continuous enhancement by utilizing operational insights, advanced production techniques, and strategic capital investments. As an authority in the field, your efforts will be measured by overall business service, HMM effectiveness, support for commercialization and innovation, and the advancement of strategic productivity initiatives. You will be instrumental in spearheading capacity enhancements, loss mitigation efforts, and boosting systemic knowledge and reliability at external sites, prioritizing areas with the highest business impact. This role requires you to lead through influence within the ESC community and connect with GMI engineering resources to drive results.

While we favor candidates based in our Minneapolis Headquarters, we are open to remote applicants. This position may require you to travel up to 50% of the time, depending on your ability to foster improvements at our External Supply Chain manufacturing sites.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Deliver technical and business insights on external manufacturing systems, technologies, products, and materials.
• Utilize your expertise to enhance machine reliability, materials usage, methods, environmental considerations, and personnel systems to create robust operations.
• Champion loss elimination initiatives while bolstering system and equipment reliability through continuous improvement, problem-solving, and data analysis strategies.
• Offer early technical insights in capital project planning and development, ensuring alignment with new product designs that leverage existing resources or recommending suitable locations based on capabilities and capacities.
• Inspire and cultivate technical capabilities across ESC locations through relationship management, coaching, and training tailored to each site’s needs.
• Utilize comprehensive cost, capacity, ingredient, and material analyses to uncover opportunities for prioritization and informed decision-making.
• Collaborate to shape and enhance strategic improvement plans alongside internal teams and location partners; actively support plan execution when necessary.
• Engage effectively with all organizational levels, particularly with leaders and team members at the relevant plant locations.
• Work closely with manufacturing sites to capitalize on performance improvements and assist with cost justifications when capital investments are necessary.
• Formulate strategies for ESC locations, incorporating HMM pipelines, process enhancements, and capabilities that align with business needs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field, supplemented by relevant experience or extensive work history.
• A minimum of 13 years in system engineering, processing, packaging, or manufacturing improvement engineering roles across diverse manufacturing setups.
• Proven record of achieving performance improvements in manufacturing environments using foundational engineering principles.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% of the time.
• Recognized proficiency with capabilities in the following areas:
  • Understanding of manufacturing system theories and unit operations.
  • Expertise in data analysis and manufacturing performance metrics, including AFO usage reporting, SAP, CMT, and Optiva (GPLM).
  • Familiarity with continuous improvement methodologies like Lean, TPM, and Kaizen.
  • Skilled in loss prioritization, quantification, and elimination strategies.
  • Adept at coaching and training across various levels.
  • Knowledge of process measurement and controls for optimizing system performance (System Digitization).
  • Mechanical aptitude with a focus on reliability improvements.
  • Expert problem-solving capabilities and root cause analysis.
• Self-motivated and skilled in data mining to identify opportunities.
• Ability to inspire and deliver results through collaboration, even when not physically present.
• Guide ESC support teams in best practice sharing and strategic development initiatives.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or significant relevant experience.
• Experience in the Consumer Products Industry.
• Strong analytical skills, including statistical analysis.
• Proficiency in SAP, CMT, AFO, and Optiva (GPLM) systems.
• Demonstrated leadership experience within a manufacturing leadership team, business teamwork, and influence management.
• A collaborative approach with a strong passion for problem-solving, guiding teams through methodologies, and fostering capability building.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Please note that we are unable to consider international relocation or remote work arrangements outside of the United States.
• Applicants must possess current authorization to work in the United States without the need for work visa sponsorship.

COMPANY OVERVIEW

We are dedicated to crafting food that the world loves. But our mission goes beyond that. We foster a culture that values being a force for good, encourages ongoing learning, embraces diverse perspectives, and envisions new possibilities every day. We seek passionate individuals who are eager to contribute their best – innovators with big hearts who inspire one another and grow together. To lead the food industry, we surround ourselves with those who are hungry for what’s next.

SALARY RANGE

The salary for this position ranges from $124,200.00 to $186,400.00 annually. At General Mills, we ensure that each employee’s compensation reflects their experience, performance, and skill set relevant to their role. The noted salary range is influenced by multiple factors including education, experience, and certifications. Thus, compensation for the chosen candidate(s) may vary within the stated range. Beyond the base salary, General Mills offers a comprehensive Total Rewards package that emphasizes your overall well-being, including health benefits, retirement savings, time off programs, and additional support and perks. Benefits may differ based on role, location, union status, and other employment factors. You may also qualify for participation in an annual incentive program, dependent on individual and organizational performance.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUEST

If you require accommodations during the application or hiring process, please fill out our online accommodation request form by following this link: Accommodations Request.