Production Asset Engineer

Our client is a VC-backed nano-biotechnology start-up revolutionizing the functional ingredient space in food and beverage. As the Function House™, they develop, manufacture, and license patented smart nanocarriers (nanovesicles) that optimize the performance of functional ingredients across multiple verticals including nootropics, energy stimulants, vitamins, probiotics, and protein. Founded in 2019 with 70+ patents, they've experienced 8x sales growth in the past year and partner with small, mid-size, and large CPG companies.

What YOU get to DO in this role:
Manufacturing Scale-Up:

• Lead scale-up of operations and implement new extraction, encapsulation, and bottling lines to increase manufacturing capacity that enables sales growth in a cost-efficient manner.
• Lead procurement of new equipment required for scale-up, ensuring thorough research is conducted with multiple options evaluated across various dimensions for final decision-making.
• Track timely delivery of new equipment on a regular basis with each supplier to ensure project timelines are met.
• Prepare facility for installation of new equipment, including electrical and hardware requirements.
• Install and test new equipment purchased and ensure it meets all specifications.
• Conduct feasibility tests for scaling up production of new SKUs in partnership with R&D team; evaluate and propose if any new equipment is required to achieve scale-up.
• Support the end-to-end manufacturing process for each new product; leverage learnings from bench-top scale.

Equipment Maintenance:

• Design preventative maintenance program to reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) by reducing maintenance costs, increasing equipment availability, and optimizing equipment useful life.
• Define asset maintenance strategies through disciplined approaches such as failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) and planned maintenance analysis (PMA).
• Implement maintenance management approaches (e.g., planning and scheduling, critical path shutdown management and coordination, materials management) for productive, cost-effective maintenance
• Lead maintenance tasks of all sizes, complexity, and frequency with focus on standardizing activities, eliminating unnecessary steps, and reducing waste.
• Shape broad operations strategies such as throughput and productivity, including core elements of asset productivity improvements.
• Manage end-of-life strategies, including decommissioning assets, extending life, or investing in selected upgrades to improve performance and reliability.

Operations Support:

• Lead troubleshooting and resolution of operational issues driving downtime on equipment to minimize production disruptions.
• Provide technical expertise to plant personnel on all equipment to ensure smooth operations.
• Develop working understanding of process flow and key controls of manufacturing processes; use this knowledge to drive continuous improvement projects of throughput, yield, and conversion cost performance.

Safety & Quality:

• Ensure a healthy and safe manufacturing environment for all employees in compliance with federal and state regulations.
• Adhere to quality standards across manufacturing operations (bench-top to large scale) and support setting up systems and processes to meet those standards.
• Comply with quality standards defined in GMP SOPs.

What you NEED to SUCCEED in this role:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electro-Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering (required).
• Master's degree in Engineering (preferred).
• 3–4 years of relevant experience in maintenance and manufacturing operations.
• Food/beverage industry experience preferred.
• Intimate familiarity with engineering drawings/CAD and manufacturing tools.
• Ability to read schematics, electrical drawings, and ladder logic.
• Knowledge of electro-mechanics, electronics, circuit boards, and PLCs (nice to have).
• Expertise in operational excellence and lean, reliability processes, techniques and approaches (e.g., RCM, TPM, risk-based equipment approaches).
• Root Cause Analysis including FMEA capability.
• Experience with ISO 55000 and ISO 9000 standards (nice to have but not required).

What's in it for YOU?

• Competitive salary range of $75–$110K plus performance bonus.
• Stock options (after initial employment period) providing ownership stake in a high-growth start-up.
• Comprehensive benefits package including Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance.
• Innovative environment at the forefront of food and beverage innovation.
• IN-PERSON role at company headquarters in the Austin, TX Metropolitan Area.