Senior Project Engineer

Job Description

Are You Ready to Make It Happen at Mondelēz International?

Join our Mission to Lead the Future of Snacking. Make It With Pride.

You plan, develop and execute capital projects by supporting technical developments, feasibility perspectives of engineering-related activities in supply chain and capital expense project execution to support growth, world-class manufacturing and productivity with the highest levels of quality, safety and environmental requirements. You will follow Mondelēz business and innovation processes in project management and ensure that Mondelēz standards are adhered to.

How you will contribute

To ensure that accurate budgets, plans and fit-for-purpose technical solutions are delivered, you will work with key stakeholders to define and deliver the capital and technical agendas during the development phases of capital investment projects. You will develop capital budgets according to the contract and forecast cash flow, ensure that engineering developments and standards are implemented, and support the development and implementation of state-of-the art processes and equipment strategies to optimize resources, harmonize assets and rollout best practices. In this role, you will support capital project execution and will be accountable for the quality and results of the capital projects per Mondelēz standards, and our business and innovation processes in project management.

What you will bring

A desire to drive your future and accelerate your career. You will bring experience and knowledge in:

• Project management skills
• Leading to work effectively across cross-functional teams and influencing stakeholders
• Senior-level technical expertise across engineering disciplines

More about this role

What you need to know about this position:

The Senior Project Engineer leads the planning, execution, and commissioning of high-complexity capital projects within CPG manufacturing environments. This individual serves as the technical and project management reference for new production line installations, plant modernization initiatives, and industrial technology transformation, including PLC and Industrial IoT implementations , while leading multidisciplinary teams and specialized contractors under global standards of quality, safety, and operational efficiency.

The role demands a comprehensive profile that combines deep technical expertise with strong leadership capabilities, strategic communication, and performance under pressure. The ideal candidate demonstrates a learning agility mindset, the ability to align multiple stakeholders across functions and hierarchical levels, and a proven track record of large-scale CAPEX projects delivered from FEED to handover with budgets of USD 1M or more.

This is a strategic profile for the organization: it drives plant technology modernization, ensures project delivery on time, within budget, and at the required quality level, and acts as an ambassador for digital transformation — promoting the adoption of IIoT solutions, advanced automation, and Industry 4.0 practices within high-demand CPG production environments.

Main Responsibilities:

Large-Scale Project Management

• Lead the full CAPEX project lifecycle: scope definition, detailed engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and start-up.

• Develop and control project schedules (MS Project / Primavera), ensuring critical milestones are met within the approved plan.

• Manage project budgets (USD 500K – 10M+), prepare forecasts, and report variances to senior management.

• Coordinate project integration with operations, quality, safety, maintenance, and supply chain teams.

• Manage the project risk plan and execute corrective actions under high-pressure environments with limited operational windows.

Contractor and Supplier Leadership

• Manage EPC contracts, turnkey contracts, and discipline-based contracts; evaluate proposals and administer change orders.

• Supervise and audit contractor performance in the field: workmanship quality, HSE compliance, and physical progress.

• Coordinate FAT/SAT with OEM manufacturers and validate delivery documentation (as-built drawings, manuals, certifications).

• Lead teams under pressure, ensuring motivation, focus, and results delivery in high-demand, deadline-critical contexts.

CPG Technology / PLC / Industrial IoT & Line Modernization

• Design and implement new production line projects: layout, equipment, automation, and utilities.

• Lead the modernization of legacy production lines: migration of obsolete PLCs (Allen-Bradley, Siemens S7), electrical upgrades, and SCADA system updates.

• Manage Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) projects: connected sensors, edge computing, OEE dashboards, and predictive maintenance solutions.

• Integrate IoT solutions with MES/ERP platforms and SCADA systems to enable real-time decision-making.

• Manage digital plant infrastructure projects: industrial servers, OT/IT networks, and OT cybersecurity.

• Ensure compliance with electrical codes (NEC, IEC 60364), machine safety standards, and process safety requirements (HAZOP, LOPA).

Stakeholder Management, Soft Skills & Leadership

• Align and coordinate multiple stakeholders across operations, finance, quality, IT, regional leadership, and external vendors, communicating project status with clarity and transparency.

• Facilitate progress meetings, steering committees (steerco), and project reviews across different hierarchical levels, adapting communication style to the audience.

• Lead multidisciplinary teams, fostering a culture of high performance, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Manage conflicts, shifting priorities, and scope changes with resilience and a results-oriented mindset.

• Champion a learning agility mindset: encourage continuous learning, experimentation, and agile adaptation to new technologies and methodologies.

• Act as a digital transformation ambassador within the plant, promoting the adoption of IoT technologies and advanced automation.
  

Education / Certifications:

• Academic background: Degree in Electrical, Electronic, Mechanical, or Electromechanical Engineering. Postgraduate studies in Project Management (PMI/IPMA) or Industrial Automation are a differentiating advantage.

• Automation / PLC: Programming and troubleshooting of PLCs (Allen-Bradley, Siemens S7). SCADA/HMI integration, EtherNet/IP, Profibus/Profinet networks, and platform migration experience.

• Industrial IoT (IIoT): IoT architecture knowledge (sensors, gateways, edge computing, OT connectivity). IIoT platforms: Azure IoT, AWS IoT, Ignition. OEE dashboards and predictive analytics.

• Server infrastructure: Administration of industrial servers and SCADA/MES systems. Virtualization (VMware/Hyper-V), OT cybersecurity, and OT/IT network management.

• Process instrumentation: Sensors (temperature, pressure, flow, level), 4-20 mA control loop. Instrument calibration and validation, HART/Foundation Fieldbus.

• Electrical engineering: MV/LV panel design, single-line diagrams, electrical protection. Arc-flash studies (NFPA 70E), power quality, and isolation coordination.

• Electrical & plant safety: LOTO application, work permits, electrical risk assessment. NEC, IEC 61508 (SIL) certifications, ATEX/HAZLOC zone management.

• Project management tools: MS Project, Primavera P6, SAP or equivalent ERP for CAPEX management.

Job specific requirements:

• Minimum 8 years of experience in industrial engineering, with at least 5 years leading capital (CAPEX) projects.

• Proven track record of projects executed from FEED through handover with budgets exceeding USD 1M.

• Experience managing project teams of 10+ people (internal staff and external contractors).

• Must have led at least 1 PLC system implementation or migration project in a productive plant.

• Experience in Industrial IoT (IIoT) projects: from sensor architecture design to integration with analytics and visualization systems.

• Practical knowledge of industrial communication protocols: OPC-UA, MQTT, Modbus, EtherNet/IP.

• Must have led at least 2 greenfield or brownfield production line installation projects in industrial facilities.

• Experience in plant layout engineering, process equipment specification, and utilities design (steam, compressed air, refrigeration).

• Experience executing projects under continuous production regimes with limited maintenance windows.

• Must have led modernization of legacy production lines: automation retrofits, electrical and mechanical upgrades.

• Advanced knowledge of PMI/PMBOK or PRINCE2 methodologies and scheduling tools.
• English: Intermediate +

Business Requirements:

• CPG Sector, Retail / FMCG with own manufacturing or Companies with high-speed manufacturing operations (high-speed packaging, filling, forming) and global quality standards.
• Project governance: Experience at companies with stage-gate processes, Capital Approval Process (CAP), and internal project audit reviews.

• Digital transformation: Experience participating in Industry 4.0 initiatives, plant digitalization, or IoT/PLC technology implementation in industrial environments.

• Multicultural / global environment: Experience working with global teams, regional centers of excellence, and/or international engineering firms.

• Experience in high-complexity, multinational-scale organizations with mature project management practices and strict governance processes is required.

 

Soft Skills & Leadership:

• Team leadership under pressure and multidisciplinary team management

• Cross-functional stakeholder alignment and executive communication

• Conflict management and scope change with resilience

• Learning agility, continuous improvement, and technical talent coaching

 

No Relocation support available

Business Unit Summary

Wacam is Mondelēz International’s Latin America presence with more the 1700 wonderful people proudly representing a diversity of cultures and nationalities. Wacam includes 13 countries: Colombia, Ecuador, Perú, Chile, Bolivia, Panamá, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemela, El Salvador, República Dominicana, Puerto Rico. We make and distribute our global brands and local jewels such as Field, Club Social to over 190 million consumers. 

Mondelēz International is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

At Mondelez International we work under a hybrid model, in which our offices at WACAM offer us a space for connection, collaboration and co-creation, with attendance being subject to the needs of the teams themselves and/or the business.

Where permitted by internal policies and local laws, new hires are required to be fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment by their date of hire, unless they are granted a medical accommodation.

Job Type

Regular

Project Engineering

Science & Engineering