Astute's Strategic Division are currently recruiting for a Mechanical Engineering Department Head to lead the engineering team within the food and beverage sector.
The Mechanical Engineering Department Head position come with a salary from $150,000 to $170,000 plus benefits.
Role responsibilities and key skills for the role:
- Lead and manage the Mechanical Engineering Department, taking responsibility for team performance, technical delivery, resource planning and continued development of the department.
- Recruit, develop and mentor mechanical engineering staff, establishing clear performance, development and technical competency standards across the team.
- Provide technical leadership across the department, developing and maintaining engineering standards, procedures and best practices for design, documentation and construction support.
- Remain actively involved in mechanical engineering design and project delivery as part of multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Lead the design and engineering of industrial mechanical systems including steam and condensate, refrigeration, HVAC, chilled and hot media, compressed air, nitrogen, water supply and treatment systems.
- Work directly with clients, engineering teams and process vendors to establish design criteria, technical requirements and project specifications.
- Oversee project budgets, schedules, resources and technical deliverables, ensuring projects are completed in accordance with client and company requirements.
- Provide technical direction and mentorship to engineers throughout the design, construction and commissioning lifecycle.
- Lead Quality Assurance (QA) reviews of mechanical designs, calculations, drawings and technical documentation.
- Evaluate existing mechanical systems to identify operational improvements, available capacity and requirements for future expansion.
- Perform and oversee calculations relating to system loads, load diversity, equipment capacity and future growth requirements.
- Assess alternative equipment and system configurations, presenting clients with clear technical and commercial advantages and disadvantages of different approaches.
- Identify opportunities for energy efficiency, heat/energy recovery and lifecycle cost improvements within industrial facilities.
- Develop lifecycle cost assessments and feasibility studies to support client investment and engineering decisions.
- Ensure engineering designs comply with all relevant US codes, regulations and industry standards.
- Support procurement and construction activities, including contractor bid reviews, technical evaluations and vendor/supplier coordination.
- Attend construction sites to verify installations are consistent with engineering designs, specifications and design intent.
- Provide engineering support during construction, start-up and commissioning, resolving technical issues as required.
- Collaborate closely with architectural, structural, electrical and other engineering disciplines, as well as external consultants, vendors and construction teams.
- Work with contractors and construction trades to identify constructability improvements and value-engineering opportunities.
- Communicate project progress, technical challenges and proposed solutions effectively to clients, project teams and senior stakeholders.
- Contribute to business development activities, helping grow the Mechanical Engineering Department, client relationships and service offering.
- Bring 10+ years of mechanical engineering experience, including a minimum of 3 years in an engineering leadership/management position.
- Demonstrate strong technical experience with industrial steam, refrigeration, compressed air and HVAC systems.
- Hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and an active Professional Engineer (PE) licence.
Location, day rate and timeframe of the Mechanical Engineering Department Head position:
- Salary - $150,000 to $170,000 plus company benefits
- Holland, US
- Start date - October / November 2026
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