Bridgestone & Firestone

Plant Engineer

Bridgestone & Firestone$80K — $110K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline; Master’s preferred.
  • Over 10 years of management experience in manufacturing and facility functions.
  • Demonstrated experience with Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) or Integrated Work Systems (IWS) in a manufacturing environment.
  • Exposure to heavy, asset-intensive industries such as automotive, metals, or chemical manufacturing.
  • Strong track record in leading cultural transformation and promoting proactive maintenance strategies.

Responsibilities

  • Manage engineering projects including installations, modifications, and building expansions while ensuring compliance and budget adherence.
  • Direct and support the maintenance function to achieve zero downtime and minimize losses.
  • Oversee the plant powerhouse and utility services, focusing on cost reduction through energy conservation.
  • Develop and maintain capital and expense budgets aligned with strategic needs.
  • Ensure IT systems are effective and meet the plant's requirements.
  • Supervise environmental compliance and champion sustainability initiatives.
  • Coordinate with inventory management to ensure operational continuity through adequate supplies.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to lead plant engineering in a dynamic manufacturing environment.
  • Participate as a senior leadership team member influencing strategic direction.
  • Access to advanced technology and engineering systems.
  • Focus on sustainability and environmental compliance in operations.
Full Job Description
Business Unit
BAMG - Wilson

Management Level
Management

Job Category
Engineering & Science

Position Summary
We are seeking a Plant Engineering leader like you to join our Wilson, NC Manufacturing facility.

In this challenging role, the Plant Engineer provides engineering leadership whereby the facility can efficiently and safely operate all equipment to meet present and future objectives of the plant.

You will be on the Senior Management Leadership team and report directly to the Plant Manager. The Plant Engineer leads the Engineering, Maintenance, IT, Powerhouse and Environmental functions within the plant. Your responsibilities will also include equipment installation and maintenance, building expansion, environmental compliance, energy conservation, capital budgets, lockout tag out program including written procedures, training, and compliance.

Responsibilities
  • You will manage the engineering function including equipment installation and modification projects, capital improvements including building expansions. Ensure that projects are accomplished in a timely manner, meet required code and specifications, and are within budget, and maintain continuity of operations. 

  • You will direct maintenance function striving to achieve zero downtime and minimize production losses while minimizing costs. Provide support to the Operating Departments 24 X 7 through the supervision of staff and clock card personnel in the maintenance department. Maximize equipment life and uptime through effective preventative and predictive maintenance. Plan and co-ordinate plant maintenance shutdowns. Administer the lockout-tagout program including development of energy control procedures, training, equipment modifications, and compliance.

  • You will manage the plant powerhouse through staff and clock card personnel. Ensure required utility services are provided to the plant as needed. Oversee reduction of utility costs through effective energy conservation plans. 

  • You will develop and maintain capital and expense budgets that meet the strategic needs of the plant. Ensure budgetary goals are met through effective cost control. Manage headcount for maintenance contractors. 

  • Ensure that IT systems including computer hardware, software, and systems integration meet the strategic needs of the plant and are cost effective. 

  • Administer the environmental compliance function through the supervision of and Environmental Engineer and Environmental technician. Ensure compliance with air, water, and waste regulations. Champion projects and initiatives to maintain a leadership position in the environmental arena. 

  • Co-ordinate with the Store Room Manager to ensure adequate parts and equipment are available to maintain continuity of operations, while minimizing the required level of MRO and associated costs. 

  • Participate as a member of the senior plant leadership team to develop and implement strategic planning to maintain the plant's leadership position within the company. 

Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related engineering discipline; Master’s degree is preferred.

  • 10+ years management expertise in manufacturing functions not limited to construction, installation, expansion, upgrades, overall facilities maintenance and security.

  • Demonstrated TPM and/or Integrated Work System (IWS) experience, with depth in pillars such as Autonomous Maintenance, Planned Maintenance, loss elimination, and daily management, ideally applied in a shop‑floor environment rather than as a rollout project.

  • Heavy, asset‑intensive manufacturing exposure (automotive, metals - steel, chemical, oil & gas, or similarly capital‑heavy environments) where uptime, safety, and disciplined maintenance execution are critical to business performance.

  • Preference for candidates with expertise in mechanical engineering systems within a manufacturing/production and facilities environment.

  • A strong passion for machine reliability, equipment health, and base condition discipline, with clear examples of moving organizations from reactive maintenance to planned and predictive strategies.

  • Proven capability in capital deployment and lifecycle equipment management, including translating reliability insights into smart CAPEX decisions and long‑term asset strategies.

  • A clear track record as a change agent. Someone who has led cultural transformation, built operator ownership of equipment, and reshaped maintenance and engineering behaviors through influence, consistency, and on‑the‑floor leadership.

  • High energy, visible, and resilient leadership style, comfortable spending time on the shop floor, challenging legacy mindsets, and actively coaching teams through change.

  • Must possess a thorough understanding of a highly technical, highly automated and integrated production system. Knowledge of rubber manufacturing processes and associated equipment is highly preferred.

  • Must have strong analytical skills with the ability to develop and implement layout, plans, and implementation for various projects.

  • Must have strong skills in financial management and strategic plan. Must possess a thorough understanding of applicable codes, regulations, specifications and laws relating to maintenance, engineering, safety and health, equipment design, and environment compliance.

About Bridgestone & Firestone

Bridgestone Americas, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world's largest tire and rubber company. Bridgestone Americas and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires to address the needs of a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers, and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries. The companies are also engaged in retreading operations throughout the Western Hemisphere and produce air springs, roofing materials, and industrial fibers and textiles. The Bridgestone Americas family of companies also operates the world's largest chain of automotive tire and service centers. Guided by its global corporate social responsibility commitment, Our Way to Serve, Bridgestone embraces its responsibility as a global leader by striving to improve the way people move, live, work and play.
Learn more about Bridgestone & Firestone
Size
135,636 employees
Industry
NASDAQ

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