Senior Manager, Food Systems Engineering

7Eleven

$110K — $130K *
Food & Beverages
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, Food Engineering, or related technical field
  • 10+ years of relevant work experience
  • 5+ years of management experience
  • Advanced knowledge of foodservice equipment design and integration
  • Expertise in packaging engineering principles
  • Proficiency in technical testing protocols and validation methodologies
  • Strong understanding of food safety regulations and compliance requirements

Responsibilities

  • Lead a team of engineers in innovating equipment and packaging for food and beverage operations
  • Oversee the complete technical solution lifecycle from concept to commercialization
  • Establish technical standards and testing protocols for equipment and systems
  • Build strategic partnerships with cross-functional teams and external manufacturers
  • Drive the roadmap for equipment engineering and operational innovation
  • Manage budgets and procurement processes for capital projects
  • Monitor equipment performance and identify optimization opportunities

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health and wellness programs
  • Opportunities for career advancement and professional development
  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Employee discounts and incentives
  • Engaging and collaborative company culture
Full Job Description

JOB SUMMARY:

 The Senior Manager, Equipment, Packaging & System Design leads the technical innovation strategy for 7-Eleven's Fresh Food & Beverage operations, driving the development and optimization of equipment, packaging, and operational systems across the entire store network. This role owns the end-to-end technical solution lifecycle from concept through commercialization, ensuring seamless integration of product, equipment, and packaging requirements that enable consistent, efficient, and profitable delivery of food and beverage products. The position requires strategic partnership with Product Development, Operations, Design, Supply Chain, and external manufacturers to deliver scalable solutions that transform store operations and enhance customer experience. This leader will build organizational capability while establishing technical standards and driving automation opportunities that redefine convenience retail foodservice. 

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

 • Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team of engineers and technical specialists in creating innovative equipment, packaging, and system solutions for fresh food and beverage operations across all store formats 

• Own the complete technical solution lifecycle including concept development, prototyping, testing protocols, pilot validation, commercialization planning, and post-launch optimization to ensure successful implementation 

• Establish and maintain comprehensive technical standards, specifications, testing protocols, and qualification processes that ensure seamless integration of product, equipment, packaging, and system requirements 

• Partner strategically with Product Development, Store Operations, Design, Supply Chain, Quality Assurance, and external equipment manufacturers to deliver scalable solutions that improve consumer experience, product quality, store implementation, and operational execution 

• Drive the strategic roadmap for Food & Beverage equipment engineering and operational innovation, identifying and evaluating emerging technologies, automation platforms, and smart kitchen solutions that transform the store operating model 

• Manage capital project budgets, vendor partnerships, and equipment procurement processes while ensuring cost-effective solutions that deliver strong return on investment and operational efficiency 

• Conduct comprehensive equipment specification, testing, and validation activities across complex, multi-site operational environments to ensure reliability, food safety compliance, and operational scalability 

• Build organizational capability by coaching talent, setting team priorities, allocating resources effectively, and fostering a culture of innovation, technical rigor, and continuous improvement 

• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to translate business objectives into technical requirements and actionable implementation plans that drive enterprise-scale transformation 

• Monitor and analyze equipment performance data, store feedback, and operational metrics to identify optimization opportunities and drive continuous improvement initiatives 

• Ensure all equipment and packaging solutions comply with food safety regulations, health codes, environmental standards, and corporate quality requirements 

• Present technical recommendations, project updates, and strategic initiatives to senior leadership and executive stakeholders with clear business impact analysis 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Industrial Engineering, Food Engineering, Packaging Engineering, Food Science, or related technical field required 

YEARS OF RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE: 10+ years 

YEARS OF MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE: 5+ years 

SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Advanced knowledge of foodservice equipment design, specification, and integration including cooking equipment, refrigeration systems, food preparation tools, and packaging machinery

• Expertise in packaging engineering principles including material selection, sustainability considerations, food safety requirements, and supply chain optimization

• Proficiency in technical testing protocols, validation methodologies, and quality assurance processes for food contact equipment and packaging materials

• Strong understanding of food safety regulations, health codes, HACCP principles, and compliance requirements for retail foodservice operations

• Experience with automation technologies, IoT-enabled equipment, smart kitchen systems, and emerging foodservice innovations

• Exceptional project management skills with ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously while meeting deadlines and budget constraints

• Advanced analytical and problem-solving abilities with experience using data-driven decision making to optimize equipment performance and operational efficiency

• Excellent communication and presentation skills with ability to influence and build consensus across all organizational levels including executive leadership

• Strategic thinking capability with ability to translate business objectives into technical solutions and actionable implementation roadmaps

• Strong vendor management and negotiation skills with experience building productive partnerships with equipment manufacturers and suppliers

• Demonstrated ability to foster innovation, drive organizational change, and build high-performing technical teams in dynamic business environments

 

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the individuals assigned to this job. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. Management reserves the right to amend and change the duties and responsibilities of this job to meet business and organizational needs, as necessary. 

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