Full-Time

Senior Project Engineer

Posted on 4/18/2026

King's Hawaiian

King's Hawaiian

501-1,000 employees

Bakery producing Original Hawaiian Sweet Rolls

Compensation Overview

$145k - $195k/yr

Carson, CA, USA

In Person

Must travel up to 30%.

Category
Process Engineering
Required Skills
AutoCAD
Data Analysis
SolidWorks
Requirements
  • BS degree in Mechanical, Electrical or Industrial Engineering from an accredited 4-year college or equivalent relevant experience required.
  • Demonstrated experience in dealing with ambiguity and can comfortably manage risks, changing priorities, and uncertainty.
  • Demonstrated experience to independently apply technical standards, principles, theories, concepts and techniques, interpreting data through sound experimental design and statistical analysis.
  • At least 5 years of progressively responsible engineering experience in a high-speed manufacturing industry is required (Food & Beverage Manufacturing or Consumer Packaged Goods experience is preferred, baking industry experience is a bonus).
  • The ability to manage multiple projects (financial, schedule and implementation) simultaneously is required.
  • Proven technical aptitude, ability to apply engineering principles (mechanical, process, continuous improvement, etc.) and ability to troubleshoot and commission.
  • Understanding of statistics, data analysis techniques, simulation, and other industrial engineering principles strongly preferred.
  • Proficient in the use of common software packages including MS Office365, Microsoft Project and AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Revit.
  • Ability to travel up to 30%
Responsibilities
  • Serve as subject matter expert in various technologies used in industrial manufacturing environments.
  • Provide technical guidance to junior-level project engineers as needed.
  • Continually evaluate new equipment and production techniques to ensure that King’s Hawaiian is on the leading edge of bakery technologies.
  • Investigate opportunities for upgrading existing equipment to meet the newest quality and efficiency standards.
  • Lead and execute the study of process & equipment alternatives and Pilot Equipment Validation through Design of Experiments (DOE) to determine the effect of process parameters on product quality, throughput, and cost.
  • Refine and enforce King’s Hawaiian Engineering policies, procedures, and standards.
  • Prepare Capital Expenditure Requests (CER) for projects per capital plan. These projects can range from simple equipment replacement or upgrade to state-of-the-art line extensions or plant expansion.
  • Implement capital projects within schedule and budget guidelines while complying with personnel safety, food safety & sanitation, regulatory, energy, environmental, and other applicable standards.
  • Responsible for full execution of the project all the way to commissioning and returning to operations.
  • Accountable for the financial control (PO, invoicing up to close out) of the CAPEX project.
  • Provide spending & status updates to head of engineering and finance.
  • Supervise contractors, service technicians, and outside engineering firms while ensuring food safety and a safe work environment for employees during all installation activities. Ensure strict adherence to King’s Hawaiian’s values & policies.
  • Perform other duties as required or assigned by the manager which are reasonably within the scope of this role.
Desired Qualifications
  • Knowledge of USDA/FDA sanitary design principles, BRC/ AIB standards, OSHA, GMP's and related regulations desirable.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to work and influence across functions.
  • The ability to travel up to 30%.

King’s Hawaiian is a family-owned bakery that produces and distributes baked goods, led by its flagship Original Hawaiian Sweet Rolls along with a range of other bread and bakery items. The product line is made from enriched dough to create soft, slightly sweet rolls that are baked and packaged for retail sale, then distributed through grocery stores and mass-market retailers. In addition to core bread products, the company has expanded into sauces and spreads to broaden its presence in the grocery store. The business relies on brand recognition and consistent quality to build customer loyalty, supported by a broad distribution network and retail partnerships. Its strategy focuses on growing market share by expanding the product portfolio and maintaining reliable flavor and quality across channels. The goal is to increase brand presence, reach more shoppers, and grow revenue while keeping the familiar taste that customers expect.

Company Size

501-1,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Torrance, California

Founded

1950

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Nationwide Ube Coconut Sweet Rolls rollout and Van Leeuwen collaboration amplify brand heat and drive trial beyond core sweet rolls.
  • $54M Georgia expansion and new Indiana smart factory position King's Hawaiian for scalable, data-driven bakery capacity growth.
  • NFL Canada and Alex Morgan partnerships deepen game-day occasion marketing and expand reach into sports-focused households.

What critics are saying

  • Sister Schubert's Mac & Cheese Rolls and Bimbo's price cuts threaten King's Hawaiian's #1 dinner roll position and premium pricing.
  • Ube Coconut Sweet Rolls' high sugar content risks alienating health-conscious buyers and diluting loyalty to Original Rolls.
  • Indiana smart-factory delays, Oakwood labor shortages, and SAP cloud outages could disrupt production and inflate operating costs.

What makes King's Hawaiian unique

  • King's Hawaiian leverages SAP Digital Manufacturing to connect 400+ machine data points for real-time quality and performance insights.
  • The company builds autonomous smart factories with 48-hour local survivability during network disruptions, ensuring continuous bakery production.
  • King's Hawaiian pairs island-inspired innovation like Ube Coconut Sweet Rolls with high-visibility collaborations such as Van Leeuwen ice cream sandwiches.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Flexible Work Hours

Remote Work Options

Performance Bonus

Hybrid Work Options

Company News

Mass Market Retailers
Apr 6th, 2026
King's Hawaiian launches Ube Coconut Sweet Rolls.

King's Hawaiian launches Ube Coconut Sweet Rolls. Brand responds to consumer demand by bringing limited-edition bread sensation to grocery shelves after selling out twice in under two minutes in 2025 April 6, 2026. 8:13 AM LOS ANGELES - King's Hawaiian, maker of the No. 1 dinner roll in America, is bringing its most buzzed-about innovation to grocery shelves nationwide: King's Hawaiian Ube Coconut Sweet Rolls. Made with real ube and coconut milk, this island-inspired twist on the brand's signature soft, fluffy rolls marks the company's first-ever limited-time flavor to hit retailers nationwide. Delivering a rich taste and distinctive lavender hue, it's as eye-catching as it is irresistible. The national rollout comes on the heels of an overwhelmingly successful limited-time debut in June 2025, where consumers took to social media to make one thing clear: this was a product they wanted on their table. Fueled by that demand, King's Hawaiian is not only bringing it to retailers nationwide, but they also fast-tracked production to bring it to the masses as quickly as possible. Just under a year later, the product will be available at major retailers across the country. "We saw the incredible demand for our Ube Coconut Rolls in 2025 when we first unveiled them on our website and they sold out almost instantly," said Raouf Moussa, CMO at King's Hawaiian. "In that moment, Massmarketretailers knew Massmarketretailers had something special and were determined to bring them to consumers as quickly as possible. Its Ube Coconut Rolls strike the perfect balance of introducing something new while staying true to its roots. Inspired by the spirit of innovation that defined founder Robert R. Taira's original bakery in Hilo, Hawaii more than 75 years ago, this new flavor continues King's Hawaiian's tradition of baking beyond the expected and Massmarketretailers can't wait to share it with consumers. The new rolls blend the beloved sweetness and pillowy texture of King's Hawaiian with the unique taste of ube, a purple yam originating in the Philippines that's widely used in desserts and baked goods. Known for its naturally vibrant violet color, ube has a sweet flavor often described as a blend of vanilla, coconut and pistachio. Made with real ube and coconut milk, and no artificial dyes or high fructose corn syrup, the rolls are perfect for breakfast, dessert or an irresistible snack straight out of the bag. Recipes and serving suggestions are available at kingshawaiian.com/ube and on the brand's social channels. King's Hawaiian Ube Coconut Sweet Rolls are now available nationwide at major grocery retailers in the deli and bakery section in 12-count bags for a limited time. To celebrate the launch, the brand also unveiled a series of ube-inspired out-of-home billboards teasing the innovation across select markets. Club retailers will also offer a 24-count twin bag (two 12-count packs), giving fans even more of the vibrant, island-inspired flavor to enjoy. By introducing the bold flavor of ube into its signature sweet rolls - and bringing a viral fan favorite to grocery shelves - King's Hawaiian continues its legacy of delivering unexpected island-inspired innovation to everyday tables, made with aloha and shared with joy.

GlobeNewswire
Sep 2nd, 2025
King's Hawaiian and NFL Canada score big with new partnership

TORONTO, ON, Sept. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - King's Hawaiian, known for its irresistibly soft and fluffy rolls, is teaming up with NFL Canada to give football fans' taste buds something to cheer about this season.

Business Facilities
Jul 18th, 2025
King's Hawaiian Bakes Up 135 Jobs, $54M Investment in Georgia

Hawaii-inspired food company King's Hawaiian(R) will invest approximately $54 million to expand its Oakwood, Georgia facility, creating more than 135 new jobs.

Yahoo
Jul 17th, 2025
More rolls, more jobs! King's Hawaiian investing $54 million in expanding Georgia facility

On Thursday, Gov. Brian Kemp's office released news that King's Hawaiian will invest about $54 million in expanding its 150,000-square-foot Oakwood bakery and production plant.

ATL Standard
Jul 17th, 2025
King's Hawaiian expands Oakwood facility with $54 million investment

Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that King's Hawaiian, a family-owned food company, will invest $54 million to expand its facility in Oakwood, Georgia.

INACTIVE