Jobs › Diageo

Project Engineer Manager

Diageo · Plainfield, IL · $100,800–$168,000 a year · Full time

Posted Aug 27, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a large engineering project you managed from scope through startup.

What they are checking: Whether they have delivered real projects on time and on budget in a manufacturing setting.

Tell me about a time a project went over budget. What did you learn?

What they are checking: Whether they own overruns honestly and improve how they estimate and control cost.

How do you lead engineers who report to you while also managing several projects?

What they are checking: Whether they can balance people leadership with hands-on project delivery.

What would you do

A project is running behind and production wants the line back. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can make tradeoffs on scope, schedule and safety and communicate them openly.

How do you work with maintenance to make sure a new asset can be supported after startup?

What they are checking: Whether they plan for spares, training and documentation before handover.

How would you choose between repairing an aging asset and replacing it?

What they are checking: Whether they weigh reliability, cost, safety and future capacity in a clear way.

About the work

How would you build a 5-year asset care and replacement strategy for the packaging and processing lines?

What they are checking: Whether they can assess asset condition and risk to plan replacements and capital spending over time.

Walk me through how you'd build a capital expenditure request for a new bottling line upgrade.

What they are checking: Whether they can justify capex with payback, risk and business case, not just engineering need.

What do you know about high-speed bottling and liquid processing that matters most when planning changes?

What they are checking: Whether they have the deep plant knowledge the posting requires for these complex lines.

How do you manage contractors on site safely?

What they are checking: Whether they control contractor risk with permits, inductions and supervision on a busy plant floor.

How do you handle procurement for long-lead equipment?

What they are checking: Whether they plan purchasing early enough to protect the project schedule.

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The full job description

As published by Diageo.

Job Description : Title:   Engineering Projects Manager Hiring Manager:  Director of Maintenance and Engineering About the Function: Our Supply Chain and Manufacturing team are problem-solvers, sourcing, producing, and delivering our much-loved brands to delight customers around the globe. Over half of Diageo’s 30,000+ people work in Supply Chain and Manufacturing. It’s an intricate and sophisticated operation that’s the product of logistical, manufacturing, and technical collaborations. Our teams in 100 sites in over 30 countries cover production facilities, supplier relationships, customer collaborations and third-party agreements. We’re committed to realising our ‘Society 2030: Spirit of Progress’ goals, to protect the environment and support our farmers and suppliers. Whatever your skills and experience, we’ll help you to thrive in our inclusive culture. Context/Scope: Position requires a strong knowledge of high-speed bottling and liquid processing, plant operations in a variety of subjects, fields and duties including but not limited to planning, maintenance, scheduling, processing, packaging, procurement, and project management.  The Engineering manager will need to be able to work with maintenance to set up a 5-year asset care and replacement strategy, including a capital expenditure program for the packaging lines, processing asset. This role directly manages 3 Controls Engineers and provides guidance with dotted line management to three Instrumentation and Controls engineers. Strong leadership and communication skills are critical for this role. The incumbent should be capable of innovative thinking and driven to maintain momentum while maintaining a healthy industrial climate will be key to success.  Must be able to prioritize and balance multiple projects, tasks and organizational needs in an environment that is always dynamic.  Needs to be diverse enough to understand and track the needs of the business at the most economic cost and highest quality.  Ideal candidate must be able to work cross multiple functions such as Operation, Quality, Safety, Finance, and Procurement. Purpose of Role: Responsible for leading the development, execution, and delivery of plant capital projects as well as compliance with project execution guidelines in support of the Diageo Plainfield Leadership Team strategy.  This role will provide guidance and technical leadership primary in project management and lead problem-solving teams to address packaging and process issues within operations. The incumbent will also respond to strategic planning, innovation support needs and cost analysis requests. This is a key role to support delivery of plant operational reliability critical metrics. Key Outputs: • Establish and effectively handle project budgets and objectives.  Includes developing, supporting, and carrying out standardized project management requirements such as change control, training, construction management, scope development and alignment with customers on user requirements, justification, constraints, and assumptions.  Ability to communicate project status, needs, and critical metrics to wide range of partners across the business. • Lead reliability projects across packaging lines • Lead processing area projects • Provide guidance and Support Production Team Leads and maintenance coordinators as necessary, providing technical guidance and direction. • Partner with select maintenance personnel to develop training plans to satisfy the needs of both the business and the individual with the collective plant goal of having maintenance personnel that can address controls issues.  Track progress and mentor as required. • Support processing and maintenance teams on issues affecting the production lines whilst on shift in the event that additional technical help is required and identify and communicate training gaps to maintenance for continuous improvement. • Verify all projects meet requirements for Safety, Quality, Environment and Food Safety. Qualifications and Experience Required: • 10 years minimum project engineering/management or similar experience required • Excellent verbal and written communication skills • Excellent analytical, troubleshooting and  problem solving  skills • Ability to manage multiple work streams while delivering to target dates. • Microsoft Office suite literate (MS Project a plus). • Knowledge of Microsoft operating systems • Strong leadership and management background • Strong background in Allen Bradley ladder logic programming Preferred and Beneficial experience: • Knowledge of quality system methodologies, APQP launch processes and statistical process quality control • Six sigma green belt certification • Knowledge of Rockwell Automation RS Batch software • Experience working with SAP CMMS • Strong background in lean manufacturing methods • Experience with design for manufacturing or design for assembly methodologies • Experience with measurement system analysis • Experience performing financial NPV analysis and business project justification Flexible Working Statement: Flexibility is key to our success. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you so that you’re supported to manage your wellbeing and balance your priorities from day one. Rewards & Benefits Statement: We recognise and value performance, offering our people a highly competitive Rewards and Benefits package including: · [Recruiter to list relevant market/region benefits]. Diversity statement: Our purpose is to celebrate life, every day, everywhere. And creating an inclusive culture, where everyone feels valued and that they can belong, is a crucial part of this. We embrace diversity in the broadest possible sense. This means that you’ll be welcomed and celebrated for who you are just by being you. You’ll be part of and help build and champion an inclusive culture that celebrates people of different gender, ethnicity, ability, age, sexual orientation, social class, educational backgrounds, experiences, and more. Our ambition is to create the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer products companies in the world. Join us and help transform our business as we take our brands to the next level and build new ones as part of shaping the next generation of celebrations for consumers around the world. Feel inspired? Then this may be the opportunity for you. If you require a reasonable adjustment, please ensure that you capture this information when you submit your application. Worker Type : Regular Primary Location: Plainfield Plant Additional Locations : Job Posting Start Date : 2026-07-09 PLAINFIELD, ILLINOIS: SALARY RANGE IS FROM $100,800 TO $168,000 (ANNUAL) At Diageo certain roles are eligible for additional rewards, including annual incentive payment and stock awards. US-based employees are eligible for healthcare benefits, retirement benefits , short-term and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, wellness benefits and industry leading parental leave, among others. (Benefits/perks listed may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Diageo and the country where you work.) The salary range displayed is the salary range for the role’s primary location.

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