Production Engineer Jobs in Minnesota
Production Engineer jobs in Minnesota concentrate in food and beverage processing, medical device manufacturing, and industrial machinery, with steady demand at every level from entry-level process technician to senior manufacturing engineer. The Twin Cities metro anchors most hiring, with Rochester and St. Cloud adding volume through healthcare manufacturing and precision fabrication. Established employers with deep Minnesota roots such as General Mills, Boston Scientific, and 3M consistently recruit production engineers for continuous improvement, quality systems, and process optimization work. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 6+ Production Engineer jobs
Cargill is a family company committed to providing food and agricultural solutions to nourish the world in a safe, responsible, and sustainable way. We sit at the heart of the supply chain, partnering with producers and customers to source, make and deliver products that are vital for living. By providing customers with life’s essentials, we enable businesses to grow, communities to prosper, and consumers to live well.
This position is in our Food Enterprise where we are committed to serving food manufacturers, food service customers, and retailers with a complete range of innovative ingredients and branded products. Our portfolio includes poultry, beef, egg, alternative protein, salt, oils, starches, sweeteners, cocoa and chocolate.
Job Purpose and Impact
The Production Excellence Engineer II will be responsible to deliver production excellence processes and management systems focused on driving operational performance and value creation across manufacturing plants. In this role, you will use your knowledge to ensure alignment of key operational metrics.
Key Accountabilities
- Partner collaboratively with operations to analyze and develop recommendations regarding failures and lost production and identify and implement solutions to improve the system, standard work and processes.
- Implement and audit leading operational practices and purposefully raise performance by monitoring key performance indicators.
- Responsible for leveraging the most effective approach to identify, monitor, and where applicable, implement continuous improvement and best practices initiatives.
- Manage and implement proactive maintenance and reliability activities, production excellence activities.
- Lead local and departmental alignment of stakeholders including operations, environmental and supply chain.
- Implement technology transfer packages to locations including plant trial execution and local plant trial plans.
- Partner collaboratively with cross functional regional leaders to leverage resources, knowledge and strategies that increase value captured throughout the portfolio of production excellence projects.
- Independently solve moderately complex issues with minimal supervision, while escalating more complex issues to appropriate staff. #LI-BT2 #TheMuse #FGB
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience
- Minimum of two years of related work experience
Preferred Qualifications
- Knowledge and application of safety principles and methodologies
- Lean six sigma and continuous improvement capabilities
- Experience creating complex tests and analysis
- Project management experience
The expected salary for this position is $78,000 - $114,000. Compensation varies depending on a wide array of factors including but not limited to the specific location, certifications, education, and level of experience. The disclosed range estimate may be adjusted for any applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. This position is eligible for a discretionary incentive award. The incentive award amount is dependent upon company performance and your personal performance.
At Cargill we put people first. As part of your overall rewards, we offer a comprehensive benefit program including medical and/or other benefits dependent on the position offered and hours worked. Visit: https://www.cargill.com/page/my-health/mh-health-and-wellness to learn more (subject to certain collective bargaining agreements for Union positions).
Minnesota Sick and Safe Leave accruals of one hour for every 30 worked, up to 48 hours per calendar year unless otherwise provided by law.
Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disability/Vet
Cargill is a family company committed to providing food and agricultural solutions to nourish the world in a safe, responsible, and sustainable way. We sit at the heart of the supply chain, partnering with producers and customers to source, make and deliver products that are vital for living. By providing customers with life’s essentials, we enable businesses to grow, communities to prosper, and consumers to live well.
This position is in our Food Enterprise where we are committed to serving food manufacturers, food service customers, and retailers with a complete range of innovative ingredients and branded products. Our portfolio includes poultry, beef, egg, alternative protein, salt, oils, starches, sweeteners, cocoa and chocolate.
Job Purpose and Impact
The Production Excellence Engineer II will be responsible to deliver production excellence processes and management systems focused on driving operational performance and value creation across manufacturing plants. In this role, you will use your knowledge to ensure alignment of key operational metrics.
Key Accountabilities
- Partner collaboratively with operations to analyze and develop recommendations regarding failures and lost production and identify and implement solutions to improve the system, standard work and processes.
- Implement and audit leading operational practices and purposefully raise performance by monitoring key performance indicators.
- Responsible for leveraging the most effective approach to identify, monitor, and where applicable, implement continuous improvement and best practices initiatives.
- Manage and implement proactive maintenance and reliability activities, production excellence activities.
- Lead local and departmental alignment of stakeholders including operations, environmental and supply chain.
- Implement technology transfer packages to locations including plant trial execution and local plant trial plans.
- Partner collaboratively with cross functional regional leaders to leverage resources, knowledge and strategies that increase value captured throughout the portfolio of production excellence projects.
- Independently solve moderately complex issues with minimal supervision, while escalating more complex issues to appropriate staff. #LI-BT2 #TheMuse #FGB
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience
- Minimum of two years of related work experience
Preferred Qualifications
- Knowledge and application of safety principles and methodologies
- Lean six sigma and continuous improvement capabilities
- Experience creating complex tests and analysis
- Project management experience
The expected salary for this position is $78,000 - $114,000. Compensation varies depending on a wide array of factors including but not limited to the specific location, certifications, education, and level of experience. The disclosed range estimate may be adjusted for any applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. This position is eligible for a discretionary incentive award. The incentive award amount is dependent upon company performance and your personal performance.
At Cargill we put people first. As part of your overall rewards, we offer a comprehensive benefit program including medical and/or other benefits dependent on the position offered and hours worked. Visit: https://www.cargill.com/page/my-health/mh-health-and-wellness to learn more (subject to certain collective bargaining agreements for Union positions).
Minnesota Sick and Safe Leave accruals of one hour for every 30 worked, up to 48 hours per calendar year unless otherwise provided by law.
Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disability/Vet
See All 6 Production Engineer Jobs in Minnesota
Find roles in Minnesota that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Production Engineer JobsProduction Engineer Jobs by City in Minnesota
Where Minnesota roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Production Engineer Job Market in Minnesota
A snapshot from current Minnesota openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Minnesota Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in production engineer jobs across Minnesota.
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical, industrial, or manufacturing engineering from an accredited program
- Experience with lean manufacturing principles including kaizen, 5S, and value stream mapping
- Proficiency with CAD software such as SolidWorks or AutoCAD for process documentation
- Hands-on background with production line equipment, tooling, and root cause analysis
- Familiarity with FDA quality systems or ISO 9001 standards, common in Minnesota medical device and food manufacturing
- Strong data analysis skills using Excel, Minitab, or ERP systems such as SAP
Production Engineer Jobs in Minnesota: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a production engineer in Minnesota?
Most production engineer roles in Minnesota require a bachelor's degree in mechanical, industrial, or manufacturing engineering from an ABET-accredited program. Minnesota does not mandate a state-issued license for production engineers in manufacturing, though earning a Professional Engineer license through the Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Geoscience, Surveying, Landscape Architecture, and Interior Design strengthens candidacy for senior roles. Many employers in the Twin Cities medical device corridor also value Certified Manufacturing Engineer credentials.
Which companies hire production engineers in Minnesota?
Companies currently hiring production engineers in Minnesota include Cargill, Syensqo, and Padagis, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Minnesota's concentration of food processing, medical device, and industrial equipment firms means hiring activity is consistent year-round rather than tied to a single sector's hiring cycles.
Which Minnesota cities have the most production engineer jobs?
The cities with the most production engineer openings in Minnesota are Dayton, Winona, and Big Lake. The Twin Cities account for the bulk of postings because of the regional headquarters and manufacturing campuses of companies like 3M, Boston Scientific, and General Mills, while Rochester draws openings from medical device and healthcare supply chain operations and St. Cloud supports precision machining and food processing plants.
How can I get hired as a production engineer in Minnesota with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to co-op, internship, or new-graduate rotational programs at large Minnesota manufacturers. Companies like 3M, Medtronic, and General Mills run structured early-career engineering programs that hire candidates without full-time experience. Starting in a quality technician, manufacturing technician, or process associate role at a Twin Cities medical device or food processing facility is also a common lateral move that leads to a production engineer title within one to two years.
Where can I find and apply to production engineer jobs in Minnesota?
You can find and apply to production engineer jobs in Minnesota on Migrate Mate, which lists current Minnesota openings. Search the roles that match your background and apply directly to the ones that fit your experience and location preferences.
See All 6 Production Engineer Jobs in Minnesota
Find roles in Minnesota that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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