John de Sousa

About John de Sousa

Senior Manager of Project Engineering with over 20+ years of experience in leading multi-million-dollar capital projects across Food and Beverage Manufacturing, CPG Production, and Packaging Automation. Experience includes Process Engineering, Plant Expansions, Robotic Packaging Integration, Control System Design, and Regulatory Compliance to deliver projects on time, within budget, and with measurable improvements. CORE PROFICIENCY & COMPETENCIES: Capital Project Management (PM)| Packaging Engineering | Robotic Packaging Integration | Aseptic Processing | IQF Line Design | Process Engineering | CPG Manufacturing | Food & Beverage Manufacturing | Plant Expansion | Automation Systems | Conveyors | Material Handling | Control Systems Design | PLC Programming | Allen-Bradley PLC-5 | ControlLogix | HMI Thin Clients | Virtual Server Controls | Line Rate Optimization | Equipment Integration | High-Speed Case Packers | Shrink Labelers | Valve Systems | Cap Feeder Optimization |(HTST) Pasteurization Systems | CIP Systems | Flow-Based Control Systems | PID & Electrical Drawings | Regulatory Compliance | USDA | FDA | CDFA | Gemba Walks | Vendor / OEM Collaboration | Installation & Commissioning | Packaging Quality Optimization | Product Throughput Enhancement | Facility Modernization | High-Speed Line Data Analysis | Pallet Wrapping Systems | HVAC |(CPG) Consumer Packaged Goods

Experience

1. Sr Manager, Project Engineering

   Rauch Fruchtsäfte

   Sep 2025 — Present · Surprise, AZ, US

   Managed a capital engineering team, aligning project execution with strategic business objectives and long-term operational goals.• Oversaw and optimized capital budgets ranging from $100M–$200M, ensuring disciplined financial control and ROI-driven investment decisions.• Developed and implemented standardized SOPs between North America operations and global headquarters, leading to enterprise-wide adoption.• Delivered bi-weekly executive briefings to senior leadership, providing clear visibility into project performance, risks, and milestones.• Served as a cross-functional liaison across manufacturing, engineering, maintenance, quality, EHS, and external vendors to drive seamless project execution.• Directed multi-million-dollar infrastructure and utility projects critical to plant operations and capacity expansion.• Led a diverse portfolio of capital projects, including facility expansions, equipment modernization, utility optimization, process improvements, and sustainability initiatives.

Education

• California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

  Agricultural Engineering Technology

Skills

• 5s
• Manufacturing
• Plant Management
• Consumer Products
• Gmp
• Capital Projects
• Lean Manufacturing
• Food Manufacturing
• Food Science
• Process Engineering
• Autocad
• Automation
• Quality System
• Frozen Food
• Supply Chain
• Packaging
• Food Processing
• Food
• Food Industry
• Food Technology
• Engineering
• Process Improvement
• Haccp
• Refrigeration
• Food
• Allen Bradley
• Strategic Planning
• Product Development
• Preventive Maintenance
• Process Control
• Continuous Improvement
• Management
• Team Building
• Project Engineering
• Food Safety
• Food Packaging