Principal Manufacturing Process Engineer

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Job Description:

The Principal Manufacturing Process Engineer plays a pivotal role in optimizing our production processes, ensuring the efficient and cost-effective manufacturing of our food products. You will focus on the upstream dairy process, working to optimize blending, standardization, heat treatment, filtration & sanitation. The role will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Production Operations, Quality Assurance, Maintenance, Reliability Engineering, Controls/Capital Engineering, Operations Excellence, and Supply Chain, to drive continuous improvement, maintain product quality, and enhance overall production performance. Encompassing process optimization, improving process capability, process step-to-step enhancement, risk reduction, process & food safety, and close collaboration with various teams.

This role offers a 100% remote work schedule arrangement.

What you'll do:

• Serve as the subject matter expert in fluid-related process engineering, focusing on upstream dairy processes including blending, standardization, heat treatment, filtration & sanitation. Provide day-to-day process engineering support and lead engineering strategies around processing line capability, capacity, and optimization that align with organizational priorities. Convey advanced technical information and influence diverse stakeholders across the organization.

• Guide, mentor, and train process engineers in the mastery of process engineering tools, methodologies, and skills related to fluid processing. Provide technical guidance, ensuring clear priorities and accountability for deliverables, while fostering a culture of safety, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Evaluate existing manufacturing processes and identify areas for improvement in efficiency, productivity, process capability, risk, and cost reduction. Design and implement improvements to enhance yield, reduce waste, increase throughputs, improve cycle times, reduce bottlenecks, and streamline operations while maintaining strict adherence to food safety and quality standards.

• Drive high financial impact on company-wide results, leading technical teams through complex projects. Collaborate with Operations Excellence and Data Science/Analytics teams to leverage data for process optimization. Partner with cross-functional teams—including Production Operations, Quality Assurance, Maintenance, Reliability Engineering, Controls/Capital Engineering, and Supply Chain—to ensure efficient, cost-effective, and high-quality production of food products.

• Lead or assist in the development of new equipment installations or modifications, from concept to commissioning, with a focus on maximizing output, minimizing downtime, and reducing operational risk. Collaborate with Project Engineers on capital project development including scoping, budget estimates, schedule development, construction plans, downtime planning/risk mitigation, and ensuring scope and equipment qualification success criteria are met.

• Perform process capability studies to predict manufacturing process trends to meet customer specifications and create stability in day-to-day operations. Utilize advanced data analysis and statistical techniques to identify bottlenecks, process variability, and areas for improvement across multiple production processes. Implement data-driven solutions to increase overall efficiency while mitigating operational risk.

• Maintain accurate documentation, including process manuals, plant P&IDs, CCPs, standard operating procedures, and equipment specifications, with an emphasis on standardizing the process and sharing best practices. 

• May be required to perform other job-related tasks.

What you need to succeed:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Chemical or Process Engineering preferred); other engineering fields acceptable. Masters degree Engineering a plus but not required.

• 10+ years technical experience with aseptic processing and heat treatment, filtration and separation, blending, CIP, heat transfer and fluid mechanics in dairy industry preferred.

• Professional Engineer license is a plus

• Strong understanding of food safety regulations and quality management systems (e.g. HACCP, GMP, QMS, FDA, USDA) is required

• Strong understanding of process safety, safe design & hazard assessments (e.g., OSHA, HAZOP, LOPA, etc.) and ability to perform FMEA to proactively identify potential failure points, risks, and weaknesses in processes and equipment.

• Solid understanding of developing P&ID diagrams (AutoCAD) and PID loop tuning related to current and new process designs. Extensive knowledge of engineering theories, practices, and design matters.

• Capable of executing medium to large size capital projects, re-design existing equipment, process flows, and design improvements. History of leading projects requiring high capital expenditure and collaborating with senior leadership.

• Collaborative approach and communication skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams. Experience creating formal networks involving key decision makers and influencing diverse stakeholders/audiences.

• Ability to travel up to 35-50% based on business needs within the US and internationally.

Eligible partners will receive:

• Get not one, but TWO retirement benefits.  When you join our employee-owned company, you’ll be part of our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) from day one.  In addition to an 8% 401(k) match into the ESOP, Schreiber will contribute an extra amount – about 8% of your earnings – toward your retirement every year.  That’s a company contribution of around 16% in retirement savings annually.  That’s hard to beat!
• Earn bonus pay. You’ll have an opportunity to earn incentive pay twice a year when we meet our company goals.
• Ready to make a move?  Receive a $10,000 relocation bonus PLUS a generous relocation package if relocating more than 50 miles for a U.S. Salaried position.   
• Childcare costs. Get up to $5,000 annually to help you with the cost of childcare.  Monthly contributions toward childcare expenses, including independent babysitters.
• Earn extra money for taking care of yourself. Eligible partners can earn a Wellness Incentive and receive an employer‑funded Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA) to use on fitness, mental health, and other lifestyle expenses.
• Pursue development that’s relevant to your role, career goals and the company. Plus, we offer tuition reimbursement if you want to further your education to grow in your role at Schreiber.
• Get access to medical, prescription drug, dental and vision benefits starting day one. This includes an onsite nurse and mental health counselor.
• Experience caring like you’ve never experienced it before. We have a program that’s completely organized by and for other partners who need extra help. It’s called Partners Helping Partners. We have hundreds of examples of partners organizing fundraisers to help out others going through a hard time.
• Benefits that support your whole life. Visit Schreiber – Care for you to see everything Schreiber offers to support your health, wellbeing, and financial future.

Sound like a company you’d like to be a part of? Click Apply.

Need extra assistance with the application process? Contact recruiting@schreiberfoods.com or call 920-437-7601.

​For positions that require any amount of travel: Valid driver's license, auto insurance (at least state minimum- more might be required), acceptable driving record per Schreiber Foods discretion, and vehicle that will ensure applicant can meet the travel necessities of the position are required.

Schreiber requires that an employee have authorization to work in the country in which the role is based. In the event, an applicant does not have current work authorization, Schreiber will determine, in its sole discretion, whether to sponsor an individual for work authorization. However, based on immigration requirements, not all roles are suitable for sponsorship.

Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

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