Director of Process Engineering

The Director of Process Engineering will lead and grow the onsite Area Process Engineering team at the Idaho manufacturing facility. This role provides hands-on technical leadership to support day‑to‑day production, including process troubleshooting, root cause analysis, continuous improvement initiatives, and KPI tracking to support proactive operational oversight. The position carries direct accountability for upholding food safety and product quality standards and requires a confident, self‑directed leader capable of making timely, data‑driven decisions.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and develop a team of Process Engineers focused on proactive process oversight, early issue identification, and thorough root cause analysis for process and product performance.
• Partner closely with site manufacturing leadership to foster strong cross‑functional collaboration and alignment across departments.
• Establish and maintain plant‑wide KPIs and reporting frameworks to monitor and improve process performance.
• Provide technical expertise and support for processing operations, utilities, and wastewater systems.
• Develop and implement strategies to sustain or improve process efficiency while enhancing cost control, yields, quality, and safety outcomes.
• Investigate and resolve process deviations by identifying fundamental root causes and implementing effective corrective actions.
• Review, evaluate, and challenge proposed process modifications, designs, and change requests through the Management of Change (MOC) process.
• Create conceptual engineering solutions and define specifications for process equipment and systems.
• Collaborate with vendors and contractors to deliver project objectives safely, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and internal standards.
• Support the handoff of capital projects from execution to the production operations team.
• Maintain and organize engineering documentation in partnership with drafting resources, including equipment layouts, process flow diagrams, P&IDs, manuals, and standards.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or another relevant engineering discipline.
• 8+ years of experience supporting plant manufacturing operations and/or delivering capital projects, with at least 3 years in a technical leadership or people‑management role.
• Strong background in hygienic process design within food or dairy manufacturing, with hands‑on knowledge of systems such as pasteurization, separation, and related processing technologies. Experience with cultured dairy products and aseptic processing is a plus.
• Working knowledge of food safety principles and regulatory requirements, including HACCP; PMO exposure preferred.
• Solid technical understanding of dairy processing equipment, including pump and piping design, utilities, and automation systems (PLC‑based controls).
• Experience analyzing and trending process data to drive operational improvements; familiarity with SEEQ is preferred.
• Proficiency with standard engineering and productivity tools, including Microsoft Office and AutoCAD.
• Strong communication and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize effectively and perform in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment.
• Willingness to serve as a hands‑on leader, providing direct technical support when needed.
• Demonstrated initiative, leadership presence, and the ability to motivate and energize teams.

Apply Today!