Lead Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Mechanical Engineer

Would you be excited to work, grow, and have a piece of ownership within a start‑up that has amazing potential? If so, please read on!

Clean Sense was founded in 2020 and is a food technology start‑up company based in Ames, Iowa with a laboratory on the Iowa State University campus. Our mission is to scale Clean Sense™ technology to reduce the taste, color, or odor of ingredients, allowing for incorporation into a wide variety of consumer food products. We have developed a patented food processing technology that utilizes a proprietary light delivery system to reduce microbial contamination, while simultaneously moderating the sensory profile of alternative proteins.

Our mission is to partner with food makers to enhance the sensory experience, nutrition, and sustainability of products to help meet the evolving needs of the health‑conscious world.

Clean Sense is looking for a qualified candidate to work with our small team of scientists and engineers to design, build, and install ultraviolet (UV) light processing equipment for food manufacturing. The Lead Engineer will be directly involved in design and build activities while scaling up from prototype to production.

• Complete UV processing equipment design and lead the work with external manufacturers to build production UV units
• Lead installation/commissioning of equipment at manufacturing sites
• Design and build prototype UV units as needed, including control panels, for food grade manufacturing
• Modification and maintenance of existing equipment to improve overall performance and cost effectiveness
• Development and validation of safety, operational, and cleaning SOPs for processing equipment
• Independently manage projects to meet objectives while maintaining timelines

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or other related engineering field
• Experience in new product development from prototype to production
• Experience with food‑grade manufacturing is required
• Experience with stainless sanitary design, thermal/UV/fluid systems, automation, and controls highly desirable
• Collaborative within a multi‑functional team environment
• Management/leadership experience
• Familiarity with pump mechanics, basic electronics, HMI/simple controls
• Experience with machinery design, creation of prototypes, and validation of equipment
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Working knowledge of basic computer programs like Microsoft Office Suite, Outlook, and online collaboration tools. Proficiency in 3D modeling programs like Inventor or Solid Works are desired, with knowledge of Revit, AutoCAD, etc., beneficial.

• Travel Required:
  
  As needed, project‑dependent, up to 20%
• Location:
  
  Ames, Iowa on‑site (Iowa State University campus)
• Annual Salary:
  Salary and Ownership Based on Experience
• Benefits: 401K, PTO, Health Insurance