Senior Process Engineer

Job Type

Full-time

Description

Position Title: Sr. Process Engineer

Reports To: Director of Engineering

FLSA Status: Exempt

Job Grade: 12

Pay Range: $125,000- $179,000

Position Overview:

The Senior Process Engineer is responsible for optimizing manufacturing processes, automation systems, utilities, and production equipment across Cayuga Milk Ingredients' operations. This role drives operational excellence through process improvement, automation, capital project support, and equipment reliability initiatives while ensuring the highest standards of food safety, quality, sustainability, and regulatory compliance.

Working cross-functionally with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, R&D, Supply Chain, and Engineering, the Senior Process Engineer identifies and implements solutions that improve productivity, yield, efficiency, and overall plant performance. This position serves as a key technical resource supporting process innovation, capacity expansion, and commercialization of new products and technologies.

Key Responsibilities

Process Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, yield, throughput, reliability, and cost reduction.
• Analyze process and production data to identify opportunities for optimization and waste reduction.
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement sustainable corrective actions for process and equipment issues.
• Support initiatives that improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), process capability, and resource utilization.

Process & Automation Engineering

• Provide technical support for dairy processing systems including milk receiving, pasteurization, membrane filtration, evaporation, drying, packaging, and utilities.
• Design, troubleshoot, and optimize PLC, HMI, SCADA, instrumentation, and process control systems.
• Develop and maintain process documentation, control narratives, P&IDs, and automation standards.
• Support advanced process control strategies and digital manufacturing initiatives.

Capital Projects & Innovation

• Support capital projects from concept through commissioning and startup.
• Develop technical specifications, review equipment designs, and assist with vendor selection.
• Participate in FAT/SAT activities, validation efforts, and operational handoff.
• Support the evaluation and implementation of new technologies and process improvements.

Utilities, Sustainability & Compliance

• Support optimization of refrigeration, steam, compressed air, water, and wastewater systems.
• Identify opportunities to improve energy efficiency, water conservation, and sustainability performance.
• Ensure compliance with FDA, PMO, SQF, OSHA, environmental regulations, and company standards.

Technical Leadership

• Serve as a key technical resource for Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Engineering teams.
• Mentor employees on process optimization, troubleshooting, and automation best practices.
• Support new product commercialization and implementation of engineering best practices across the organization.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, Automation, or Food Engineering, or related field.

Experience

• 7+ years of engineering experience in dairy, food, beverage, or other highly automated manufacturing environments.
• Experience with process optimization, automation systems, and capital project execution.
• Dairy processing experience highly preferred.

Technical Skills

• Knowledge of dairy processing systems, sanitary design, and food manufacturing operations.
• Experience with Allen-Bradley/Rockwell PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, VFDs, and process instrumentation.
• Proficiency with engineering documentation, CAD software, and manufacturing data analysis tools.
• Familiarity with FDA, PMO, SQF, and OSHA requirements.

Core Competencies

• Continuous Improvement
• Process Optimization
• Automation & Controls
• Project Management
• Problem Solving & Root Cause Analysis
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Food Safety & Quality
• Technical Leadership

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to navigate all areas of the facility, including office spaces, warehouse areas, and the exterior perimeter.

• Must wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) as necessary to safely perform job duties.

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