Corn Wet Milling Technology Manager; Illinois OR Iowa Plant

This is an exempt level position.

The Corn Wet Milling Technology Manager supports plant process areas related to the production and optimization of starches, sweeteners, corn oil, gluten feed, gluten meal, ethanol, and other corn-derived co‑products within corn wet milling operations.

• Corn receiving, handling, and storage
• Steeping and sulfur dioxide systems
• Germ separation and corn oil recovery
• Fiber washing and separation
• Gluten separation and protein concentration
• Starch washing and purification
• Starch conversion and sweetener production
• Evaporation, drying, and co‑product systems

• Size reduction and milling
• Steeping and extraction processes
• Centrifugation and separation technologies
• Hydro cyclone starch washing systems
• Evaporation and thermal drying
• Enzymatic starch conversion
• Heat integration and utility systems
• Water treatment, CIP, and chemical treatment systems

This role focuses on continuous improvement, optimization, and reliability of corn wet milling facilities, while collaborating across multiple sites to standardize best practices and drive operational performance.

The Technology Manager will lead plant and organizational engineers in the application of engineering principles to process design, troubleshooting, debottlenecking, and deployment of new technologies, ensuring plant systems operate at safe, optimal, and cost‑effective conditions.

This position plays a key role in achieving capacity expansion, yield maximization, product quality improvements, energy reduction, water conservation, and manufacturing cost reduction objectives.

• Demonstrate technology leadership and promote a strong process safety and operational excellence culture.
• Benchmark wet milling performance (yield, recovery, energy, water usage, and reliability) against internal and external best‑in‑class operations and drive improvements.
• Standardize and replicate best practices across wet milling sites, including steeping performance, starch recovery, gluten separation efficiency, and drying operations.
• Manage and prioritize a portfolio of process improvement, debottlenecking, and capital projects across site operations.
• Collaborate with corporate and plant teams to align on technology deployment, modernization, digitalization, and automation opportunities.
• Evaluate and implement new process technologies related to starch extraction, separation systems, corn oil recovery, sweetener production, energy efficiency, and water management.
• Provide hands‑on support in troubleshooting process bottlenecks including steep losses, starch recovery challenges, separation inefficiencies, evaporation constraints, and product quality variations.
• Establish and track KPIs including starch yield, product recovery, corn oil yield, utility consumption, water usage, throughput, product quality, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Work closely with operations, maintenance, and engineering teams to implement reliability, quality, and efficiency improvements.
• Mentor plant engineers and operating teams on wet milling technology, process optimization, troubleshooting methods, and best practices.
• Support strategic growth initiatives through feasibility studies, process design reviews, and technology assessments.
• Lead technology efforts supporting sustainability initiatives, including water reduction, energy optimization, emissions reduction, and waste minimization.

• Strong commitment to process safety, food/feed safety, and operational excellence.
• Deep understanding of corn wet milling unit operations, including:
  • Corn…