Principal Engineer - Process

With more than 80 years of crafting “The Finest Italian Cheeses Money Can Buy”, Grande is a leader in the industry! Whether partnering with independent pizzerias from coast-to-coast to ensure they’re delivering the very best pizza to their customers or assisting our food manufacturing partners in delivering specialty whey ingredient solutions, our commitment to quality can’t be matched. While Grande’s reputation of excellence in the market is important, we believe our commitment to our workplace and community culture is of equal merit – our Associates come first  complement our industry-leading benefits, Grande puts an emphasis on your career growth opportunities, while always promoting a positive work/life balance and supporting the communities in which we live and work.

If you want to learn more about our company – what we do and how we go about it – or learn more about our beautiful, state‑of‑the‑art corporate headquarters,  .

• Low cost onsite clinics.
• Free onsite fitness center.
• Free healthy snacks throughout facility.
• Health and wellness reimbursement program.
• Relaxation rooms (based on location).
• Coffee and gelato bar (based on location).

In Fond du Lac (FDL) you get the full four‑season experience – warm in the summer with highs reaching into the 80s and plenty of sunshine for golf, biking, camping and live music under the open sky, and brisk air in the winter with average temps in the 20s and ample snow for snowmobiling, cross‑country skiing, ice fishing and winter festivals.

The greater FDL area (population 43,000) is easy to get around and roughly an hour drive to almost all major metros in the state (Milwaukee, Madison and Fox Cities/Green Bay). We’ve been rated “Top 100” in job growth among small U.S. metro areas. Additionally, our cost of living is 4% below the national average and you’ll pay 21% less for housing, rent and property taxes compared to the rest of the country.

From wonderful educational partners (public and private K12 schools and three local colleges/universities), a plethora of things to do/see, and a vibrant business and commerce community…learn more about how you can call Fond du Lac, HOME!

Job Summary

Grande Fond du Lac is seeking our next Principal Engineer – Process! In this position you will serve as the technical authority and design leader for Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) across cheese, whey, utilities, and wastewater treatment projects. This role defines project scope, develops and reviews robust process designs, and leads stage‑gate design reviews to ensure safe, compliant, and high‑value solutions.

As a trusted expert, you will advance engineering standards, drive innovation that improves quality and reduces risk, and provide critical technical guidance across the organization. Experience in wastewater engineering and design is strongly preferred, given the role’s impact on utilities and environmental systems.

This position also leads complex capital projects from concept through installation, start‑up, and commissioning, partnering closely with cross‑functional teams, suppliers, contractors, and regulators. You will mentor and develop engineering talent, lead cross‑functional teams, and support operational excellence through process optimization, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement. Ideal candidates bring deep process engineering expertise, particularly in wastewater systems, along with the leadership skills to influence strategy, standardize best practices, and deliver reliable, scalable manufacturing solutions enterprise‑wide.

What you need to be considered for the role:

• 4 Year / Bachelors Degree in related Engineering field required.
• Minimum of ten (10) years related engineering experience required.
• Must have experience working with food processing facility and design.
• Adept project management skills with demonstration of experience in a variety of complex projects.
• Knowledge of USDA, FDA, OSHA, EPA and environmental regulations, codes, and standards.
• Highly skilled in troubleshooting, diagnosing problems and recommending improvements.
• Strong planning and prioritization skills, innovation, multi‑tasking, goal setting, analytical skills,…