Research Engineer

Job Title:

Research Engineer - Process Development (Contract)

Job Description

The Research Engineer Contractor, Process Development, plays a hands-on role in developing, optimizing, and scaling manufacturing processes for a wide range of food and consumer products, including baked, extruded, fried, and other processed systems. This role mirrors many responsibilities of a Process Development Engineer but at a Research Engineer level, assisting with higher-complexity projects, leading defined work streams within broader programs, and independently driving lower-complexity assignments with guidance.

The Research Engineer collaborates closely with cross-functional teams to execute pilot plant and manufacturing trials, analyze process data, document findings, and translate insights into practical recommendations that support commercialization, process optimization, and capability growth.

Responsibilities

+ Support hands-on process development and optimization across multiple food and consumer product manufacturing platforms, including baked, extruded, fried, and other processed product systems.

+ Assist on higher-complexity process development projects while leading defined work streams within larger programs under the guidance of engineering staff.

+ Independently drive low-complexity process development and improvement assignments, ensuring timely and high-quality execution.

+ Plan, set up, and execute pilot plant trials and manufacturing trials to evaluate new processes, products, and equipment configurations.

+ Operate pilot plant and factory equipment safely and effectively during trials, including start-up, changeovers, and shutdowns.

+ Collect, organize, and analyze process performance data from pilot and manufacturing trials to identify trends, variability, and improvement opportunities.

+ Apply Design of Experiments (DOE) and statistical analysis techniques to optimize process parameters and validate process changes.

+ Perform root cause analysis and technical problem solving to address process deviations, equipment issues, and quality concerns.

+ Support process scale-up and commercialization activities by translating pilot plant learnings into robust manufacturing processes.

+ Conduct process capability assessments to evaluate performance, stability, and consistency of manufacturing operations.

+ Contribute to manufacturing process improvement and continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, yield, and product quality.

+ Support equipment startup, validation, and troubleshooting efforts for pilot and production equipment.

+ Evaluate ingredients, processes, and product attributes to ensure alignment with performance, quality, and safety requirements.

+ Develop, update, and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), process guides, and technical documentation that clearly describe process steps and best practices.

+ Prepare technical reports and documentation that summarize trial objectives, methods, results, conclusions, and recommendations.

+ Collaborate closely with Product Development, Engineering, Operations, Quality, Manufacturing, Procurement, and external partners to plan and execute trials and projects.

+ Provide technical support to plant trials and factory operations, including on-site presence during key manufacturing runs.

+ Ensure awareness of and adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and food safety practices during all development and trial activities.

+ Support continuous improvement initiatives by identifying opportunities for process optimization, waste reduction, and capability enhancement.

+ Apply knowledge of moisture control, thermal processing, airflow systems, and process controls to improve product and process performance.

+ Participate in cross-functional meetings and project discussions, communicating technical findings and recommendations clearly to diverse stakeholders.

+ Use statistical software, such as Minitab when available, to perform data analysis, process capability studies, and DOE evaluations.

+ Engage with suppliers and external manufacturing partners as needed to support trials, commercialization, and process troubleshooting.

+ Contribute to new product development efforts by providing process input and supporting commercialization from concept through launch.

Essential Skills

+ Hands-on experience with process development and optimization in manufacturing environments, ideally within food processing or food manufacturing.

+ Experience executing pilot plant trials and supporting plant trials and factory operations.

+ Demonstrated ability to support process scale-up and commercialization activities from pilot to full production.

+ Proficiency with Design of Experiments (DOE) and statistical analysis for process optimization and validation.

+ Strong skills in data analysis and trend identification to evaluate process performance and capability.

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Experience with manufacturing process improvement and continuous improvement methodologies.

+ Knowledge of Good Manufacturing…