Process Engineer

LCO Specialist (Process Engineer) Mon‑Fri Days 37.5 hours

We are currently recruiting for a continuous improvement and manufacturing excellence specialist to work within our creamery department at Stourton Dairy, our most complex milk site in the UK. This role combines data analytics, digital innovation and stakeholder collaboration to drive operational performance, quality and sustainable growth.

Reporting into the LCO Core Team Leader you will be responsible for delivering CI projects, optimising OEE, driving data‑led decisions and championing AI and digital solutions.

• Identify, develop and deliver step‑change improvements across safety, quality, cost, reliability, service, automation and digitalisation, driving sustainable business results.
• Analyze production processes, remove bottlenecks, and improve capacity utilisation, OEE, output, energy efficiency and overall line performance.
• Leverage process and machine data, dashboards and performance visualisation tools to identify opportunities, solve complex problems and support operational excellence.
• Lead the transition from manual to automated data capture, support predictive maintenance and AI‑enabled manufacturing initiatives, and enhance real‑time operational insights.
• Lead packaging innovation, reduce defects and waste, improve process capability and support environmentally sustainable manufacturing through data‑driven solutions.

You will hold a Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, Food, Industrial or a related discipline) and bring at least three years' experience in a Continuous Improvement, Process Engineering or Manufacturing Excellence role. You'll have a passion for learning, a proactive "can‑do" attitude, and proven success in delivering process optimisation, line performance improvements and structured problem solving using Lean, Six Sigma or similar CI methodologies.

Experience with in food manufacturing or FMCG environments is highly desirable, Green Belt Certification is a plus.

We’re looking for someone who enjoys working closely with production teams on the shop floor and is comfortable analysing complex manufacturing systems, including production flow, bottlenecks, staffing, logistics and inventory models. You'll have experience leveraging digital technologies and data to drive improvements, with exposure to tools such as MES systems, Power BI, Python, automated systems or emerging manufacturing technologies. Strong communication, stakeholder management and cross‑functional collaboration skills are essential, along with a solid understanding of quality, food safety and compliance standards.

We’re committed to supporting your growth and development, offering internal and external training opportunities. You’ll enjoy a competitive salary, 26 days of holiday plus bank holidays, matched pension contributions up to 6%, life assurance and flexible benefits.

The closing date for applications is 17th July 2026.

• Our Stourton site takes in 2.2 million litres of milk daily.
• It produces around 660 million litres of the nation’s favourites per year from 16 automated filling lines.
• From Stourton we produce over 225 SKUs within 10 different product groups, such as Cravendale & BOB filtered milk, creams, alcohol cream and cottage cheese.
• The site has received c.£315 million in investment since 2004.