Validation & Commissioning Engineer

Edesia is a non‑profit, social enterprise on a mission to end malnutrition globally. We make and deliver ready‑to‑use foods like Plumpy’Nut and Nutributter, where severely malnourished children and mothers in the world's hardest‑to‑reach places are waiting for our life‑saving foods. We partner with the world’s leading humanitarian agencies and NGOs, ensuring that, even during the most challenging crises, nutrition is never out of reach for the most vulnerable.

We are launching a new food manufacturing facility and are seeking an experienced Validation & Commissioning Engineer to join our team. This individual will lead the commissioning, qualification, and validation (CQV) of process systems, utilities, and facility infrastructure, ensuring compliance with regulatory, food safety, and quality standards. This role has a clear start‑up focus and will play a critical part in ensuring our new facility is operational, compliant, and audit‑ready.

• Develop and manage the Validation Master Plan (VMP) for the facility.
• Plan, draft, and execute IQ/OQ/PQ protocols for process equipment and critical utilities (e.g., water, compressed air, HVAC).
• Validate food safety and quality‑critical processes, including cleaning validation, allergen controls, and kill‑step verification.
• Create and finalize all required validation documentation, including protocols, reports, SOPs, deviations, and change controls.
• Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, FSMA, GFSI, cGMP, and customer‑specific requirements.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with Engineering, Quality, Production, Maintenance, and R&D to ensure readiness for startup and production.
• Support training of operational staff to ensure validated processes are transferred successfully.
• Deliver complete validation documentation suitable for internal and regulatory audits.

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Engineering (Chemical / Process / Mechanical), Quality Management or related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in food, pharma, or biotech manufacturing, with direct CQV responsibilities.
• Strong knowledge of sanitary equipment design, utilities, and automation systems.
• Familiarity with HACCP, FSMA, HARPC, and GFSI standards (SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000).
• Proven ability to write, manage, and execute IQ/OQ/PQ protocols and validation reports.
• Demonstrated success in greenfield or brownfield startup projects.
• Excellent project management, documentation, and communication skills.

• General office environment. High utilization of office equipment, phone, computer, etc.
• Active construction site, and evening and weekend work may be required from time to time.

The requirements described are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.