The Senior R&D Process Engineer -Dairy will be responsible identifying and leading process engineering activities across Land O'Lakes Dairy Foods product platforms and manufacturing sites. This position will leverage and grow their dairy processing expertise to identify and implement cost savings projects by enabling manufacturing network optimization, material yield improvements, or quality improvement. In addition, this role will be tasked with leading scale-up activities from pilot plant to manufacturing and will be responsible for defining process design for new and revised products and processes.
Role & Responsibilities:
Provides dairy process engineering expertise and knowledge across Dairy Foods product platforms and manufacturing sites
Proactively identifies opportunities for cost savings, innovation, manufacturing network optimization, material yield improvements, and quality improvements to enable business topline growth
Leads scale-up from pilot plant to manufacturing and defines process design for new, improved, or revised products and processes
Applies engineering principles (mass & energy balances, thermodynamics, and fluid dynamics) for scale-up and process design
Leads implementation of projects, plant trials and capital projects within plant and pilot plant
Leads cross-functional teams in process development or improvement efforts to enhance margin and/or increase capacity
Analyzes manufacturing data and utilizes statistical methods to troubleshoot and/or identify opportunities to ensure manufacturing systems reliably deliver high quality products
Identifies and documents product processing requirements and selection criteria for new process equipment
Collaborates with Operations, Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Marketing, Sales, Regulatory, other R&D functions, and external parties on moderately complex projects and initiatives
Mentors and process engineers, scientists, and technologists within the organization
Skills and Competencies
Deep understanding of dairy chemistry and dairy processing techniques is required. Highly desired to have experience with one or more of the following dairy unit operations or make processes: spray drying, evaporators, membrane filtration, fermentation, or crystallization.
Experience working in or with dairy manufacturing facilities
Broad and deep range of technical knowledge of foundational engineering and scientific principles
Experience identifying and implementing cost savings projects
Strong written and verbal communication and collaboration skills
Data-based analytical thinking; understanding of Statistical tools and methods
Proficient with Microsoft Office applications and Minitab
Strong understanding of analytical and physical characterization methods
Innovative, inventive, creative thinking and problem solving, with agility to pivot and dive deep into technical challenges
Ability to travel 10-25% of time
Preferred Experience and Education
BS degree in Chemical, Mechanical, or other related engineering discipline along with a minimum of 10 years relevant work experience.
Understanding of Statistical Tools and Methods
Experience with Dairy Processing
Strong technical background
Experience mentoring junior engineers
Professional Engineer and/or Green Belt Certification would elevate a candidate but is not required
Familiarity with engineering modeling tools, such as FEA and CFD, is desirable but not required
The salary range for this role is $105,040 - $157,650
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About Land O'Lakes, Inc.
Join us and be part of a Fortune 250, farmer- and member-owned cooperative that is reimagining the business of food. We have been named a Top Workplace by Indeed and LinkedIn, and to the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list.
Benefits for most full-time roles include medical, dental, vision, PTO, life & disability insurance, education assistance, a 401k and a variety of well-being resources. Most part-time employees are eligible for prorated PTO, holiday pay, employee development programs, prorated education assistance, and a 401(k).
Land O'Lakes, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) M/F/Vets/Disabled. The company maintains a drug-free workforce, including post-employment substance abuse testing pursuant to a Drug and Alcohol Policy.
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