Dairy Process Engineer

Albertsons • Boise, ID

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

ACI is seeking an experienced Dairy Process Engineer to support manufacturing line optimization, process standardization, and continuous improvement initiatives across its operations. This is a corporate position that will work directly with plant leadership, operations, and engineering teams to improve throughput, reduce variability, and establish scalable, best‑practice process standards. The Dairy Process Engineer will take a hands‑on, data‑driven approach to evaluating current‑state operations, identifying performance gaps, and supporting the design and execution of practical improvements. The role will report to the Director of Corporate Engineering. This is a full-time role, intended to accelerate near‑term operational results while building sustainable process capabilities within ACI. The position requires regular travel to ACI sites as business needs dictate. This role owns process standards and standard work for assigned process areas and is expected to influence capital, automation/controls, and operating strategy decisions through technical leadership and change management.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, or a related discipline
• 5 plus years of experience in dairy or refrigerated food manufacturing environments, supporting fluid milk, cultured products, cheese, ice cream, or related dairy processes
• Hands on experience with dairy unit operations, including pasteurization (HTST/UHT), homogenization, separation/standardization, fermentation, freezing, and packaging
• Exposure to industrial controls and automation in dairy processing environments (e.g., PLC/SCADA systems such as Rockwell, Siemens, Wonderware) and recipe management / process control limits
• Experience extracting and working with manufacturing/process data from systems such as FactoryTalk, Ignition, or similar; basic SQL or data-extraction skills preferred
• Familiarity with dairy regulatory and quality frameworks, including FDA/PMO requirements, HACCP, and internal quality standards
• Demonstrated experience optimizing production lines in a regulated or quality‑driven manufacturing environment
• Strong understanding of dairy mass balance, yield drivers, and loss points (e.g., cream losses, trim, rework, CIP interface losses)
• Experience working directly on the plant floor to diagnose issues and implement improvements
• Proven ability to translate analytical findings into practical, operator‑ready solutions
• Experience supporting multi‑site manufacturing organizations or standardized production platforms
• Familiarity with Lean manufacturing or similar improvement frameworks
• Proficiency with statistical analysis tools (advanced Excel and/or similar) and process mapping software
• Exposure to change management and operator training during process rollouts
• Manufacturing process optimization and continuous improvement
• Process standardization and documentation (SOPs, standard work, control plans)
• Data analysis and performance monitoring (KPIs, throughput, yield, downtime)
• Manufacturing controls/automation collaboration (recipes, process control limits) and data extraction (historian/SCADA; basic SQL)
• Structured problem solving and root‑cause analysis
• Cross‑functional collaboration and stakeholder engagement
• Clear technical communication with both engineering and operations audiences
• Ability to work independently in a delivery‑focused role

Responsibilities

• Support manufacturing line optimization, process standardization, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Improve throughput, reduce variability, and establish scalable, best‑practice process standards.
• Evaluate current‑state operations, identify performance gaps, and support the design and execution of practical improvements.
• Own process standards and standard work for assigned process areas.
• Influence capital, automation/controls, and operating strategy decisions through technical leadership and change management.
• Collaborate with plant leadership, operations, and engineering teams.
• Translate analytical findings into practical, operator‑ready solutions.
• Support multi‑site manufacturing organizations or standardized production platforms.
• Conduct change management and operator training during process rollouts.
• Perform manufacturing process optimization and continuous improvement.
• Develop process standardization and documentation (SOPs, standard work, control plans).
• Conduct data analysis and performance monitoring (KPIs, throughput, yield, downtime).
• Collaborate on manufacturing controls/automation (recipes, process control limits) and data extraction (historian/SCADA; basic SQL).
• Utilize structured problem solving and root‑cause analysis.
• Engage in cross‑functional collaboration and stakeholder engagement.
• Communicate technical information clearly to both engineering and operations audiences.
• Work independently in a delivery‑focused role.

Benefits

• Competitive wages paid weekly
• Access to up to 50% of your earned wages before payday, via our partnership with Stream
• Associate discounts
• Health and financial well-being benefits for eligible associates (Medical, Dental, 401k and more!)
• Time off (vacation, holidays, sick pay)
• Leaders invested in your training, career growth and development
• An inclusive work environment with talented colleagues who reflect the communities we serve

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior