Director, Process Engineering

The Farmer's Dog • New York, NY

8h • $185,000 - $210,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Process Engineering leads with a focus on new process development and process control to deliver exceptional manufacturing performance and a strong competitive advantage. With equal parts innovation and continuous improvement mindset, this leader will be an important leader in the R&D organization.

One Team: We don’t think of ourselves as “Acquisition Marketers”, “Engineers”, “Data Analysts”, or “Product Managers”. Beyond denoting skill sets and areas of expertise, we don’t think departments matter. We’d rather align ourselves to the goals we’re working to achieve and make sure we have necessary subject matter expertise to drive meaningful impact. We strive to orient ourselves around customer problems TOGETHER – getting the right people, with the right context, in the right rooms/Zooms to solve problems holistically.

We are skeptical about everything and precious about nothing: Ideas can and should come from anywhere, and we aren’t tied to our own. We proactively source input. We talk to our customers and leads regularly and are quick to change course if we know there’s a better or more impactful way to solve problems.

We consider the customer journey in all of our decisions: We know that no interaction exists in a silo and therefore understand how important every single one is. We ensure our strategy sets prospective and new customers up for success and drives long-term retention. We answer questions and address problems early and proactively. We understand the value of different channels, initiatives, and messages and know how to articulate impact and advocate for prioritization holistically.

We Execute For Impact: We don’t subscribe to “best practices” or “industry KPIs”. We’re uninterested in how we compare to “benchmarks”; instead we orient ourselves around being the best we can possibly be. Similarly, we don’t subscribe to rigid or classical expectations of roles – i.e. acquisition is hyper-focused on improving customer retention and experience.

We Are Focused and Work Without Assumption: We are not beholden to ideas. We have goals and believe everything beyond that is a series of hypotheses to validate. To that end, we seek to work in sequence and not in parallel. We constantly ask ourselves, “what’s the most important hypothesis I should be working on right now? How do I confirm or reject that hypothesis as fast as possible?”. We rarely have timelines/deadlines and are constantly taking in new information and adjusting our priorities accordingly. We don’t expect to be perfect the first time.

Requirements

• Process engineering expert with 10+ years of experience, specializing in R&D-driven process design, scale-up, and optimization.
• Deep technical knowledge of complex food processing systems.
• Strong foundation in continuous improvement methodologies such as TPM, Lean, Six Sigma, and DOE.
• Highly skilled in leveraging tools like Big Data Analytics (BDA), 5S, Kaizen, RCA, and FMECA to identify process inefficiencies and drive performance optimization.
• Experienced in developing and implementing new process technologies.
• Successfully scaled up emerging technologies from pilot plant to full commercial production, ensuring robust, efficient, and scalable manufacturing solutions.
• Expert in advanced process controls, leveraging smart manufacturing, AI, and real-time process monitoring to optimize efficiency, reduce variability, and enhance product quality.
• Systematic approach to complex technical challenges, using root cause analysis (RCA), failure mode and effects analysis (FMECA), and predictive modeling to drive continuous improvement.
• Strong ability to influence and collaborate across teams, working seamlessly with R&D, Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, and OEM partners to ensure alignment on process innovation goals.
• Strategic mindset, capable of synthesizing technical insights into actionable business decisions.
• Bridge the gap between R&D and operations, ensuring new process technologies are both scientifically validated and commercially scalable.
• Compelling communicator, adept at engaging with executive leadership, technical teams, and cross-functional stakeholders to drive alignment and accelerate innovation adoption.
• Highly adaptable and thrive in fast-paced environments, capable of leading complex process transformations while managing costs, resources, and timelines effectively.
• Willing to travel up to 60%, actively engaging with R&D centers, pilot plants, manufacturing facilities, and global innovation partners to drive hands-on process improvements.
• True R&D business partner, seamlessly collaborating across engineering, quality, safety, and operations to drive breakthrough process innovations that enhance both product quality and operational efficiency.
• Love dogs.

Responsibilities

• Drive innovation, technological advancements, and continuous improvement across the organization.
• Lead the development of new technologies and methodologies that enhance product quality, food safety, operational efficiency, and sustainability.
• Play a critical role in designing, testing, and validating new processes, ensuring they are scalable and commercially viable.
• Introduce and refine innovative processing solutions, leveraging data-driven insights to improve manufacturing consistency, cost efficiency, and sustainability.
• Champion process innovation, collaborating with cross-functional teams to de-risk new technologies, improve throughput, and enhance automation.
• Ensure seamless technology transfer from concept to commercialization.
• Lead scaling up novel production methods, integrating advanced process controls, and continuously refining pilot-to-plant transfer strategies to drive business growth.
• Analyze complex process challenges, leveraging statistical modeling, AI-driven process optimization, and advanced problem-solving methodologies (e.g., RCA, FMECA, DOE) to unlock new efficiencies.
• Influence and lead cross-functional teams, shaping the future of process engineering and setting the standard for cutting-edge, high-performance manufacturing that prioritizes safety, quality, and sustainability.
• Collaborate across engineering, quality, safety, and operations to drive breakthrough process innovations that enhance both product quality and operational efficiency.

Benefits

• Dog-friendly office in SoHo
• Market-competitive compensation and equity packages
• Comprehensive Healthcare, Dental, and Vision
• Company supported mental health benefits
• 12 week paid parental leave
• Competitive 401k plan with company match
• Flexible PTO
• Discounted fresh food for your pup
• Your pet interrupting video calls (and in-person meetings) is now a feature, not a bug

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees