Lead Process Engineer

The Mennel Milling Company • Caledonia, OH

3d • Onsite

About The Position

At Mennel Milling, we’ve been feeding the world since 1886 by doing what’s right and bringing our best every day. We promote teamwork, recognize individual contributions, and are committed to delivering superior quality, uniformity, and service. If you're an experienced manufacturing engineer who thrives on solving complex process challenges and driving continuous improvement, this is your opportunity to make a significant impact. The ideal Lead Process Engineer is a technically strong, data-driven leader who excels at optimizing manufacturing processes and developing practical solutions that improve quality, efficiency, reliability, and cost performance. You enjoy collaborating across departments, mentoring others, and leveraging data to drive sustainable improvements in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Food Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, or a related engineering discipline preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive engineering or technical experience in a manufacturing environment required.
• Food manufacturing or batch-processing experience strongly preferred.
• Proven success leading process troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and driving data-based decision-making.
• Experience supporting capital projects, equipment commissioning, startups, or process validations preferred.
• Working knowledge of ingredient handling, batching, mixing, bulk material handling, process controls, packaging systems, and production operations.
• Strong understanding of GMPs, food safety systems, and manufacturing regulatory requirements.
• Strong analytical, technical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Experience utilizing production data, SPC, process capability tools, and statistical analysis techniques preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and technical writing skills.
• Demonstrated leadership through mentoring, coaching, project leadership, or team development.
• Ability to influence and collaborate effectively across multiple departments.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Food Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Food manufacturing or batch-processing experience.
• Experience supporting capital projects, equipment commissioning, startups, or process validations.
• Experience utilizing production data, SPC, process capability tools, and statistical analysis techniques.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical leader for manufacturing processes at the Martel Bakery Mix facility.
• Partner with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, and R&D to improve process performance, solve production challenges, and support continuous improvement initiatives throughout the plant.
• Develop technical expertise in bakery mix processing, ingredient handling, batching, mixing, transfer, and manufacturing systems.
• Monitor and analyze process performance to improve consistency, throughput, yield, quality, reliability, and operating costs.
• Identify sources of process variation and implement solutions that improve repeatability across products, shifts, operators, and production lines.
• Establish and maintain critical process parameters, operating ranges, centerlines, specifications, and standard work procedures.
• Troubleshoot production and equipment issues and lead structured root cause analysis efforts.
• Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, R&D, and Engineering teams to implement corrective actions and process improvements.
• Use production data and statistical analysis to identify trends, evaluate process capability, and prioritize improvement opportunities.
• Lead and support plant trials involving formulas, ingredients, processing conditions, equipment settings, and manufacturing methods.
• Support new product introductions, formula changes, equipment installations, commissioning activities, and process validations.
• Identify opportunities to reduce cycle times, product loss, waste, downtime, rework, and other manufacturing losses.
• Develop and maintain SOPs, process documentation, troubleshooting guides, and technical training materials.
• Provide technical training, coaching, and mentorship to operations personnel and developing engineers.
• Maintain compliance with GMPs, OSHA requirements, food safety programs, sanitation standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain an everyday audit-ready facility.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Lead process troubleshooting, startups, plant trials, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Set technical priorities and coach employees in structured problem-solving methods.
• Coordinate external vendors, engineering resources, equipment suppliers, and contractors.
• Mentor less-experienced engineers, technicians, and technical personnel.
• Support capital projects, equipment commissioning, and startup activities.

Benefits

• Competitive Pay
• Flexible Accrued Paid Time Off and Holiday Schedule
• Health & Wellbeing Benefits (medical, prescription, vision, dental, HSA, company-paid short-term disability, EAP, and more)
• Life Insurance
• Profit Sharing
• Career Advancement & Training Opportunities
• Rewards & Recognition Program
• Retirement Contributions (401k, etc.)
• Tuition Assistance

What This Job Offers

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