Mechanical Engineer - Proliant Dairy Ingredients

Lauridsen Group•St. Johns, MI

About The Position

The Mechanical Engineer applies engineering principles to design, improve, and develop facilities, equipment, machinery, testing systems, and manufacturing processes across Proliant Dairy’s manufacturing sites. The position may be based out of a home office and requires frequent travel to manufacturing locations, including St. Johns, Michigan, and Melrose, Minnesota. Candidates within commuting distance of the St. Johns facility are preferred; travel may be up to 50%. The work takes place partly in a general office environment and partly in pilot or manufacturing plants, with exposure to acidic and alkaline substances, biohazards, odor, noise, dust, moving machinery, and occasional hazardous chemicals. Business travel may involve a variety of weather conditions. The engineer evaluates product and equipment specifications, engineering proposals, and process requirements to determine appropriate designs and assess the feasibility of new or modified processes. The role provides technical input on manufacturing methods, materials, and process limitations; establishes objectives and performance standards; prepares capital expenditure requests; and updates project designs using CAD tools. The engineer also applies relevant industry codes, recommended practices, and local ordinances, which may include 3-A Dairy Standards, PMO, and NFPA. The position works closely with production personnel and communicates with contractors, vendors, suppliers, customers, and other business contacts. It requires the ability to manage multiple projects, work proactively with a team and with limited supervision, and maintain confidentiality concerning product development and engineering information. The role may require daily and extended hours as necessary.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a closely related field.
Two to five years of experience as a Mechanical Engineer in the food industry.
Knowledge of engineering practices and principles and the ability to develop, analyze, and implement engineering methods and processes.
Knowledge of industrial engineering designs and drafting, including the ability to modify plans for existing facilities.
Ability to interpret and communicate engineering plans and specifications.
Knowledge of manufacturing costs associated with engineering designs and equipment, and ability to prepare written product-feasibility reports for management.
Ability to work daily and extended hours as necessary.
Knowledge of industrial and mechanical engineering, piping, and utility systems.
Knowledge of organizational methods and ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.
Knowledge and experience with AutoCAD and ability to use computer-aided-design software.
Ability to perform basic mechanical, structural, and mass-energy-balance calculations.
Ability to draft for mechanical and industrial disciplines.
Experience with process-control design and instrumentation design and selection.
Knowledge of food safety, GMP, and HAACP.
Skills in mathematics, communication, and organization.
Ability to be self-motivated and function proactively in a team environment, as well as work on projects with limited supervision.
Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding product development information, engineering methods and techniques, and current or future projects.
Ability to travel up to 50%.

Nice To Haves

Experience with dairy processes, evaporation, drying, membrane filtration (UF/RO/NF), or spray drying.
Candidates located within commuting distance of the St. Johns, Michigan facility are preferred.

Responsibilities

Analyze product or equipment specifications and performance requirements to determine designs that can be produced by existing manufacturing or processing facilities and methods.
Analyze engineering proposals, process requirements, and related technical data for industrial machinery and equipment design.
Determine the feasibility of designing new processes or modifying existing processes, considering cost, space, time, company planning, and technical and economic factors.
Provide technical information on manufacturing and processing techniques, materials, properties, advantages, and limitations for long-range plant and product engineering planning.
Establish objectives and parameters before implementation, then compile and analyze operational, test, and research data to establish performance standards for new or modified equipment.
Develop and prepare capital expenditure requests identifying scope, timelines, justification, alternatives, and return on investment.
Update project designs using CAD design tools.
Recognize and implement applicable industry codes, recommended practices, and local ordinances, potentially including 3-A Dairy Standards, PMO, and NFPA.
Work with production personnel to maximize plant efficiency.
Modify and adapt equipment and machinery to advance product processes from pilot-plant scale to full manufacturing-plant capacity.
Perform basic mechanical, structural, and mass-energy-balance calculations.
Interpret production data, conduct production-capacity studies, and prepare written recommendations for management.
Communicate and coordinate effectively with contractors, vendors, suppliers, customers, and other business contacts.
Manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously and maintain confidentiality concerning product development and engineering information.
Travel to Proliant Dairy manufacturing sites as required, with travel up to 50%.