Process Engineer

GEA Group•Oakdale, CA

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Process Engineer supports sales, engineering, commissioning, and optimization of GEA Process systems in the Sanitary Powder and Thermal Separations (PTS) Department. The role involves designing and improving equipment configurations, process flows, and systems to meet or exceed GEA standards and customer objectives, while ensuring quality, safety, and environmental compliance. The position participates throughout project execution and may also support pre-award sales activities, including customer meetings, cost estimation, and proposal generation. It offers a hybrid working schedule with up to two days per week remote and requires approximately 25% travel, potentially up to 40%, depending on project needs.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Food Technology, or a similar related field.
4–6 years of experience.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively and independently.
Self-motivation, initiative, decisiveness, and commercial or business acumen.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
Strong time management skills and a demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and prioritize tasks.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced and sometimes stressful environment.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
Willingness to travel approximately 25% of the time, potentially up to 40%, depending on project needs.
Authorization to work in the United States without current or future visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Experience with evaporator design and/or operation.
Processing experience in the food, dairy, or beverage industry.
Experience with evaporation, spray drying, and powder handling.

Responsibilities

Participate in project phases including execution hand-off, engineering, commissioning, and optimization.
Support the Technical Offer Management Department with customer meetings, pre-award sales support, cost estimation, and proposal generation.
Manage assigned technical areas of projects, adhering to design standards and meeting customer specifications within schedule, budget, and contract constraints.
Collaborate with project teams to achieve project milestones and goals.
Identify and justify scope changes that affect process design throughout the project life cycle.
Provide technical solutions that meet customer expectations and requirements.
Maintain accurate records of meetings, discussions, correspondence, and technical documents.
Develop Block Flow Diagrams, Process Flow Diagrams, Process and Instrumentation Diagrams, and heat and mass balances.
Develop process equipment specifications and specify or design utility consumptions.
Contribute to general arrangement, plot plan, and elevation view drawings.
Evaluate and approve design changes, specifications, and drawing releases.
Develop process and functional descriptions of operation.
Lead and facilitate software factory acceptance testing (FAT), confirming operation according to process and functional descriptions.
Plan and implement test procedures and commissioning plans.
Troubleshoot equipment and system performance concerns for customers.
Complete plant audits.
Ensure compliance with government regulations, safety and environmental regulations, and industry standards, including sanitary requirements.
Support safety evaluations such as HAZOP meetings.
Collaborate with team members, technology centers, and GEA European Centers of Competence on technology improvements and project execution.
Coordinate with other disciplines to minimize deficiencies, errors, and omissions in technical documents and specifications.
Develop relationships with technical stakeholders regarding process design and operation.
Provide pre-sale and post-sale support, including site evaluations, pilot trials, presentations, and training.
Evaluate third-party supplier proposals and equipment selections from a technical perspective.
Work with customers in support of sales managers and build and maintain customer relationships.
Lead or support on-site commissioning activities.
Train customer personnel on GEA process systems during commissioning and provide ongoing troubleshooting support.
Report process improvement initiatives.
Mentor other Process Engineers.