Process Engineer

GEA•Oakdale, MN

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Process Engineer will support sales, engineering, commissioning, and optimization of GEA Process systems in the Sanitary Powder and Thermal Separations (PTS) Department. The role designs and improves equipment configurations, process flows, and systems to meet or exceed GEA standards and customer objectives, while supporting quality, safety, and environmental compliance. The position offers a hybrid schedule of up to two remote days per week and requires approximately 25% travel, with travel up to 40% depending on project needs. The engineer participates throughout project execution, from hand-off and engineering through commissioning and optimization, and may support pre-award sales activities. Responsibilities include developing process diagrams and balances, specifying equipment and utilities, reviewing technical designs and changes, supporting customer and supplier evaluations, leading software factory acceptance testing, planning commissioning and test procedures, troubleshooting systems, and conducting plant audits. The role also involves customer training and support, safety and regulatory compliance, collaboration across disciplines and technology centers, and mentoring other Process Engineers. GEA Group is a global engineering solutions company founded in Germany in 1881, with more than 18,000 employees worldwide and a U.S. presence since 1929. This U.S.-based role does not offer visa or work sponsorship; applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future sponsorship.

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 both independently and as part of a team.
Self-motivation, initiative, decisiveness, and commercial or business acumen.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
Excellent time management skills, with the ability to meet deadlines and prioritize tasks.
Ability to work in a fast-paced and sometimes stressful environment.
Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
Willingness to travel approximately 25% of the time, up to 40%.
Authorization to work in the U.S. without current or future visa or work 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 from execution hand-off through engineering, commissioning, and optimization.
Occasionally support pre-award sales activities, including customer meetings, cost estimation, and proposal generation.
Manage assigned technical areas of projects, adhering to design standards and optimizing designs to meet customer specifications within time, budget, and contract constraints.
Collaborate with project teams to achieve project milestones and goals.
Identify and justify scope changes that affect process design over 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 (BFDs), Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), Process and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), and heat and mass balances.
Develop process equipment specifications and specify or design utility consumption.
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).
Confirm operation according to process and functional descriptions (FDS).
Plan and implement test procedures and commissioning plans.
Troubleshoot equipment and systems to resolve customer concerns about performance.
Complete plant audits.
Ensure compliance with government regulations, safety and environmental requirements, and industry standards, including sanitary requirements.
Support safety evaluations, including HAZOP meetings.
Collaborate with team members, technology centers, and GEA European Centers of Competence to improve technology and execute projects successfully.
Coordinate with other disciplines to minimize deficiencies, errors, and omissions in technical project documents and specifications.
Develop relationships with technical stakeholders on process design and operation considerations.
Provide pre-sale and post-sale support, including site evaluations, pilot trials, presentations, and training.
Technically evaluate third-party supplier proposals and equipment selections.
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 and training.
Report process improvement initiatives.
Mentor other Process Engineers.
Travel approximately 25% of the time, up to 40% depending on project needs.