Process Engineer

Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream•Laurel, MD

11d•$74,000 - $80,000

About The Position

The Process Engineer combines project management and process engineering to execute new-product trials and factory launches, support startup and commissioning of new production lines, and deliver other factory projects. The role works with multiple factory departments and interfaces with corporate teams and other factories. Depending on the initiative, the engineer may serve as end-to-end project manager, operational startup lead, or technical lead. The position requires learning ice cream production processes and equipment to identify improvements and execute new products. The engineer coordinates project scope, resources, schedules, risks, meetings, budgets, communication, and issue escalation. They ensure equipment and production processes meet customer specifications, quality, food-safety, health, and safety requirements. They lead commissioning and ramp-up planning, maintain equipment and process records for traceability, and ensure effective handover to operations with equipment meeting line standards for efficiency, capacity, and quality. They organize factory trials for new materials, recipe changes, and product launches, follow up on open items, and support operational issues and continuous improvement. The role also includes developing factory-team knowledge and training, communicating changes to production plans and product portfolios, and representing the company’s operating model and core values. The work takes place in a fast-paced manufacturing facility, including wet or humid areas, noisy areas, and areas around mechanical, electrical, and pressurized equipment. Parts of the facility, including storage and production areas, may be cold. The role involves frequent exposure to nuts and other potential allergens, and adherence to food-safety hygiene and protective-equipment requirements. The listed pay range is $74,000–$80,000, with opportunities for overtime, shift differential, cold premium pay, and variable annual bonuses. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, paid parental leave, and a 401(k) plan with employer match and an annual contribution. Visa sponsorship and immigration support are not available.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
Good verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to read, write, follow instructions, and correspond.
Ability to learn technical terminology.
Ability to perform arithmetic using whole numbers, fractions, and decimals, calculate rates, ratios, and percentages, and draw and interpret graphs.
Strong mechanical aptitude.
Ability to troubleshoot equipment failures.
Ability to work well with others.
Basic computer skills.
Ability to make independent decisions.
Ability to plan and prioritize work.
Good customer-service interaction skills, patience as a teacher, quick learning, and a good work ethic.
Passion for engineering and eagerness to learn new skills.
Aptitude for automated mechanical processes and good troubleshooting and diagnostic skills.
Excellent interpersonal communication, mathematics, and problem-solving skills.
Legally authorized to work in the United States now and in the future; the company does not provide visa sponsorship or immigration support for this position.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and around others, wet or humid conditions, high noise levels, and mechanical, electrical, and pressurized equipment.
Ability to use cold-protective personal protective equipment and stand, lift, and walk in refrigerated zones for extended periods.
Ability to stand for extended periods and perform repetitive tasks and hand and arm movements, with frequent bending, reaching, and lifting.
Ability to follow food-safety and hygiene guidelines, including wearing protective gear such as gloves and hairnets.
Ability to work with frequent exposure to nuts and other potential allergens.

Responsibilities

Work with project managers to define and communicate project scope, objectives, and expectations.
Identify project resource requirements and escalate resource constraints.
Build and manage project schedules, define critical paths, track activities and deadlines, report status, and escalate critical issues.
Proactively manage roadblocks and create risk-management plans.
Coordinate and facilitate project kickoff, team, risk-assessment, lessons-learned, and other required meetings.
Ensure designed equipment and machines can produce products meeting customer specifications, quality requirements, and food-safety standards.
Ensure health and safety requirements are met and support a positive safety culture.
Manage, monitor, and control project costs to meet budget requirements.
Communicate regularly with project teams through meetings, memos, team briefings, and other channels.
Support operational issues and factory projects as needed.
Develop, learn, and share knowledge of ice cream making and other processing areas, with a focus on troubleshooting and continuous improvement.
Stay informed about production plans and changes; proactively identify and address issues.
Represent Froneri’s operating model and core values, including ownership, integrity, improvement, and collaboration.
Lead and participate in commissioning new production lines.
Maintain complete maintenance and process records for equipment to support traceability.
Ensure effective handover from project teams to operations.
Drive production processes to meet customer specifications, quality, and food-safety requirements.
Create commissioning and ramp-up plans and coordinate delivery across departments and teams.
Drive line performance so equipment meets standard efficiency, yield, capacity, and quality expectations when handed over to operations.
Attend Product Portfolio Meetings and inform the factory team about recipe changes and new products.
Organize factory trials for new materials, recipe changes, and product launches, including scheduling, trial planning, execution, and post-trial communications.
Follow up on open trial items to ensure successful execution of new materials, recipe changes, and product launches.
Perform other duties as assigned.