Senior Process Engineer
About The Position
The Senior Process Engineer is responsible for optimizing manufacturing processes, automation systems, utilities, and production equipment across Cayuga Milk Ingredients' operations. This role drives operational excellence through process improvement, automation, capital project support, and equipment reliability initiatives while ensuring the highest standards of food safety, quality, sustainability, and regulatory compliance. Working cross-functionally with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, R&D, Supply Chain, and Engineering, the Senior Process Engineer identifies and implements solutions that improve productivity, yield, efficiency, and overall plant performance. This position serves as a key technical resource supporting process innovation, capacity expansion, and commercialization of new products and technologies.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, Automation, or Food Engineering, or related field.
- 7+ years of engineering experience in dairy, food, beverage, or other highly automated manufacturing environments.
- Experience with process optimization, automation systems, and capital project execution.
- Knowledge of dairy processing systems, sanitary design, and manufacturing operations.
- Experience with Allen-Bradley/Rockwell PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, VFDs, and process instrumentation.
- Proficiency with engineering documentation, CAD software, and manufacturing data analysis tools.
- Familiarity with FDA, PMO, SQF, and OSHA requirements.
- Ability to navigate all areas of the facility, including office spaces, warehouse areas, and the exterior perimeter.
- Must wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) as necessary to safely perform job duties.
- Ability to stand, sit, and carry out tasks throughout a full shift, with appropriate meal breaks.
- Physically capable of standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, twisting, lifting, pushing, pulling, climbing, balancing, and crouching as needed.
- Able to lift and move items weighing up to 50 pounds independently and heavier objects with reasonable accommodations.
- Visual acuity sufficient to perform job duties accurately.
- Capable of assessing weights, judging distances, and working at various heights.
Nice To Haves
- Dairy processing experience highly preferred.
Responsibilities
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, yield, throughput, reliability, and cost reduction.
- Analyze process and production data to identify opportunities for optimization and waste reduction.
- Conduct root cause analysis and implement sustainable corrective actions for process and equipment issues.
- Support initiatives that improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), process capability, and resource utilization.
- Provide technical support for dairy processing systems including milk receiving, pasteurization, membrane filtration, evaporation, drying, packaging, and utilities.
- Design, troubleshoot, and optimize PLC, HMI, SCADA, instrumentation, and process control systems.
- Develop and maintain process documentation, control narratives, P&IDs, and automation standards.
- Support advanced process control strategies and digital manufacturing initiatives.
- Support capital projects from concept through commissioning and startup.
- Develop technical specifications, review equipment designs, and assist with vendor selection.
- Participate in FAT/SAT activities, validation efforts, and operational handoff.
- Support the evaluation and implementation of new technologies and process improvements.
- Support optimization of refrigeration, steam, compressed air, water, and wastewater systems.
- Identify opportunities to improve energy efficiency, water conservation, and sustainability performance.
- Ensure compliance with FDA, PMO, SQF, OSHA, environmental regulations, and company standards.
- Serve as a key technical resource for Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Engineering teams.
- Mentor employees on process optimization, troubleshooting, and automation best practices.
- Support new product commercialization and implementation of engineering best practices across the organization.
Benefits
- Compensation decisions are made based on individual job circumstances considering skill level, previous experience, and education requirements.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
