Sr. Dairy Processing Engineer

fairlife•Chicago, IL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

fairlife, LLC is a Chicago-based nutrition company that creates great-tasting, nutrition-rich and dairy products to nourish consumers. With over $3B in annual retail sales, fairlife's portfolio of delicious, lactose-free, real dairy products includes: fairlife® ultra-filtered milk ; Core Power® High Protein Shakes, a sports nutrition drink to support post-workout recovery; fairlife® nutrition plan™ , a nutrition shake to support the journey to better health. A wholly owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola company, fairlife, LLC has been recognized by both Fast Company and Nielsen for its industry leading innovation. To learn more about fairlife and its complete line of products, please visit fairlife.com . job purpose : The Sr. Dairy Processing Engineer will come in with deep technical expertise in fluid milk membrane separations (especially ultrafiltration), thermal processing (HTST/HHST/UHT), and end-to-end milk unit operations—from raw milk receiving through packaging. This role is a hands-on technical authority who will be integral to process technology innovation as well as troubleshooting manufacturing issues, optimizing process capabilities and product quality, supporting pilot-to-plant scale-up, and serving as a trusted partner to Operations, Manufacturing, and Quality.

Requirements

MS in Dairy Science, Food Engineering, Food Science, Chemical Engineering, or closely related field with a focus on dairy processing and/or thermal processing.
5-10 years of progressive experience in fluid dairy processing spanning pilot through commercial manufacturing.
Demonstrated expertise in: HTST/HHST and/or UHT processing of fluid milk (and/or cream) and practical plant troubleshooting.
End-to-end milk unit operations: raw receiving → clarification/separation → standardization → homogenization → pasteurization/aseptic processing → packaging.
Ultrafiltration of milk and/or dairy membrane separations (MF/UF/NF/RO familiarity as a plus).
Strong technical competence in dairy physical chemistry and processing impacts on proteins/fats/enzymes.
Proven ability to partner with Operations/Manufacturing/Quality in a high-accountability environment.
Experience with aseptic systems and packaging interactions (commercial aseptic operations strongly preferred).
Track record of leading cross-functional root-cause investigations (e.g., flavor defects, oxidation, shelf-life failures, stability issues).
Experience in capital projects preferred.
Familiarity with regulatory expectations and operator training frameworks for pasteurization systems preferred.

Nice To Haves

MF/UF/NF/RO familiarity as a plus.
Commercial aseptic operations strongly preferred.
Experience in capital projects preferred.
Familiarity with regulatory expectations and operator training frameworks for pasteurization systems preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as a go-to technical expert for fluid milk separation, standardization, homogenization, pasteurization systems (HTST/HHST/UHT), and packaging performance.
Diagnose and resolve process and product issues.
Partner with Operations/Manufacturing/Quality to drive safe, compliant, and reliable production and troubleshoot process deviations, and identify root causes for quality issues.
Define critical process parameters, key performance indicators, and control plans.
Design, coordinate, and execute pilot and commercial-scale plant trials.
Own process capability improvements and provide technical input to capital projects and equipment selection.
Provide subject-matter expertise on OEM platforms and engineering approaches.
Proactively identify opportunities for process optimization that improve efficiency, sustainability, yield or product shelf-life.
Lead initiatives and manage stakeholders across Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain.
Apply deep knowledge of milk composition and how processing impacts chemistry, physical properties, and functional performance of milk and its components.
Partner with Product Development and Operations on formulation/processing choices for fluid dairy products, including shakes and other forms (sensory, taste, texture, stability, shelf-life).
Define plans and execute and interpret analytical testing results tied to processing and shelf-life: milk composition chemistry, rheology, chromatographic/volatile profiling and other relevant analytical methods.
Establish and improve SOPs, troubleshooting playbooks, and process data reviews.
Individual contributor to start. Will build and develop a team of 1–4 (e.g., process engineers, dairy scientists, technicians).
Build strong cross-functional relationships and communicate clearly from plant floor to leadership level.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, effective day one!
Supplemental health plans (hospital indemnity, accident, and critical illness insurance)
Paid Time Off to recharge and support work-life balance
Paid parental leave & adoption assistance (up to $10,000)
Parental support & family care benefits, including childcare resources and lactation support
401(k) to support retirement planning with up to 9% in employer match
Wellness reimbursement (up to $500 for qualified wellbeing expenses)
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for emotional wellbeing and work-life support
Company-paid life insurance and short-term disability
Employer HSA funding (for HDHP participants)
Tuition reimbursement (up to $10,000) and student loan repayment ($200/month)
Learning & development programs to unlock your full potential
Rewards & recognition, matching gifts, free product, and Business Resource Groups