Associate Process Engineer

Summary

The Associate Process Engineer will specify and commercialize processes required to launch new products, enhance product quality, reduce cost, and increase plant efficiency working closely with Product Development and cross-functional partners with assistance. The Associate Process Engineer facilitates technology transfer from pilot plant to manufacturing by developing experimental test plans for feasibility, pilot plant & plant trial runs, and production validation. Supports one or more projects of moderate complexity and technical risk with assistance. Effectively communicates at multiple levels within the organization and works well on cross-functional teams. Position may require 75% travel.

The salary range for this position is $56,000 - $83,000 per year, based on experience and qualifications with annual bonus available (variable depending on performance).  

In addition to the base salary, Perdue offers a competitive benefits package, including medical/Rx, 401(k) with employer match after 1 year, critical illness, accident insurance, dental, vison, life insurance, optional group life insurance, short-term and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts and paid time off.  

Principal and Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead moderately complex R&D projects, and support complex projects with supervision. Conduct feasibility studies and implement new/improved products/processes.
• Assist with driving the development of innovative processes/technologies and commercialization of new business initiatives. Develop innovative approaches for testing and problem resolution.
• Provide process engineering knowledge to implement effective technology transfer. Commission / validate & start-up of new processes/equipment with guidance.
• Troubleshoot the root cause of production problems and implement effective solutions. Perform a robust situation assessment, document manufacturing methods, and procedures.
• Analyze and trend data to ensure that manufacturing systems will reliably deliver high quality product as designed within specification and cost. Document test results & conclusions, process parameters, critical control points and specifications.
• Review engineering drawings, process sequence descriptions and capital projects from process perspective.
• Integrate process knowledge into product development process. Build cohesive relationship with Product Development, Marketing, FSQA, Engineering, Supply Chain and Operations during the commercialization process.
• Promotes Safety, regulatory, GMP requirements in lab, Pilot Plant, and manufacturing facilities.

Education and Experience Requirements

BS or MS in Chemical, Mechanical or Food Engineering or Food/Meat Science with 0 – 3 years experience. Our ideal candidate will have/be:

• Understanding of Process/Product Development process from idea generation, bench top, scale up, to commercialization.
• Understanding of Food Manufacturing processes required to convert raw materials to finished products, including product formulation, regulatory labeling, and food safety.
• Strong critical thinking, analytical, problem-solving and project management skills.
• Clear verbal and written communication skills including presentations/product reviews.
• Able to work independently with guidance or as part of a cross-functional team. Ability to effectively communicate with and influence cross-functional partners.

Experience Preferred

• MS in above engineering disciplines or Food/Meat Science
• Experience with technical documentation such as Block Flow Diagrams, Process Flow Diagrams (PFD’s), Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&ID’s), process layouts, and equipment specifications
• Experience in food manufacturing (including co-ops and internships) with practical knowledge of safety, food safety, GMP and regulatory requirements.
• Experience with or interest in data analytics software tools and AutoCAD is a plus.

Environmental Factors and Physical Requirements