Sr. R&D Process Engineer - Dairy

The target location for this role is Land O’Lakes Corporate Headquarters in Arden Hills, MN, however this position can be remote (virtual) and located anywhere in the USA

The Senior R&D Process Engineer -Dairy will be responsible identifying and leading process engineering activities across Land O’Lakes Dairy Foods product platforms and manufacturing sites. This position will leverage and grow their dairy processing expertise to identify and implement cost savings projects by enabling manufacturing network optimization, material yield improvements, or quality improvement. In addition, this role will be tasked with leading scale-up activities from pilot plant to manufacturing and will be responsible for defining process design for new and revised products and processes. 

Role & Responsibilities:

• Provides dairy process engineering expertise and knowledge across Dairy Foods product platforms and manufacturing sites

• Proactively identifies opportunities for cost savings, innovation, manufacturing network optimization, material yield improvements, and quality improvements to enable business topline growth

• Leads scale-up from pilot plant to manufacturing and defines process design for new, improved, or revised products and processes

• Applies engineering principles (mass & energy balances, thermodynamics, and fluid dynamics) for scale-up and process design

• Leads implementation of projects, plant trials and capital projects within plant and pilot plant

• Leads cross-functional teams in process development or improvement efforts to enhance margin and/or increase capacity

• Analyzes manufacturing data and utilizes statistical methods to troubleshoot and/or identify opportunities to ensure manufacturing systems reliably deliver high quality products

• Identifies and documents product processing requirements and selection criteria for new process equipment

• Collaborates with Operations, Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Marketing, Sales, Regulatory, other R&D functions, and external parties on moderately complex projects and initiatives

• Mentors and process engineers, scientists, and technologists within the organization

Skills and Competencies

• Deep understanding of dairy chemistry and dairy processing techniques is required. Highly desired to have experience with one or more of the following dairy unit operations or make processes: spray drying, evaporators, membrane filtration, fermentation, or crystallization.

• Experience working in or with dairy manufacturing facilities

• Broad and deep range of technical knowledge of foundational engineering and scientific principles

• Experience identifying and implementing cost savings projects

• Strong written and verbal communication and collaboration skills

• Data-based analytical thinking; understanding of Statistical tools and methods

• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications and Minitab

• Strong understanding of analytical and physical characterization methods

• Innovative, inventive, creative thinking and problem solving, with agility to pivot and dive deep into technical challenges

• Ability to travel 10-25% of time

Preferred Experience and Education

• BS degree in Chemical, Mechanical, or other related engineering discipline along with a minimum of 10 years relevant work experience.

• Understanding of Statistical Tools and Methods

• Experience with Dairy Processing

• Strong technical background

• Experience mentoring junior engineers

• Professional Engineer and/or Green Belt Certification would elevate a candidate but is not required

• Familiarity with engineering modeling tools, such as FEA and CFD, is desirable but not required

The salary range for this role is $105,040 - $157,56

About Land O'Lakes, Inc.

Join us and be part of a Fortune 250, farmer- and member-owned cooperative that is reimagining the business of food. We have been named a Top Workplace by Indeed and LinkedIn, and to the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list.

Benefits for most full-time roles include medical, dental, vision, PTO, life & disability insurance, education assistance, a 401k and a variety of well-being resources. Most part-time employees are eligible for prorated PTO, holiday pay, employee development programs, prorated education assistance, and a 401(k).

Land O'Lakes, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) M/F/Vets/Disabled. The company maintains a drug-free workforce, including post-employment substance abuse testing pursuant to a Drug and Alcohol Policy.

Neither Land O’Lakes, nor its search firms, will ever contact you and ask for confidential information over the phone or in email. If you receive a call or email like this, please do not provide the information being requested.