Senior Process Engineer

Perdue Foods has a goal of becoming the most trusted name in premium proteins by creating products for consumers and for retail and foodservice customers around the globe while changing the way animals are raised for food. It is part of Perdue Farms, a fourth-generation, family-owned food and agricultural business deeply rooted in tradition yet with a forward-thinking mindset. We believe that success starts with our people, and our culture is built on a foundation of teamwork, integrity, and respect, where every voice matters and everyone is encouraged to contribute to our shared goals. We are dedicated to creating a supportive, inclusive environment where associates feel valued and inspired to make an impact, both within the company and in the communities we serve. From promoting growth and development to prioritizing work-life balance, we’re committed to helping our team members thrive. That's Perdue.

Summary

Drive process improvement and successful commercialization across assigned manufacturing operations. As a Senior Process Engineer, you will apply technical expertise in product scale-up, process development, plant trials, and manufacturing optimization to improve yield, reduce waste, enhance product quality, and support business results. You will partner closely with R&D, Operations, Engineering, FSQA, Regulatory, Continuous Improvement, and manufacturing partners to ensure product and process designs are commercially viable, manufacturable, and aligned with customer, consumer, regulatory, quality, and food safety requirements. This role is ideal for a data-driven, collaborative technical leader who thrives on solving complex manufacturing challenges and delivering practical process solutions that support operational performance.

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Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm

Principal Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Execute the commercialization, scale-up, qualification, and transfer of new products, line extensions, and process changes within assigned manufacturing facilities.

• Design, coordinate, and execute plant trials to validate product performance, process capability, manufacturing efficiency, and operational readiness.

• Identify and implement opportunities to improve yield, reduce waste, optimize costs, and enhance manufacturing performance and profitability.

• Conduct root cause investigations and apply data-driven problem-solving methods to recommend solutions for product quality, process performance, and operational challenges.

• Utilize statistical process control, process capability analysis, experimental design, and technical data analysis to improve process stability and performance.

• Partner with Operations, R&D, Engineering, FSQA, Regulatory, and Continuous Improvement teams to address manufacturing, quality, productivity, food safety, analytical, and labeling requirements.

• Develop, maintain, and improve product specifications, process standards, and technical documentation to ensure consistent manufacturing execution.

• Coordinate multiple process development, optimization, and value creation projects through defined phases, including documentation of technical and business results, with direction from the Senior Manager of Process Engineering.

• Partner with Engineering on capital projects, equipment evaluations, and manufacturing process design to advance operational and value creation objectives.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and manufacturing partners to implement technical solutions that support operational performance and defined business objectives.

Minimum Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in food science, Meat Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Food Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

• A minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in product development, process engineering, manufacturing operations, or commercialization within a food manufacturing environment.

• Demonstrated experience leading plant-scale product commercialization and process optimization initiatives.

• Strong background in statistical process control, process capability analysis, root cause analysis, and data-driven problem-solving.

• Experience working in cross-functional teams and influencing stakeholders across Operations, Quality, Engineering, and R&D.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Master’s degree in a related technical discipline.

• Knowledge of food safety principles, ingredient functionality, manufacturing processes, and equipment systems.

• Strong project management, analytical, and communication skills.

• Proficiency with statistical analysis, project management, and technical reporting tools.

Physical Requirements and Environmental Factors

• Position is remote with frequent travel to manufacturing facilities, pilot plants, co-manufacturing sites, and business locations.

• Travel requirement is approximately 50-75%.

• Must be capable of working in diverse food manufacturing environments, including hot, cold, wet, damp, and refrigerated conditions.

• Ability to stand, walk production floors, climb stairs, and wear required personal protective equipment in manufacturing settings.

Perdue Farms Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.