Process Development Engineer JC

CPS - Los Angeles, CA

Full-time - Mid Level

Los Angeles, CA

Health and Personal Care Retailers

About the position

This process development engineering position works in close cross-functional collaboration with other process engineers and the Innovation, Commercialization, and Operations teams to bring new innovations from the feasibility stage through to production-scale capability and readiness, achieving successful and on-time production launches. Priorities include executing process engineering, development, and scale-up of food manufacturing processes which successfully deliver production manufacturing lines with demonstrated process capability that produce in-specification product for commercial launch programs and initiatives. This role requires executing successful process engineering work for pilot product-by-process development and scale-up through commissioning and verification of production-intent capability and readiness of the manufacturing processes and equipment. The ideal candidate will be a process engineer with successful experience in applying robust science and data capture in executing food process development work from pilot stage through to the commissioning and qualification of new product introductions into high volume production for commercial launches. The individual must demonstrate self-initiative in organizing, executing, and delivering value-added results and process engineering deliverables that are aligned with assigned project objectives and scope. Key Accountabilities / Objectives include effectively communicating, coordinating, and executing within process engineering and the cross-functional product commercialization team to assure well-aligned and delivered process engineering learnings, achievements, and ultimate production line capabilities and results. The role involves working collaboratively between Innovation, Commercialization, and Operations teams on new and renovated product development and introduction programs to assure that the product and its production-intent processes meet program objectives, manufacturability, timelines, and cost targets. The successful candidate will effectively execute assigned process engineering work in the development of product-by-process, the scale-up and commissioning of manufacturing processes and equipment, and the final verification of their capabilities and readiness necessary to achieve successful product launches and high-volume production. This includes organizing and conducting process engineering development, process and equipment trials, process design, specification, commissioning, and verification of food manufacturing processes and equipment for production-intent capability, scale, and readiness.

Responsibilities

• Execute and complete process engineering projects and activities required for the successful development and commercialization of food manufacturing processes and equipment.
• Assess and identify existing or new food manufacturing process equipment and technology solutions for new or renovated products being pursued.
• Advance product-by-process development from the feasibility stage to final new product introduction and production launch by collaborating with various commercialization, innovation, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams.
• Design and run effective DOEs, sensitivity, scaling, and process capability trials.
• Develop and achieve product-by-process viability and design-for-manufacturability at pilot scale which is scalable and capable of meeting project objectives.
• Identify key product and process parameters and scaling factors necessary for production scale-up and success.
• Ensure quality and food safety critical control points and requirements are built into the equipment and processes.
• Establish engineering specifications and provide engineering oversight for equipment and associated tooling selection, procurement, installation, and commissioning.
• Develop cost estimates, budgets (capital and expense), and associated plans for the process engineering portion of project activities, equipment, and tooling requirements.
• Implement and verify production-scale process capability by establishing the production process parameters, criteria, and capabilities for materials, processes, and equipment for production readiness and launch.
• Achieve reliable, scalable, and cost-effective processes and equipment solutions in the commercialization of new and renovated products launched into production.
• Demonstrate problem-solving ability to simplify complex processes/situations and figure out the steps to get things done in practice.
• Exhibit customer service orientation that seeks to understand and anticipate the needs of others, while practicing attentive and active listening and flexing style to meet the requirements of changing situations.
• Develop perspectives that paint credible visions of possibilities and ability to integrate different ideas and points of view.
• Drive for results that face challenges head-on, quickly sensing what will help or hinder accomplishing a goal and ability to adjust for roadblocks, measuring performance against goals.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Food Science, or a related field.
• Proven experience in process engineering within the food manufacturing industry.
• Strong understanding of food safety and quality control processes.
• Experience with pilot plant operations and scale-up processes.
• Ability to conduct and analyze Design of Experiments (DOE) and process capability studies.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work effectively in cross-functional teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to simplify complex processes.
• Customer service orientation with a focus on understanding and anticipating needs.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with international travel for supplier and facility visits.
• Familiarity with project management methodologies.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements in food manufacturing.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage
• 401k retirement savings plan
• Paid time off and holidays
• Professional development opportunities
• Flexible scheduling options