Process Engineer (Charlotte, NC, US, 28203)

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

The 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. The 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 little to no assistance. Effectively communicates at multiple levels within the organization and works well on cross-functional teams. Position may require 75% travel.

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, vision, 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 some supervision. Conduct feasibility studies and implement new/improved products/processes.
• Drive 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.
• 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 expertise & 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.

Experience Requirements

BS or MS in Chemical, Mechanical or Food Engineering or Food/Meat Science with 3 or more years of related experience. The ideal candidate will have: 

• 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.
• Ability to work independently or as part of a cross-functional team. Ability to effectively communicate with and influence 

Environmental Factors and Physical Requirements

Position is remote with 50-75% travel to production and pilot plants as needed. 

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.