Process & Controls Engineer - Proliant Dairy Ingredients

The Process & Controls Engineer will support the design, optimization, and continuous improvement of production processes within the Proliant Dairy manufacturing sites. This role works cross functionally with operations, quality, maintenance, and corporate teams to increase throughput, reduce waste, improve product quality, reduce energy usage, and ensure regulatory compliance.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Food Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in the food or beverage manufacturing environment, ideally dairy.
• Strong understanding of unit operations: thermal processing, evaporation, drying, filtration, separation, pumping, CIP and sanitation.
• Working knowledge of FDA/USDA regulations and food safety systems.
• Proficiency in data analysis tools (Excel, Power BI, Minitab, or similar).
• Familiarity with Allen-Bradley's ControlLogix 5000 programming software and/or Ignition. 

Preferred Experience:

• Experience with Dairy processes, including evaporation, drying and membrane filtration (UF/RO/NF), or spray drying.
• Lean/Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Experience working in high-volume Dairy processing environments.
• Familiarity with AutoCAD, or other process modeling tools.
• Strong project management experience.

This role may be fully remote when not traveling, with regular travel to company manufacturing sites (approximately 60%). Candidates located within driving distance of Melrose, MN or St Johns, MI are preferred.

JOB DUTIES:

Process Design and Optimization

• Analyze, develop, and optimize unit operations such as evaporation, drying, filtration, membrane processing, and thermal treatment.
• Conduct time, yield, and mass‑balance studies to identify inefficiencies and implement solutions.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies.
• Support capacity expansion projects by providing process calculations, equipment specifications, and line balancing.
• Create, edit, and update Process Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) in alignment with engineering and operational requirements.
• Identify and implement process improvements that reduce energy consumption, improve thermal efficiency, and lower utility costs.

Technical Leadership

• Provide input and expertise for Dairy processing technologies, including equipment CIP, Process improvement via equipment optimization.
• Collaborate with R&D to scale new products—from bench to pilot to full commercial scale.
• Troubleshoot process deviations and performance bottlenecks.

Data Performance and Analysis

• Utilize statistical tools to track process KPIs such as yields, moisture, solids content, viscosity, and other key process metrics.
• Interpret manufacturing data to make recommendations for efficiency improvement or quality enhancement.
• Support implementation and refinement of MES/SCADA systems for process monitoring.

Quality, Food, and Safety Compliance

• Ensure all processes comply with HACCP, USDA, FDA, and SQF/BRC requirements.
• Maintain documentation including process flow diagrams (PFDs), SOPs, and control plans.
• Work with QA to resolve customer complaints, deviations, and audit findings.

Project and Equipment Support

• Assist with equipment evaluation, FAT/SAT testing, commissioning, and startup.
• Manage small‑to‑medium capital projects, including scope, budget, timeline, and contractor coordination.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to lead cross‑functional teams and influence without authority.
• Excellent communication—both technical and operational.
• Continuous improvement mindset with a focus on safety and quality.
• Hands‑on, plant‑floor‑focused approach.
• Ability to travel and work at company facilities for extended hours as needed. Expected travel at least 60%.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

BASIC PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Approximate:       8-Hour Day (may be longer during peak season)

Key:                      

Occasional            =              0% - 33%

Frequent                =              34% - 66%

Continuous           =              67% - 100%

N/A                         =              Not Applicable

Standing - Continuous

Sitting - Occasional

Walking - Continuous

Bending/Kneeling/Crouching/Stooping - Occasional

Reaching Above Shoulder - Occasional

Climbing (stairs, ladders, etc.) - Occasional

Working on Heights:

Unprotected Heights - Occasional                           

Protected Heights - Occasional                           

Lifting Weights from 0 to 50 pounds - Occasional

Push/Pull/Maneuver Equipment/Products/Materials

Weighing from 0 to 200 pounds - Occasional

Being Around and/or Operating Laboratory Equipment - Frequent

Operating a Vehicle (as a part of your job) - Occasional

Read/Monitor Gauges on Various Equipment/Machinery/Instruments - Frequent

Hand Movements:

Recording Data - Frequent

Operating Office Equipment - Frequent

Operating Computer - Frequent

Simple Grasping (right and left) - Frequent

Firm Grasping (right and left) - Frequent

Fine Manipulating (right and left) - Frequent

Foot Movements to Operate Foot Controls - Occasional

Vision:  Good Vision, Corrected to Normal; or Ability to Access

Required Information and to Perform Job Duties - Yes

Color Definition Required:  Yes

Hearing:  Good Hearing, Corrected to Normal; or Ability to Communicate

and/or Understand Required Information and to Perform Job Duties - Yes

Mobility:  Ability to be mobile throughout required work areas

Office - Frequent

Multiple Locations - Occasional

Plant - Frequent

Equipment/Maintenance or Repair Area - Occasional

Rough Terrain - N/A

Other - N/A

BASIC MENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

This job requires the mental capabilities to analyze the production processes to develop manufacturing techniques/procedures to attain a quality finished product produced in a timely and efficient manner.  Furthermore, the incumbent for this position must have the abilities to solve problems as they arise, strives to improve upon current processes, and excellent communication skills in conveying the production process to plant personnel.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND EXPOSURES:

General food production, technical grade plant environment, including processing equipment/machinery, testing equipment, and laboratory conditions. Exposure to a variety of conditions including, but not limited to, the following: dust/powder, wet concrete floors, electrical equipment, confined spaces, moving equipment/machinery, ammonia, high pressure steam cleaning chemicals, heat, and seasonal weather conditions.

COMPREHENSIVE BENEFITS:

• A choice of three quality affordable healthcare coverage options
• Vision coverage
• Dental coverage
• Health savings account with employer contribution/flexible spending accounts
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Generous paid time off and paid holidays

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation due to a disability at any stage of the employment application process should contact human resources (515)-829-2378.

This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of the job duties and requirements associated with this job but is intended to represent an accurate reflection of the current job.