Process Engineering Manager

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Process Engineering Manager

  • Waukesha, WI, US

  • Emp Type: Full time / Direct Hire

Industry: FOOD

Salary: 130,000 - 150,000 Annual

2 weeks ago

The Process Engineering Manager is a technical leader who collaborates closely with Mechanical, Electrical, Automation, Project Management, Manufacturing, and Sales teams to deliver successful engineered‑to‑order projects.

Leadership & Team Management

  • Lead, mentor, and develop the process engineering team, fostering technical excellence and professional growth.

  • Set priorities, allocate resources, and establish clear expectations to ensure projects meet scope, schedule, and budget commitments.

  • Promote a culture of safety, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

  • Support workload planning and resource forecasting to align with project demand.

Process Engineering Oversight & Execution

  • Own and approve process engineering deliverables, including process flow diagrams, equipment sizing, utility requirements, and sanitation concepts.

  • Validate process designs for performance, cleanability, safety, and manufacturability within engineered‑to‑order systems.

  • Ensure process intent is fully integrated with mechanical layouts, automation architectures, and control strategies.

  • Oversee the full project lifecycle from concept development through commissioning and customer acceptance.

  • Partner with Project Managers and Engineering Leads to review progress, resolve issues, and maintain alignment with project goals.

  • Identify, assess, and mitigate technical and process‑related risks that could impact quality, schedule, or cost.

Process Optimization & Innovation

  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on labor efficiency, cost reduction, and design standardization.

  • Improve process robustness and repeatability while balancing customization requirements.

  • Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for process deviations or performance issues.

  • Champion risk assessments, process capability studies, and post‑project reviews to capture lessons learned and improve future designs.

Compliance & Documentation

  • Ensure all process designs meet company, customer, and industry best practices.

  • Maintain accurate and complete documentation, including SOPs, sanitation procedures, technical manuals, and training materials.

  • Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, and applicable food safety and sanitary design standards.

  • Support adherence to relevant mechanical, electrical, and safety standards (e.g., ASME, UL, NFPA) as they relate to process systems.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Partner closely with Mechanical, Electrical, Automation, Manufacturing, Quality, Service, and Operations teams.

  • Provide process engineering leadership during customer reviews, FATs, SATs, and commissioning activities.

  • Support Sales and Applications teams during quoting and concept development with process expertise.

  • Collaborate with Procurement and Operations to ensure successful project execution and delivery timelines.

Education: BS in Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering (or related field)

Experience:

  • 10+ years in engineering roles within food & beverage or related industries.

  • 5+ years in a leadership or management position.

Technical Skills:

  • Strong knowledge of process engineering, fluid mechanics, and sanitary design principles

  • Experience sizing and specifying food and beverage process equipment

  • Understanding of PLC‑based automation and control systems

  • Proficiency with CAD software and project management tools

  • Knowledge of food safety, regulatory, and sanitary standards

Soft Skills:

  • Excellent Leadership abilities including ability to lead cross functional engineering teams.

  • Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills

  • Strong problem‑solving abilities in fast‑paced, project‑driven environments

Other:

  • Ability to travel up to 15% (Primarily North America with some International)