Job Description
The
Process Engineer will report to the Pilot Plant Manager and/or head of Commercialization team working in close, cross-functional collaboration with other Engineering, R&D, and Operations teams. They will bring new Beyond Meat innovation products from the feasibility stage through to production-scale capability and readiness, and aid in achieving successful and on-time production launches.
The
Process Engineer will focus on food process engineering, development, and scale-up, ensuring production lines deliver high-quality products within specifications. This role will involve developing and implementing new processes at the feasibility and pilot stage, followed by scale-up and commissioning of production-ready manufacturing processes.
The ideal candidate will be an Engineer with 2-5 years of successful experience, possess demonstrated process capabilities and a strong interest in scaling up bench-top processes to pilot or production levels, specifically for innovative food products. A team-oriented perspective is necessary. Frequent travel may be necessary and/or travel on non-regular intervals. The candidate will have experience applying robust science and data capture in executing food process development work. The individual must demonstrate self-initiative in organizing, executing, and delivering value-added results and deliverables that are aligned with project objectives and scope.
Tasks, Duties, & General Responsibilities
- Assist in ideation, design, set up, and execution of pilot-scale experiments.
- Assist in identifying and testing new equipment for the development of new products in pilot plant.
- Optimize and troubleshoot equipment and processes to ensure desired product quality attributes are being achieved.
- Effectively communicate, coordinate, and execute within process engineering and the cross-functional product commercialization teams to align and deliver process engineering learnings, achievements, results, and production line capabilities.
- Collaborate between R&D and Operations teams on new and renovated product development programs to meet program objectives, manufacturability, timelines, and cost targets.
- Organize and conduct process engineering development, including PFDs, energy and mass balance, process and equipment trials, process design, specification, and commissioning.
- Verify food manufacturing processes and equipment for production capability, scale, and readiness.
- Identify key product and process parameters and scaling factors necessary for production scale-up and success.
- Assess and identify existing or new food manufacturing process equipment and technology solutions for new or renovated products. Suggest creative ideas for future commercialization.
- Advance product and process development from the feasibility stage to new product introduction and production launch, working collaboratively with R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain teams.
- Develop and achieve product and process viability and design-for-manufacturability at pilot scale, ensuring scalability and meeting project objectives.
- Ensure quality and food safety critical control points and requirements are built into the equipment and process specifications.
- Establish engineering specifications and provide oversight for equipment and associated tooling selection, procurement, installation, and commissioning.
- Inform the development of cost estimates, budgets (capital and expense), and associated plans for the process engineering portion of project activities.
- Maintain and follow GMP and Lab safety protocols in compliance with EH&S guidelines.
Supervisory Duties (if applicable)
Education, Skills & Qualifications
- BS in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Process Engineering, Biosystems Engineering or Food Process Engineering – required.
- 2-5 years of relevant food process engineering experience working with R&D, Commercialization, and Operations in NPI process development, production scale-up, and commercial launches – required.
- Experience in the food industry – required.
- GMP and SQF experience – preferred.
- Computer literacy in Microsoft 365 (Office, Teams, Outlook, etc.) DOE software, AutoCAD, CFD – preferred.
- Proven engineering experience in a growth-oriented business environment, with a track record of overcoming difficult challenges to achieve business and project objectives.
- Demonstrated success in process engineering development, scale-up, and commissioning including high-impact work output, trials, and production launches.
- Strong problem-solving ability to simplify complex processes and implement practical solutions.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Customer service orientation, with the ability to understand and anticipate needs, practice active listening, and adapt to changing situations.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
- Must be willing to travel up to 50% of the time to facilities and suppliers.
- Position requires hands-on work with the experiments and equipment during the scale-up process.
- Position requires the ability to stand or sit for prolonged periods, climb, kneel, bend, and consistently lift up to 50 lbs.
- Position is in El Segundo, California and in a mix of Pilot Plant, Laboratory, Plant Facilities, and Office Environments; requires a tolerance for high worker traffic, close quarters, noise, odors, and varying room temperatures and lighting.
The starting annual base pay for this role is between USD $95,000 and $110,000. The actual base is dependent upon many factors, such as: training, transferable skills, work experience, business needs and market demands. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. The role may also be eligible for bonus, equity, and benefits.
Beyond Meat is an equal employment opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, ancestry, veteran status, marital status, gender identify, sexual orientation, national origin, liability for military service, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you are interested in learning the status of your application, please note you will be contacted directly by the appropriate human resources contact person if you are selected for further consideration. Beyond Meat reserves the right to defer or close a vacancy at any time.
For all U.S. based roles: Applicants must be authorized to work for a U.S. employer. This role is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship at this time.
