Sr. Process Engineer (Cheese & Liquid Systems)
Location: Central Wisconsin with Remote available for the right candidate (US-based), 20-30% travel to client sites + potential international 1-2x/year
Comp: $140-160K base + full benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K w/ match, HSA/FSA, PTO, 10 holidays)
Reports To: Process Engineering Manager
Overview:
Our client is a well-established sanitary process equipment and systems company serving the dairy and food industries. They design, fabricate, and commission turnkey processing systems for cheese, beverage, and liquid applications. This Sr. Process Engineer role spans the full project lifecycle: conceptual design through commissioning and startup. Heavy collaboration with sales, automation, project management, mechanical design, and field teams.
Key Responsibilities:
- Audit customers' existing process lines; develop conceptual designs for cheese and liquid processing systems per customer requirements
- Prepare mass/energy balances, heat transfer calculations (production and CIP), and equipment specifications (pumps, valves, HXs, piping)
- Develop complete P&IDs, PFDs, process descriptions, and technical documentation for project execution
- Support proposal development with technical input and equipment sizing
- Lead commissioning, startup, and performance verification at customer sites
- Collaborate with project engineers, automation, installation teams, and contractors
- Support regulatory documentation and testing (HTST, system design specs, product quality safeguards)
- Troubleshoot process/equipment issues; perform root cause analysis
- Train operators, maintenance techs, and customer teams
Requirements:
BS in Chemical, Mechanical, Bio-Systems, or Electrical Engineering
5+ years in the sanitary dairy process industry (non-negotiable)
Working knowledge of liquid process system design: mass/heat transfer calcs, piping flow/pressure, pump/valve/line sizing
Familiarity with 3-A, ASME, FDA, USDA standards
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
Ideal Candidate Profile:
Someone currently in a process engineering role at a dairy equipment OEM, system integrator, dairy co-op, or cheese plant who wants design-heavy, customer-facing project work with variety and travel. Must understand cheese and liquid dairy processing, not just general food or pharma.