Senior Scientist Process Engineer – Pet Food R&D Opportunity

Seeking a highly skilled and collaborative Process Engineer to join our Pet Food business. This role is critical to advancing our capabilities in thermal processing in canning and extrusion, with a strong emphasis on twin-screw extrusion for pet treats. The ideal candidate will bring technical expertise, an aptitude for data analysis and utilization of technology-driven resources, and the ability to lead change and drive operational excellence across cross-functional teams.

Location: Orrville, OH - Hybrid 60% or more in office presence as business need requires

Work Arrangements: Travel up to 30% on an ongoing basis (dependent on projects and product launch pipeline)

In this role you will:

· Champion process development and optimization for thermal processing and twin-screw extrusion, driving innovation and best practices within cross-functional teams.

· Design, execute, and interpret trials for food processing innovations, facilitating knowledge-sharing and collaboration among teams.

· Lead the successful scale-up and commercialization of new products and technologies by fostering teamwork and effective communication demonstration of CQV tools and principles.

· Provide technical leadership and mentorship, guiding lab activities, supporting onboarding, and developing technical training programs for team members at all levels.

· Collaborate across departments to identify opportunities for process improvements, solve technical challenges, and ensure alignment with business goals.

· Analyze processing data using advanced modeling and simulation tools to establish specifications and guide team decision-making.

· Drive continuous improvement initiatives and support organizational change management, ensuring all stakeholders are engaged and informed throughout transitions.

· Manage capital projects including equipment installation, layout planning, and vendor coordination, while leading project teams and maintaining collaborative vendor relationships.

· Lead Design of Experiments (DOE) efforts, encouraging creative problem-solving and cross-functional contributions to system and process enhancements.

· Operate independently and efficiently, managing projects with minimal supervision, while promoting an inclusive and cooperative team environment, including up to 30% seasonal travel as needed.

What we are looking for:

Minimum Requirements:

· Bachelors in chemical engineering, Food Science, Mechanical Engineering, or related field is required; an advanced degree in Chemical Engineering, Food Science, or Mechanical Engineering is preferred.

· 5+ years' experience with advanced degree, or 10+ years with Bachelor’s; experience in food manufacturing, thermal processing, and extrusion.

· Demonstrated knowledge of food safety standards and validation practices.

· Successful cross-functional project leadership and change management.

· Skilled in process modeling/simulation (i.e. JMP, Aspen, Minitab) for throughput and quality optimization.

· Understanding of ingredient functionality and its effect on food quality.

· Experienced in scaling up and commercializing (CQV) processes.

· Strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities.

· Able to work independently and lead projects from planning through delivery.

Additional skills and experience that we think would make someone successful in this role:

· Experience in twin-screw extrusion of pet treats, including formulation development, die design, and post-extrusion handling

· Proven ability to innovate treat formulations through ingredient experimentation and process optimization

· Experience designing and executing pilot-scale trials with thorough documentation of process parameters

· Experience with operation and validation of thermal processing systems such as retorts, hydrostats, and continuous sterilizers

· Effective collaboration & strong communication within the cross-functional teams, including R&D, quality assurance, and production-based roles.

· Maintain strong professional relationships through gathering & providing feedback to strengthen the seamless technical community dynamics.

· Commitment to continuous improvement and implementation of research findings in commercial production environments

Learn More About Working at Smucker

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