Senior Engineer, R&D - E2E Complex Processing Project Delivery — Glenview, IL
Full job description
## Job Description
As a Senior Engineer on the End-to-End (E2E) Complex Projects team, you will serve as a technical processing expert responsible for hands-on execution of complex, high-impact processing projects from concept through commercialization. You will own the technical delivery of assigned initiatives, partnering closely with cross-functional stakeholders to translate processing concepts into manufacturable, Right-First-Time solutions. This role prioritizes technical rigor, executional excellence, and applied engineering expertise over portfolio strategy or people management.
Essential Functions & Responsibilities:
- Execute end-to-end technical delivery across assigned complex processing projects, including technical briefing, concept development, technical design, learning plans, pilot runs, capital design, and commercialization handover to Operations/Supply Chain.
- Develop and maintain detailed technical documentation including Manufacturing Procedure Specifications, Transformation Flowsheets, and Process Design Scopes, ensuring processing parameters meet defined quality, shelf-life, consumer experience, and manufacturing performance requirements.
- Apply processing commercialization tools (CQV, FMEA, CPRA) to systematically identify and mitigate technical risks, drive design decisions, and ensure Right-First-Time launch readiness.
- Partner with Platform R&D, GDI R&D, Packaging R&D, Quality, Operations, and external suppliers to define processing requirements and success criteria, resolve technical trade-offs, and maintain project timelines and milestones.
- Lead and support pilot line trials and scale-up activities, translating learnings into robust commercial processing solutions.
- Contribute to STAR and Tech Review Board processes, preparing and presenting technical content that clearly communicates design rationale, risk status, and commercialization readiness.
- Maintain compliance with all regulatory and safety requirements throughout project execution.
- Support cost optimization and value engineering efforts that improve margin, sustainability, and reinvestment priorities.
- Serve as an informal technical mentor to junior processing engineers on the team, sharing applied expertise and supporting capability development.
Key Outputs & Deliverables:
- Deliver successful technical execution on complex processing projects within innovation and platform portfolios, meeting committed timelines, budgets, and technical performance targets.
- Achieve and sustain >95% Right-First-Time (RTF) launches across assigned projects, ensuring processing solutions meet manufacturability, quality, regulatory, and supply chain readiness criteria at first commercial production.
- Produce high-quality processing technical deliverables — including Manufacturing Procedure Specifications, Transformation Flowsheets, Process Design Scopes, FMEAs, and CQV documentation — that meet enterprise engineering standards.
- Generate clear, data-driven technical recommendations and risk assessments that enable informed go/no-go decisions at governance milestones.
- Contribute to team capability by sharing technical learnings, best practices, and processing expertise across the broader E2E projects organization.
Expected Experience & Required Skills:
- Bachelor’s degree in chemical, mechanical, or food engineering or related discipline with 4 years of experience required, or Master’s degree with 3 years or PhD with 2 years of relevant experience preferred.
- 2 - 4 years of experience in R&D or Engineering roles within consumer goods, food & beverage, pharma, or a similar industry.
- Demonstrated experience in emulsions / shear processing, fermentation, extrusion, thermal processing & validation, aeration, drying, or powder mixing preferred.
- Demonstrated hands-on experience executing end-to-end processing development projects, including pilot trials and scale-up to industrial production.
- Strong applied knowledge of processing commercialization tools including CQV, FMEA, CPRA, Process Design Scopes, and Transformation Flowsheets.
- Solid project management skills, with experience maintaining detailed project plans, schedules, and risk logs on multi-stakeholder initiatives.
- Proficiency with project tools (MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira, or equivalent), advanced Excel skills; familiarity with ERP systems (SAP).
- Strong technical communication skills with the ability to synthesize complex processing data into clear recommendations for cross-functional audiences.
- Experience with pilot line setup, scale-up, and industrial production launches, including multi-site experience preferred.
- Willingness and ability to travel up to 10 to 25% of the time.
Work Environment & Schedule:
- This position is considered a normal office environment with moderate travel to customer locations, stores, manufacturing facilities, etc.; offices are open workspaces
New Hire Base Salary Range:
$89,800.00 - $112,200.00
- Physical - Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments
- Social - Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training
- Emotional – Employee Assistance Program, Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs
- Financial – 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability
Location(s)
Glenview R&D Center