Dairy Process Engineer Associate Jobs in Elgin, IL

job purpose:  

The Sr. Dairy Processing Engineer will come in with deep technical expertise in fluid milk membrane separations (especially ultrafiltration), thermal processing (HTST/HHST/UHT), and end-to-end milk unit operations-from raw milk receiving through packaging. This role is a hands-on technical authority who will be integral to process technology innovation as well as troubleshooting manufacturing issues, optimizing process capabilities and product quality, supporting pilot-to-plant scale-up, and serving as a trusted partner to Operations, Manufacturing, and Quality. 

responsibilities:

Manufacturing technical leadership, Operational Support and Troubleshooting 

• Serve as a go-to technical expert for fluid milk separation, standardization, homogenization, pasteurization systems (HTST/HHST/UHT), and packaging performance.
• Diagnose and resolve process and product issues.  
• Partner with Operations/Manufacturing/Quality to drive safe, compliant, and reliable production and troubleshoot process deviations, and identify root causes for quality issues. 

Process design, scale-up, and optimization 

• Define critical process parameters, key performance indicators, and control plans.
• Design, coordinate, and execute pilot and commercial-scale plant trials.
• Own process capability improvements and provide technical input to capital projects and equipment selection.
• Provide subject-matter expertise on OEM platforms and engineering approaches. 

Technical Advocacy

• Proactively identify opportunities for process optimization that improve efficiency, sustainability, yield or product shelf-life. 
• Lead initiatives and manage stakeholders across Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain. 

Milk chemistry, physical chemistry, and product quality 

• Apply deep knowledge of milk composition and how processing impacts chemistry, physical properties, and functional performance of milk and its components.
• Partner with Product Development and Operations on formulation/processing choices for fluid dairy products, including shakes and other forms (sensory, taste, texture, stability, shelf-life). 

Analytics & data-driven decision making

• Define plans and execute and interpret analytical testing results tied to processing and shelf-life: milk composition chemistry, rheology, chromatographic/volatile profiling and other relevant analytical methods.
• Establish and improve SOPs, troubleshooting playbooks, and process data reviews

People leadership 

• Individual contributor to start. Will build and develop a team of 1-4 (e.g., process engineers, dairy scientists, technicians).
• Build strong cross-functional relationships and communicate clearly from plant floor to leadership level. 

skills/qualifications required:  

• MS in Dairy Science, Food Engineering, Food Science, Chemical Engineering, or closely related field with a focus on dairy processing and/or thermal processing. 

• 5-10 years of progressive experience in fluid dairy processing spanning pilot through commercial manufacturing. 

• Demonstrated expertise in:
  • HTST/HHST and/or UHT processing of fluid milk (and/or cream) and practical plant troubleshooting.
  • End-to-end milk unit operations: raw receiving clarification/separation standardization homogenization pasteurization/aseptic processing packaging.
  • Ultrafiltration of milk and/or dairy membrane separations (MF/UF/NF/RO familiarity as a plus). 

• Strong technical competence in dairy physical chemistry and processing impacts on proteins/fats/enzymes. 
• Proven ability to partner with Operations/Manufacturing/Quality in a high-accountability environment. 
• Experience with aseptic systems and packaging interactions (commercial aseptic operations strongly preferred). 

• Track record of leading cross-functional root-cause investigations (e.g., flavor defects, oxidation, shelf-life failures, stability issues). 

• Experience in capital projects preferred. 

• Familiarity with regulatory expectations and operator training frameworks for pasteurization systems preferred.

how fairlife nourishes you: 

At fairlife, we believe in better - and that includes how we support our people. We offer a comprehensive suite of benefits and wellbeing resources designed to support you physically, emotionally, socially, and financially, both in and out of work. 

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, effective day one! 

• Supplemental health plans (hospital indemnity, accident, and critical illness insurance) 

• Paid Time Off to recharge and support work-life balance 

• Paid parental leave & adoption assistance (up to $10,000) 

• Parental support & family care benefits, including childcare resources and lactation support 

• 401(k) to support retirement planning with up to 9% in employer match 

• Wellness reimbursement (up to $500 for qualified wellbeing expenses) 

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for emotional wellbeing and work-life support 

• Company-paid life insurance and short-term disability 

• Employer HSA funding (for HDHP participants) 

• Tuition reimbursement (up to $10,000) and student loan repayment ($200/month) 

• Learning & development programs to unlock your full potential 

• Rewards & recognition, matching gifts, free product, and Business Resource Groups 

fairlife's nour!sh program is designed to meet you where you are - supporting your individual wellbeing journey while enabling you to do your best work every day. 

position location: Chicago, IL 

reports to: Sr. Director, R&D 

travel requirements: 40-50% travel to our plants 

exempt/nonexempt: Exempt