Dairy Process Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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