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Food Engineer Jobs in Ohio (NOW HIRING)

Manufacturing Engineer

Hicksville, OH · On-site

$67K - $86K/yr

Description Nemco is a family owned business, since 1976, that manufactures food equipment for the ... We are seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to evaluate, design, develop, and improve manufacturing ...

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Food Engineer information

See Ohio salary details

$16.9K

$60.1K

$122.5K

How much do food engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for food engineer in Ohio is $60,060.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38,850.00 and $72,215.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Food Engineer position, and why are they important?

A Food Engineer needs a solid background in food science, chemical engineering, and process design, typically acquired through a degree in food engineering or a related discipline. Familiarity with CAD software, process simulation tools, and knowledge of food safety regulations (such as HACCP certification) are commonly required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate effectively with multidisciplinary teams help distinguish successful Food Engineers. These skills are crucial to ensure safe, efficient, and innovative development of food processes and products in a fast-evolving industry.

What does a Food Engineer do?

A Food Engineer applies principles of engineering, microbiology, and chemistry to develop and improve food products, processing techniques, and packaging. They work to enhance food quality, safety, and shelf life while optimizing production efficiency. Food Engineers collaborate with food scientists and manufacturers to design equipment, improve preservation methods, and ensure compliance with industry regulations. Their work plays a crucial role in making food production safer, more sustainable, and cost-effective.

What are the typical day-to-day responsibilities of a Food Engineer?

Food Engineers typically spend their days designing, testing, and optimizing processes for manufacturing food products, ensuring these processes meet both efficiency and safety standards. They frequently collaborate with food scientists, quality assurance specialists, and production staff to troubleshoot issues and improve product quality. In addition to hands-on work with equipment and production lines, Food Engineers also analyze data, document procedures, and stay up-to-date with evolving food safety regulations. This variety allows for a dynamic work environment that combines technical expertise with teamwork and ongoing learning.

What are the most commonly searched types of Food Engineer jobs in Ohio? The most popular types of Food Engineer jobs in Ohio are:
What cities in Ohio are hiring for Food Engineer jobs? Cities in Ohio with the most Food Engineer job openings:

Senior Food Technologist

Hunter the Head Hunter

Columbus, OH

$95K - $110K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 13 days ago


Job description

About the Company

Our client is a rapidly growing frozen food manufacturer with a strong portfolio of branded products and robust in-house manufacturing capabilities. The organization is committed to innovation, operational excellence, and delivering high-quality frozen foods to consumers nationwide.

Position Overview

The Senior Food Technologist will be responsible for the development, optimization, and commercialization of frozen food products from concept through launch. This role plays a key part in driving innovation, improving existing products, and supporting manufacturing scale-up efforts while ensuring quality, food safety, sensory performance, and cost objectives are achieved.

The ideal candidate brings deep technical expertise in frozen food systems, ingredient functionality, commercialization, and plant support within a high-volume food manufacturing environment.

Key ResponsibilitiesProduct Development & Commercialization
  • Develop and optimize formulations for frozen foods including entrees, sauces, vegetables, snacks, and ready meals
  • Conduct bench-top development, pilot plant trials, and plant-scale validations
  • Lead commercialization activities from lab through full-scale manufacturing
  • Ensure products achieve targeted taste, texture, appearance, nutritional, and shelf-life requirements
  • Support innovation initiatives as well as renovation and optimization of existing products
Frozen Food Technical Expertise
  • Apply knowledge of freezing technologies including IQF and blast freezing systems
  • Optimize formulations to reduce ice crystal formation, freezer burn, moisture migration, and texture degradation
  • Troubleshoot product performance challenges related to frozen storage and reheating conditions
  • Evaluate ingredient functionality and processing interactions within frozen food applications
Manufacturing & Plant Support
  • Partner closely with Operations teams during production startup and commercialization activities
  • Troubleshoot plant-related processing and formulation challenges
  • Develop and maintain detailed product specifications, process parameters, and manufacturing documentation
  • Ensure consistency and manufacturability across production environments
Cost Optimization & Continuous Improvement
  • Identify cost-saving opportunities through ingredient optimization and process improvements
  • Support productivity and value engineering initiatives without compromising product quality
  • Analyze formulation and production data to recommend technical improvements
Quality & Compliance
  • Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, HACCP, GMP, SQF, and internal food safety standards
  • Support shelf-life studies and frozen product stability validation
  • Work cross-functionally with Packaging, Quality, Procurement, and Marketing teams to support business objectives
  • Interface with ingredient and packaging suppliers to evaluate new technologies and materials
Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, or related technical field
  • 5–10+ years of food R&D experience with strong frozen food expertise preferred
  • Experience commercializing products from bench development through plant-scale production
  • Strong understanding of frozen food systems, ingredient functionality, and thermal processing
  • Experience with frozen entrees, ready meals, snacks, vegetables, sauces, or related categories preferred
  • Strong project management and organizational skills
  • Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving capabilities
  • Ability to balance quality, speed-to-market, and cost objectives
  • Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
Preferred Experience
  • Frozen CPG manufacturing
  • USDA/FDA regulated food manufacturing environments
  • Commercialization and plant startup support
  • Shelf-life and sensory evaluation work
  • Value engineering and cost reduction projects
  • Multi-functional collaboration within high-volume manufacturing operations