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Food Process Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Senior Process Engineer

Sterling, VA · On-site

$85K - $90K/yr

Senior Process Engineer Department: Maintenance / Engineering Reports To: This position typically ... The role works closely with Operations, Quality Assurance, Food Safety, Sanitation, Supply Chain ...

Senior Process Engineer

Sterling, VA · On-site

$85K - $90K/yr

Senior Process Engineer Department: Maintenance / Engineering Reports To: This position typically ... The role works closely with Operations, Quality Assurance, Food Safety, Sanitation, Supply Chain ...

Senior Process Engineer

Sterling, VA · On-site

$105K - $135K/yr

Senior Process Engineer Department: Maintenance / Engineering Reports To: This position typically ... The role works closely with Operations, Quality Assurance, Food Safety, Sanitation, Supply Chain ...

Senior Process Engineer

Midlothian, VA · On-site

$96K - $124K/yr

Manage the engineering and design process from inception to completion. This includes: leading ... Must have heavy industrial experience, experience in the chemical, pharmaceutical, food & beverage ...

Senior Process Engineer

Midlothian, VA · On-site

$98K - $127K/yr

Manage the engineering and design process from inception to completion. This includes: leading ... Must have heavy industrial experience, experience in the chemical, pharmaceutical, food & beverage ...

Senior Process Engineer

Midlothian, VA · On-site

$98K - $127K/yr

Manage the engineering and design process from inception to completion. This includes: leading ... Must have heavy industrial experience, experience in the chemical, pharmaceutical, food & beverage ...

Eng I, Process Eng

Covington, VA · On-site

$69K - $115K/yr

... food products), as well as commercial printing applications (greeting cards, lottery tickets, business cards, direct mail, large format signage, etc.). As an Entry-Level Process Engineer, you would ...

Eng I, Process Eng

Covington, VA · On-site

$69K - $115K/yr

... food products), as well as commercial printing applications (greeting cards, lottery tickets, business cards, direct mail, large format signage, etc.). As an Entry-Level Process Engineer, you would ...

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Showing results 1-20

Food Process Engineer information

See Virginia salary details

$49.1K

$91.2K

$141.3K

How much do food process engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for food process engineer in Virginia is $91,228.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $73,900.00 and $102,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a food process engineer?

A Food Process Engineer designs, develops, and optimizes food manufacturing processes to ensure efficiency, quality, and safety. They work with equipment, ingredients, and technologies to improve food production methods. Their role may involve research, troubleshooting, and implementing automation to enhance productivity. Food Process Engineers collaborate with food scientists, quality assurance teams, and production staff to meet industry regulations and consumer demands.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a food process engineer?

A Food Process Engineer’s daily responsibilities often include designing and optimizing production processes, troubleshooting equipment or product issues, and ensuring compliance with food safety and quality standards. You may also coordinate closely with production staff, quality assurance teams, and R&D departments to implement new technologies or process improvements. Documentation and analysis of process data, as well as participation in meetings to discuss ongoing projects, are common parts of the day-to-day routine. This dynamic role offers variety and the opportunity to continuously make impactful improvements to food production.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a food process engineer?

To thrive as a Food Process Engineer, you need a solid background in chemical or food engineering, strong problem-solving abilities, and experience with food safety regulations, typically supported by an engineering degree. Familiarity with software tools such as AutoCAD, process simulation programs, and knowledge of relevant certifications like HACCP or Six Sigma is often required. Attention to detail, effective teamwork, and strong communication skills help you succeed in cross-functional environments. These abilities ensure the safe, efficient, and innovative development of food processing systems that meet quality and regulatory standards.

What does a food process engineer do?

A food process engineer designs, develops, and improves manufacturing processes for food products to ensure safety, quality, and efficiency. They analyze production methods, optimize equipment, and may use tools like process simulation software, often working in manufacturing facilities and requiring knowledge of food safety standards. Their role helps streamline production while maintaining compliance with industry regulations.
Infographic showing various Food Process Engineer job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 73% Full Time, 23% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $91,228 per year, or $43.9 per hour.

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted yesterday


Job description

As part of Richardson's global agriculture and food business, our food and ingredients division plays a central role in connecting farm to table through our vertically integrated supply chain. As a leading pasta manufacturer, Richardson produces a wide range of high-quality dry pasta products for diverse markets and end uses.

Richardson provides an excellent compensation package consisting of a competitive salary, flexible benefits including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), paid time off, paid holidays, and training and career development opportunities.

Working with Richardson opens the door to a world of possibility. We currently have an opportunity for a Process Engineer at our Winchester, VA pasta production facility, where we produce Ronzoni pasta. The Process Engineer partners with Operations, Maintenance, and Quality to improve production efficiency, product quality, and cost performance across all stages of pasta manufacturing. This role leads data-driven process improvements, supports capital and technical projects, and strengthens continuous improvement initiatives to enhance safety, food safety, and operational reliability.

Responsibilities:

  • Analyze production data and manufacturing processes to identify and implement improvements in yield, throughput, quality, energy use, and labor efficiency

  • Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for process-related downtime, waste, or quality deviations

  • Optimize equipment layouts, workflows, and operating parameters to improve plant performance

  • Partner with Maintenance on preventive and predictive maintenance strategies to increase asset reliability

  • Support and lead continuous improvement initiatives aligned with plant KPIs (safety, food safety, quality, productivity, cost)

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Manufacturing, Industrial, or related field)

  • 5+ years of experience in process engineering within a manufacturing environment

  • Demonstrated experience leading data-driven process improvements

  • Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel and production data analysis

  • Experience conducting root cause analysis and implementing corrective actions

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience in food or beverage manufacturing (pasta or dry goods preferred)

  • Lean / Six Sigma certification or equivalent CI experience

  • Experience supporting capital projects or equipment installation

  • Familiarity with food safety and regulatory standards (FDA, GMP, SQF, etc.)

  • Experience with layout design software (e.g., AutoCAD)

  • Experience writing SOPs and technical documentation

Additional Information:

  • Occasional off-shift or weekend support may be required during major trials, startups, or shutdowns

  • Position requires presence on the manufacturing floor in varying environmental conditions