Food Process Engineering Jobs in Cleveland, OH (NOW HIRING)

Nestlé's Research & Development Center is our regional powerhouse driving innovation in food, beverage, and pharmaceutical science. Backed by our global Nestlé R&D organization, we lead breakthrough discoveries that are both good for consumers and the planet. Our team of experts range from product developers to engineers, working across our portfolio of food, beverage, infant nutrition, and health science to create leading-edge products and services. As part of our organization, you will use your entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to excellence to unlock the power of food and provide premium value.
This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.
Position Summary
We are seeking an innovative and forward-thinking Principal Engineer to drive the conceptualization, design, prototyping, and piloting of new manufacturing solutions for the Frozen Food Division. In this role, you will serve as the technical expert responsible for developing frozen food manufacturing technologies, ensuring that both new and existing processes can be successfully implemented at full scale to improve cost, quality, safety, and operational efficiency across the Frozen network.
Responsibilities

• Develop, validate, and optimize mixing, cooking, assembly, mechanical, and freezing processes related to all aspects of frozen food production.
• Scale processes from proof of concept and pilot runs to full factory implementation, ensuring throughput, quality, consistency, and repeatability.
• Lead troubleshooting and root cause analysis to resolve processing issues and eliminate variability.
• Partner with automation and controls specialists to ensure processing systems integrate with plant PLC/SCADA and DMO platforms.
• Support development of process simulations and digital twins to optimize throughput and operational efficiencies.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using data analytics, advanced modeling, and process insights.
• Execute plant trials, commissioning activities, and capability studies, ensuring processes are validated and ready for scale-up.
• Collaborate with OEMs and internal stakeholders to deliver robust, scalable processing solutions.
• Work with R&D teams to conduct pilot plant trials that ensure superior product quality and alignment with product requirements.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, industrial safety, and cybersecurity requirements.
• Codify and formalize proven solutions into global standards to enable replication and best-practice sharing across factories.

Leadership Expectations

• Influence cross-functional teams through deep technical expertise and sound engineering judgment.
• Provides coaching and mentorship to Factory Engineers and Project Teams.
• Collaborate effectively with R&D, Corporate Engineering, Frozen Operations, TAG, Quality, and Manufacturing Excellence to achieve aligned business outcomes.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical, Food, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
• 7+ years of experience in process engineering within frozen foods or process-related industries.
• Experience scaling processes from pilot to commercial manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of cooking, blending, freezing technologies, filling and relevant unit operations.
• Experience with Autodesk preferred.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional leadership skills.

It is our business imperative to remain a very inclusive workplace.
To our veterans and separated service members, you're at the forefront of our minds as we recruit top talent to join Nestlé. The skills you've gained while serving our country, such as flexibility, agility, and leadership, are much like the skills that will make you successful in this role. In addition, with our commitment to an inclusive work environment, we recognize the exceptional engagement and innovation displayed by individuals with disabilities. Nestlé seeks such skilled and qualified individuals to share our mission where you'll join a cohort of others who have chosen to call Nestlé home.
The Nestlé Companies are equal employment opportunity employers. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Prior to the next step in the recruiting process, we welcome you to inform us confidentially if you may require any special accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment experience. Contact us at accommodations@nestle.com or please dial 711 and provide this number to the operator: 1-800-321-6467.
This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.
Review our applicant privacy notice before applying at https://www.nestlejobs.com/privacy.
Job Requisition: 394911
Nestlé's Research & Development Center is our regional powerhouse driving innovation in food, beverage, and pharmaceutical science. Backed by our global Nestlé R&D organization, we lead breakthrough discoveries that are both good for consumers and the planet. Our team of experts range from product developers to engineers, working across our portfolio of food, beverage, infant nutrition, and health science to create leading-edge products and services. As part of our organization, you will use your entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to excellence to unlock the power of food and provide premium value.
This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.
Position Summary
We are seeking an innovative and forward-thinking Principal Engineer to drive the conceptualization, design, prototyping, and piloting of new manufacturing solutions for the Frozen Food Division. In this role, you will serve as the technical expert responsible for developing frozen food manufacturing technologies, ensuring that both new and existing processes can be successfully implemented at full scale to improve cost, quality, safety, and operational efficiency across the Frozen network.
Responsibilities

• Develop, validate, and optimize mixing, cooking, assembly, mechanical, and freezing processes related to all aspects of frozen food production.
• Scale processes from proof of concept and pilot runs to full factory implementation, ensuring throughput, quality, consistency, and repeatability.
• Lead troubleshooting and root cause analysis to resolve processing issues and eliminate variability.
• Partner with automation and controls specialists to ensure processing systems integrate with plant PLC/SCADA and DMO platforms.
• Support development of process simulations and digital twins to optimize throughput and operational efficiencies.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using data analytics, advanced modeling, and process insights.
• Execute plant trials, commissioning activities, and capability studies, ensuring processes are validated and ready for scale-up.
• Collaborate with OEMs and internal stakeholders to deliver robust, scalable processing solutions.
• Work with R&D teams to conduct pilot plant trials that ensure superior product quality and alignment with product requirements.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, industrial safety, and cybersecurity requirements.
• Codify and formalize proven solutions into global standards to enable replication and best-practice sharing across factories.

Leadership Expectations

• Influence cross-functional teams through deep technical expertise and sound engineering judgment.
• Provides coaching and mentorship to Factory Engineers and Project Teams.
• Collaborate effectively with R&D, Corporate Engineering, Frozen Operations, TAG, Quality, and Manufacturing Excellence to achieve aligned business outcomes.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical, Food, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
• 7+ years of experience in process engineering within frozen foods or process-related industries.
• Experience scaling processes from pilot to commercial manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of cooking, blending, freezing technologies, filling and relevant unit operations.
• Experience with Autodesk preferred.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional leadership skills.

It is our business imperative to remain a very inclusive workplace.
To our veterans and separated service members, you're at the forefront of our minds as we recruit top talent to join Nestlé. The skills you've gained while serving our country, such as flexibility, agility, and leadership, are much like the skills that will make you successful in this role. In addition, with our commitment to an inclusive work environment, we recognize the exceptional engagement and innovation displayed by individuals with disabilities. Nestlé seeks such skilled and qualified individuals to share our mission where you'll join a cohort of others who have chosen to call Nestlé home.
The Nestlé Companies are equal employment opportunity employers. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Prior to the next step in the recruiting process, we welcome you to inform us confidentially if you may require any special accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment experience. Contact us at accommodations@nestle.com or please dial 711 and provide this number to the operator: 1-800-321-6467.
This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.
Review our applicant privacy notice before applying at https://www.nestlejobs.com/privacy.
Job Requisition: 394911