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Meat Processing Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Data Engineer

Smithfield, VA

$106K - $127K/yr

We are an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products ... You will solve complex problems, automate processes, and ensure data integrity at scale-all while ...

Data Engineer

Smithfield, VA · On-site

$106K - $127K/yr

We are an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products ... You will solve complex problems, automate processes, and ensure data integrity at scale-all while ...

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Meat Processing Engineer information

What are some common challenges faced by Meat Processing Engineers during production line optimization?

Meat Processing Engineers often encounter challenges such as balancing efficiency improvements with strict food safety regulations, managing equipment maintenance to minimize downtime, and optimizing workflows without compromising product quality. They must collaborate closely with quality assurance, maintenance, and production teams to identify bottlenecks and implement solutions that meet both productivity and safety standards. Additionally, adapting to new technologies or process changes requires continuous learning and effective communication across departments.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Meat Processing Engineer, and why are they important?

To excel as a Meat Processing Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering principles, food science, and meat processing technologies, usually supported by a relevant degree such as mechanical, industrial, or food engineering. Familiarity with CAD software, automated processing systems, and regulatory standards like HACCP is essential, and certifications in food safety are highly valued. Strong problem-solving, communication, and project management skills help you collaborate with cross-functional teams and optimize production processes. These abilities ensure product quality, operational efficiency, and compliance with safety and industry regulations in a highly technical and regulated environment.

What is the difference between Meat Processing Engineer vs Meat Quality Assurance Technician?

AspectMeat Processing EngineerMeat Quality Assurance Technician
CredentialsEngineering degree, certifications in food safetyFood safety certifications, quality assurance training
Work EnvironmentProcessing plants, engineering labsQuality control labs, processing facilities
Industry UsageDesigning and optimizing processing systemsMonitoring quality, ensuring compliance

While both roles work within the meat industry, Meat Processing Engineers focus on designing and improving processing systems, whereas Meat Quality Assurance Technicians concentrate on maintaining product quality and safety. Understanding these differences helps employers and job seekers identify the right career path or hiring needs within meat production facilities.

What are Meat Processing Engineers?

Meat Processing Engineers are professionals who design, develop, and oversee processes and equipment used in the production, packaging, and distribution of meat and meat products. They work to ensure efficiency, safety, and quality throughout the meat processing chain, from slaughtering to packaging. Their role often includes implementing automation, maintaining food safety standards, and optimizing production lines to reduce waste and costs.
What are popular job titles related to Meat Processing Engineer jobs in Virginia? For Meat Processing Engineer jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Meat Processing Engineer jobs in Virginia look for? The top searched job categories for Meat Processing Engineer jobs in Virginia are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Meat Processing Engineer jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Meat Processing Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Meat Processing Engineer job openings in Virginia as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 1% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 100% Physical job distribution.

$106K - $127K/yr

Full-time

Posted 5 hours ago


Job description

If you are currently employed at Smithfield, please log into Workday and submit your application through the Jobs Hub. A great job-and a great future-awaits you at Smithfield Foods. We are an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products.

We're looking for motivated people who want to join our team and grow lasting and meaningful careers with us. Apply Now! THE VALUE YOU'LL BRING: The position summary states the general nature and purpose of the job.

Overall accountabilities are defined in this section. As a Data Engineer, you will be at the heart of transforming raw data into powerful insights that drive strategic decisions across the business. You will architect and optimize data pipelines, build scalable infrastructure, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to unlock the full potential of our data ecosystem.

This is your opportunity to shape how data flows, is stored, and is leveraged-making a tangible impact every single day. You will work with cutting-edge technologies in a fast-paced, innovation-driven environment where your ideas matter and your skills shine. You will solve complex problems, automate processes, and ensure data integrity at scale-all while growing your expertise and influencing the future of data engineering.

If you're passionate about building elegant solutions and turning data into action, this is the role where you'll thrive. WHAT YOU'LL DO: The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

May perform other duties as assigned. Data Architecture & Pipeline DevelopmentDesign, build, and maintain robust, scalable data pipelines and ETL processes to support analytics and operational needs.Develop and optimize data models and storage solutions across structured and unstructured data sources.Ensure data quality, integrity, and consistency through automated validation and monitoring systems.Collaboration & StrategyPartner with data scientists, analysts, and business stakeholders to understand data requirements and deliver impactful solutions.Translate business needs into technical specifications and data architecture strategies.Contribute to the evolution of our data platform by evaluating new tools, frameworks, and best practices.Performance & GovernanceMonitor and tune data systems for performance, reliability, and scalability.Implement and enforce data governance, security, and compliance standards.Document data flows, processes, and system configurations to support transparency and maintainability.WHAT WE'RE SEEKING:To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.Bachelor's Degree from a regionally accredited four-year college or university and 5+ years of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience, required.Minimum of 3+ years experience in a Business Intelligence, Data Architecture or Data Engineering role or equivalent.Advanced knowledge of data management, data integration and data platform development techniques requiredAdvanced knowledge of dimensional data modeling techniques for analytics requiredAdvanced knowledge of SQL programming, including demonstrated experience with a combination of 4 or more of the following: functions, stored procedures, cursors, common table expressions, dynamic SQL, data pivoting, query optimization, correlated subqueries, windowing functions, error handling and merge operations requiredAdvanced knowledge and experience with one or more computer programming languages such as, but not limited to C#, DAX, .NET, Python, SQL requiredDemonstrated ability to design complex data solutions and collaborate with other team members for successful implementationDemonstrated ability to teach complex topics to less technical team membersDemonstrated experience utilizing Python and SQL on the Apache Spark platform is preferredAdvanced knowledge of one or more data visualization tools including Power BI, Tableau, Qlik or similar is preferredDemonstrated experience deploying data solutions using a modern data engineering stack composed of data lake, dimensional data warehouse and Apache Spark-based compute platform, preferredExperience using code version control, CI/CD, error handling and lineage/audit capabilities in analytics data pipelines preferredExperience with Microsoft Azure technologies strongly preferredAbility to quickly learn and adopt new technologyConsiders the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one; acts decisively and swiftlyAbility to communicate technical concepts in plain languageStrong attention to detailAbility to investigate, understand and deploy new technologies with minimal guidanceStrong verbal and written communication skillsStrong team collaboration skillsAbility to develop excellent relationships with business stakeholdersKnowledge of business aspects protein industry strongly preferredHigh proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio) Relocation Package Available Yes EEO Information Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757-357-1595.