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Membrane Separation Engineer Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

Aquatech immediately needs a full-time Product Manager of E-Separation Technologies (FEDI/EDR/ED ... and membrane processes. * Ability to engage confidently with engineering teams and technical ...

Membrane Separation Engineer information

What does a membrane separation engineer do?

A Membrane Separation Engineer specializes in designing, developing, and optimizing processes that use membranes to separate substances in liquids or gases. They work in industries such as water treatment, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, and chemical manufacturing, focusing on filtration, purification, and concentration processes. Their responsibilities include selecting appropriate membrane technologies, troubleshooting system performance, and ensuring efficient and sustainable operation. They also stay updated on advancements in membrane materials and system design to improve process efficiency and reduce costs.

What is the difference between Membrane Separation Engineer vs Process Engineer?

AspectMembrane Separation EngineerProcess Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Chemical, Mechanical, or Environmental Engineering; certifications in membrane technologyBachelor's in Chemical, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering; process optimization certifications
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, manufacturing plants, water treatment facilitiesManufacturing plants, chemical processing facilities, industrial sites
Industry UsageWater treatment, desalination, gas separation, biotechOil & gas, chemical manufacturing, food processing
Common Search/ComparisonMembrane Separation Engineer vs Process Engineer

The Membrane Separation Engineer specializes in designing and optimizing membrane-based separation processes, primarily in water treatment and biotech industries. The Process Engineer focuses on overall process design, optimization, and efficiency across various manufacturing sectors. While both roles require engineering credentials and involve process improvement, the Membrane Separation Engineer has a specialized focus on membrane technologies, whereas the Process Engineer covers broader process systems.

What are the primary challenges membrane separation engineers face when scaling up laboratory processes to full-scale industrial applications?

Membrane Separation Engineers often encounter challenges related to membrane fouling, maintaining consistent performance, and optimizing operational costs when transitioning from lab-scale experiments to industrial-scale systems. Issues such as feed variability, cleaning protocols, and system integration with existing plant operations become more complex at larger scales. Successful engineers must collaborate closely with process engineers, maintenance teams, and quality assurance specialists to troubleshoot, adapt designs, and ensure regulatory compliance throughout scale-up.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a membrane separation engineer?

To thrive as a Membrane Separation Engineer, you need a solid background in chemical engineering, materials science, or a related field, often with a relevant bachelor's or master's degree. Familiarity with membrane fabrication techniques, characterization tools (such as SEM, FTIR), and simulation software like COMSOL or Aspen Plus is typically required. Strong problem-solving, project management, and teamwork skills distinguish top professionals in this niche. These competencies are crucial for designing efficient membrane systems, optimizing separation processes, and ensuring project success in research or industrial environments.
What are popular job titles related to Membrane Separation Engineer jobs in Minnesota? For Membrane Separation Engineer jobs in Minnesota, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Membrane Separation Engineer jobs in Minnesota look for? The top searched job categories for Membrane Separation Engineer jobs in Minnesota are:
Infographic showing various Membrane Separation Engineer job openings in Minnesota as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 67% In-person, and 33% Remote job distribution.

Staff Engineer - SME Membranes

Agropur

Eden Prairie, MN • On-site

$124K - $155K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 19 days ago


Agropur rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Based on 24 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 435 rated food and drinks producers


Job description

Job Type:
Regular
People are at the heart of our success. Our culture encourages collaboration, transparency, and accountability in order to generate value and achieve sustainable results. Being part of the team means committing to an environment where everyone's impact truly matters.
We believe that teamwork-collaborating and sharing perspectives-is essential to achieving the best results.
An environment where collaboration is encouraged and valued:
  • Salary range 007: $124,200 - $155,300 (Salary will be determined based on skills, education, training & experience related to the position.)
  • Monday - Friday - Remote
  • Travel Requirement: 50%
  • Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Short and Long-term Disability Insurance
  • 401(k) with 7% company contributions
  • 3 weeks Paid Time Off
  • Paid holidays and 2 floating holidays
  • Paid parental leave
  • Advancement Opportunities

How you will contribute to collective success:
We are looking for a Staff Engineer - SME Membrane Systems to join Agropur.
Membrane Systems serves as the enterprise technical authority for membrane separation technologies across Agropur's manufacturing network. This role provides deep subject matter expertise in the design, operation, optimization, troubleshooting, and strategic application of membrane systems supporting dairy processing operations.
  • Serve as the enterprise subject matter expert for membrane separation technologies
  • Technical leadership for RO, UF, NF, MF applications
  • Lead technical reviews of major capital projects involving membrane systems.
  • Serve as final technical authority for membrane-related engineering decisions.
  • Support strategic decisions regarding membrane system design, technology selection, and system optimization
  • Make high-quality technical decisions in ambiguous or high-risk situations
  • Participate in concept development, feasibility studies, and engineering design reviews; review process designs and vendor proposals for membrane systems
  • Support Operational Excellence initiatives by supporting complex membrane performance, reliability and capacity issues; and identifying optimization opportunities
  • Build and maintain enterprise membrane system design and operating standards; ensure standards compliance in partnership with Engineering Governance, and drive adoption of standards across the network.
  • Monitor and evaluate emerging membrane technologies; assess emerging technologies for their potential to unlock new product platforms, create competitive advantage, or improve quality, cost, or functionality.

The type of team player who fits in:
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering (ChE preferred)
  • 10+ years experience in membrane system process engineering and/or capital project development/execution
  • Experience developing technical standards and specifications
  • Demonstrated expertise in membrane system design, operation, troubleshooting and optimization
  • Strong understanding of dairy processing
  • Strong organizational and communication skills; ability to influence technical decisions across multiple facilities and stakeholder groups
  • Experience facilitating technical reviews and driving follow-up actions
  • Experience supporting capital projects
  • Experience implementing standards and effective change management to ensure adoption
  • Experience with whey processing, protein concentration, and dairy ingredient manufacturing
  • Experience working with leading membrane system suppliers and OEMs.

A role for those who know that the best results are built through teamwork.
#CH-1
Agropur welcomes people from all backgrounds and origins. We are proud to be an employer with a diverse community and are committed to providing a respectful and inclusive experience for all employees and applicants. We will work with candidates who request accommodation. Please note that an adequate knowledge of French is required for positions in Quebec. Agropur uses artificial intelligence technology to assist our recruiters in screening, assessing, or selecting applicants for this position.
In this text, the use of the masculine gender to designate persons is intended only to lighten the text.

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