Senior Dairy Process Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Ready for more than just a job? Build a career with purpose.

At Lactalis in the USA, we’re committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive—whether you’re just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed.

As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family-owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we’re proud to produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together.

In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani® Italian cheeses and ricotta, Président® specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft® natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone’s® cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel®, Black Diamond® cheddar, and Parmalat® milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi’s®, Stonyfield Organic®, Brown Cow™, Oui®, Yoplait®, Go-Gurt®, :ratio®, Green Mountain Creamery®, and Mountain High®, along with a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun®, Gopi®, and Arz®.

At Lactalis, we live by our core values—Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone’s unique background and ideas are valued.

Even if you don’t meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy.

From your PASSION to ours

Lactalis USA, part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Sr. Process Engineer based in Chicago, IL.

The Sr. Process RSPC, Cheese & Powder Project Manager is responsible for managing and leading projects related to the RSPC’s areas and the process manufacturing of our cheeses and powder products, from design to full implementation and support the plant production and quality operations. Working with Operations, Research and Development, the Project Manager will be responsible for optimizing the various production systems, which directly and indirectly support the manufacturing process by implementing new process or modifying actual process. Will be involved with existing and new processes in the company.

Travel will be required up to 50% of the time to plants based in NY, WI, CA, ID, NH, VT, AZ, TN & MI or to manufacturers/vendors site locations nationally and internationally.

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

• Develop drawings, scopes of work, budgets and timelines as needed to prepare a project for submittal.
• Source vendors, negotiate and acquire quotes for project investments.
• Source, negotiate and acquire quotes for budgetary needs
• Manage projects.
• Track projects cost and maintain them within budget.
• Coordinate project review meetings to include setting them up, keeping meeting notes, and reporting out results to key stakeholders.
• Manage principles for the effective execution of projects.
• Work cross-functionally to ensure projects meet the needs of all key stakeholders to include but not be limited to Quality, Food Safety, Planning, Operations, and Maintenance.
• Attend Factory Acceptance Tests as required to validate equipment purchases.
• Lead and assist in the development of the annual capital budget.
• Travel and / or extended or off work hours may be required based on project needs.
• This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions; it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
• To fulfill these responsibilities, tools such as a computer, phone or, and / or allowance(s) may be provided.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these Essential Duties and Responsibilities.

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or chemical engineering.

Experience

• 5+ years’ experience working on capital expenditure projects as project manager,
• Food Industry required,
• Dairy process preferred,
• Minimum of 5 years of USDA or FDA regulated plant experience supporting manufacturing and utilities

Specialized Knowledge

• Microsoft Office, Advanced Excel skills; macros, pivot tables, AutoCAD (equipment & P&ID dwg)

Skills / Abilities

• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to audit, investigate and improve manufacturing process machinery,
• Effectively communicate to internal and external customers,
• Prioritization, organization, time management, and follow-up skills,
• Continuous improvement mindset,
• Ability to work with minimum supervision,
• Ability to travel to plant and machine manufacturers sites nationally and internationally.

At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities.