CI Process Engineer

Job Purpose

The Continuous Improvement Process Engineer drives measurable cost reduction, capacity improvement, and operational performance across pet food manufacturing operations. Utilizing Lean/Six Sigma methodologies and financial acumen, this role partners directly with plant operations to transform process inefficiencies into realized P&L savings, increased capacity, and improved yields.

The position is responsible for developing and executing a pipeline of high-value continuous improvement opportunities, from initial opportunity identification and financial justification through implementation, validation, and sustained results - focusing heavily on extrusion, drying, packaging, and raw material utilization.

Description of Essential Duties

Opportunity Identification & Analysis

• Analyze manufacturing operations, conversion costs ($/lb, $/ton, labor hr/lb), and plant metrics to identify waste and process bottlenecks.
• Evaluate focus areas including raw material giveaway, extrusion yields, dryer losses, bag/film packaging waste, utility consumption (steam, gas, power), and maintenance downtime.
• Quantify potential savings into clear value buckets: Realized P&L Savings, Cost Avoidance, Capacity Expansion, Yield/Material Savings, and Labor Efficiency.

Pipeline Management & Project Development

• Build and maintain a plant-wide Continuous Improvement Idea Library and submission process, establishing recognition (KUDOS) initiatives to foster an engaged continuous improvement culture.
• Benchmark operational metrics across manufacturing lines and facilities to standardize best practices.
• Translate prioritized opportunities into actionable capital expenditure requests (CERs), ROI business cases, timelines, and execution roadmaps.

Execution & Continuous Improvement Culture

• Partner directly with plant managers, operators, and maintenance teams to execute improvement projects through influence, structured problem-solving, and root-cause analysis (8 Wastes of Lean).
• Optimize core processing parameters, including extruder yield, dryer settings, coating application rates, and line throughput.
• Conduct post-implementation tracking to verify financial savings on the P&L, ensure regulatory/food safety compliance, and establish sustainable standard work practices.

Qualification Requirements

(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).

• Education & Experience: Bachelor's degree in industrial, Manufacturing, Chemical, or Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent experience) with 5-7 years of hands-on manufacturing experience, preferably in pet food, food processing, or high-speed CPG operations.
• Travel: Willingness and ability to travel up to 50% to support East Region plant facilities and assist in ongoing CI team projects.
• Continuous Improvement: Proven expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma tools (Green/Black Belt preferred), root-cause analysis, and systematic waste elimination.
• Financial Acumen: Strong capability to connect engineering changes to financial metrics (P&L, capital planning, conversion cost reduction).
• Technical Skills: Advanced Excel and data analysis capabilities; familiarity with extrusion, thermal processing, or bulk material handling is a strong plus.
• Leadership & Communication: Track record of driving cross-functional alignment and leading site-level change without direct authority.

Physical Demands

(The physical demands described here are representatives of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The phrases "occasionally," "regularly," and "frequently" correspond to the following definitions: "occasionally" means up to 25% of working time, "regularly" means between 26 and 75% of working time, and "frequently" means 76% and more of working time.)

• The employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to sit and use their hands and fingers, to handle or feel, to manipulate keys on a keyboard and view data on a computer screen. The employee is occasionally required to stand, climb stairs, walk, and reach with arms and hands. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision. Some travel and overnight stays required.
• Occasional extended work hours may be required. Moderate noise (examples: business office with computers and printers, light traffic, plant background noise). The job is performed under a generally hazard free environment.

Additional information

The above statements reflect the general details necessary to describe the principal functions of the occupation described and shall not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the occupation.