Manufacturing Process Engineer

Peet's Coffee Inc.; Brooklyn Center (MN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation & holidays

Medical, dental & vision coverage

401(k) with match

Life insurance

Free coffee

Career development

Job summary

Peet's Coffee Inc. in Brooklyn Center, MN is seeking a Manufacturing Process Engineer to drive continuous improvement across the Minneapolis site. You will lead lean initiatives, analyze processes, and implement sustainable changes to reduce waste and improve productivity.

The role emphasizes hands-on problem solving, cross-functional collaboration, and delivering cost-saving projects in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical field.
• 3–5 years of manufacturing/industrial experience.
• Experience with structured problem-solving to drive improvements.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify and eliminate waste.
• Identify opportunities to reduce manufacturing and operating costs.
• Analyze process performance, material usage, labor, energy and scrap.
• Develop and implement process improvements to reduce waste and improve productivity.
• Lead and support structured problem-solving activities to drive root cause analysis.

Skills

Lean methodologies

Structured problem solving

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Project ownership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

Power BI

AutoCAD

SAP

Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365)

Excel

Job description

Our purpose at Peet's Coffee is the pursuit of better, better coffee, for people and the planet. Our ambition is to become the chosen brand for coffee lovers around the world, and we know earning that place means an uncompromising focus on quality, craft, and authenticity. As part of Keurig Dr Pepper and JDE Peet's, the world's leading pure-play coffee company, Peet's is growing as a global coffee brand anchored by a clear set of values that reflect who we are today and where we're going. We Dare to Amaze, Own It, Make It Simple, and Win Together challenging ourselves every day to do better than the day before. We've learned that the secret to great coffee is the people who make it, and we apply the same care in selecting and preparing our teams as we do when crafting the perfect cup.

The Manufacturing Process Engineer will support Peet's Minneapolis Manufacturing Site and report to the VP of Coffee Operations. This role will play a key part in driving operational excellence by identifying and eliminating waste, improving process efficiency, and reducing variability across manufacturing operations. The ideal candidate is a hands‑on problem solver with a passion for continuous improvement. This role will leverage lean methodologies, structured problem‑solving, process optimization, and change management to implement sustainable improvements and foster a culture of engagement and operational excellence in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment.

Salary $90,000-$115,000

Location Brooklyn Center, MN - Onsite

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to identify and eliminate the eight sources of waste (e.g., downtime, defects, overproduction, motion, inventory, waiting, transportation, and underutilized talent)
• Identify, quantify, and prioritize opportunities to reduce manufacturing and operating costs.
• Analyze process performance, material usage, labor, energy, scrap, downtime, and other cost drivers.
• Develop and implement process improvements that reduce waste, improve productivity, and optimize resource utilization.
• Establish project baselines and measure financial impact to ensure savings are sustainable and accurately documented.
• Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, and other functions to implement improvements.
• Investigate process losses and develop data‑driven corrective actions.
• Standardize successful improvements and develop processes to sustain gains.
• Lead and support structured problem‑solving activities (e.g., RCCMs, A3s, DMAIC projects) and change management initiatives to drive root cause analysis and implement sustainable solutions.
• Partner with operations, maintenance, and quality teams to implement process changes that enhance safety, quality, and throughput.
• Facilitate and support kaizen events, problem‑solving workshops, and project team meetings to solve operational and financial problems.
• Monitor and analyze process performance data to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Support the development and implementation of standard work and visual management tools.
• Provide leadership to operational functions to drive productivity with a focus on efficiencies, yield, people capability building and waste elimination opportunities.
• Lead Lean/Kaizen events across the roasting plant to provide recommendations and implementation of enhancements to existing workflows and processes to increase throughput, reduce costs, and improve quality of our products.
• Assist in training frontline teams on problem‑solving tools and lean daily management.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement throughout the plant.
• Coordinate efforts to deliver projects to meet annual cost savings goal for the roasting plant.
• Develop and lead routines to drive the measurement of downtime and plans to improve up time via industrial engineering time studies, standard work, and labor standard targets for operations.
• Analyze existing processes and identify opportunities for improvement in throughput, quality, cost, safety, and reliability.
• Develop process flows, specifications, layouts, standard work, and engineering documentation.
• Conduct root‑cause analysis and develop sustainable solutions to recurring process issues.
• Use data and statistical analysis to evaluate process capability and performance.
• Support implementation of new products, equipment, technologies, and manufacturing processes.

Who You Are

Shares Peet's core values: Accountability, Curiosity, Mastery, and Inclusivity. Excellent organizational, leadership, and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments. High level of professionalism: reliable, punctual, detail‑oriented, self‑motivated, and results‑driven. Ability to maintain confidentiality and ensure compliance with all company policies and procedures.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) in Engineering or a related technical field preferred.
• 3-5 years of experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Proven experience using structured problem‑solving tools and methodologies to identify root causes and implement sustainable process improvements that positively impact manufacturing operations.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to evaluate complex issues, develop solutions, and drive effective implementation.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence, collaborate with, and engage teams at all levels of the organization.
• Proactive and self‑motivated, with a demonstrated ability to take ownership of projects and responsibilities, work independently, anticipate needs, and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Hands‑on, results‑oriented approach with a strong bias for action and a track record of driving projects through to completion.
• Basic knowledge or hands‑on experience with mechanical and/or electrical systems is a plus.

Preferred:

• Green Belt and Black Belt certification preferred.
• Prior experience in the Food & Beverage or CPG industry.
• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365), SAP, and Microsoft Office Suite, including advanced proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience with Power BI and AutoCAD is also preferred.

Physical Requirements and Environmental Exposures

This position requires a combination of standing, walking, sitting, and hands‑on work, including frequent use of manual and finger dexterity for building and testing prototypes. Employees must be able to visually distinguish fine details, including color and depth. The role may occasionally require climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling. The employee must be able to lift or move up to 25 pounds frequently and up to 50 pounds occasionally. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

What We Offer

We're proud to offer a comprehensive package for full‑time employees, including but not limited to:

• Recharge Time – Paid vacation, holidays, and sick days.
• Health & Wellness – Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Future You – 401(k) plan with generous match program to help you save.
• Peace of Mind – Life insurance, disability, and options for HSAs and FSAs.
• Everyday Perks – Free coffee and discounts.
• Growth & Support – Career development and an Employee Assistance Program when you need it.

Additional Information

The target annual base salary range for this position is $90,000-$115,000. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including the applicant's qualifications, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education, certifications or licenses, other legitimate non-discriminatory business factors, and the geographic location of the role. In addition to base pay, individuals in this position may also be eligible to earn bonuses.

At Peet's, we believe in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcome. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome qualified applicants of all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, disability, genetic information, uniform service, veteran status, or any other category protected under federal, state, or local laws. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local ordinances. Peet's is also committed to providing reasonable accommodation to job applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process. If you need assistance or accommodation, please contact [e-mail].

Don't have time to check out the opportunities we are brewing up for you? Connect with us and tell us what you are interested in. Our purpose at Peet's Coffee is the pursuit of better; better coffee, for people and the planet. Our ambition is to become the chosen brand for coffee lovers around the world, and we know earning that place means an uncompromising focus on quality, craft, and authenticity. As part of Keurig Dr Pepper and JDE Peet's, the world's leading pure-play coffee company, Peet's is growing as a global coffee brand while staying rooted in the values that have defined us from the start. We Dare to Amaze, Own It, Make It Simple, and Win Together challenging ourselves every day to do better than the day before. We've learned that the secret to great coffee is the people who make it, and we apply the same care in selecting and preparing our teams as we do when crafting the perfect cup. Beyond Coffee, Peetniks are passionate supporters of our community and serving our local communities doesn't stop at the counter. Peet's employees take pride in supporting the neighborhoods where they live and work, through holiday donation programs and supporting non‑profits at home and globally. We believe that Coffee thrives where people do. We support the communities where our beans are grown, lending hands and knowledge to make life and coffee better. Peetniks are passionate and authentic, learners and doers, committed to the pursuit of better. This is your opportunity to craft a path that matters with us!