Pilot Plant Operator

Leprino Foods Company; Denver, Northern (CO, KY); Hybrid; USD 33,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary + bonus

Health/dental/vision coverage

Tuition assistance

Paid holidays

401(k) plan

Profit-sharing

Job summary

Leprino Foods Company in Denver seeks a Pilot Plant Operator to set up and run pilot-scale equipment for nutrition trials, collect samples, and support transition to scalable manufacturing. This hands-on role includes operating filtration, evaporation, drying, UHT, and reaction equipment, plus maintaining product specs and trial data for research teams.

Strong mechanical aptitude and a high school diploma are required.

Qualifications

• A high school diploma or GED is required.
• Working knowledge of standard manufacturing equipment, including pumps, valves, piping, or similar mechanical systems.
• Basic mechanical aptitude for operating, adjusting, and troubleshooting processing equipment.

Responsibilities

• Set up, operate, and clean pilot-scale filtration, evaporation, drying, UHT, and reaction equipment.
• Support nutrition trials that help develop new products, processes, and equipment for future manufacturing use.
• Prepare experiments by setting up equipment, unloading materials, and coordinating trial requirements with research scientists.
• Operate pumps, valves, piping, filtration systems, dryers, and related processing equipment during scheduled trials.
• Monitor operating conditions and adjust equipment to maintain product specifications during each experiment.
• Troubleshoot equipment and process issues to keep trials on schedule and accurate.
• Collect samples and record production data, operating conditions, and trial information accurately.
• Label, package, and prepare finished nutrition products for storage following procedures.
• Complete production logs and follow trial plans to provide reliable information for R&D teams.
• Clean and sanitize equipment using CIP, COP, and other sanitation methods.
• Follow GMP, SOPs, and established food safety requirements.

Skills

Basic mechanical aptitude

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Pumps, valves, piping

Job description

Pilot Plant Operator

Within our Corporate R&D/Pilot Plant team in Denver, Leprino is seeking a Pilot Plant Operator to support our Nutrition side product development and pilot plant trials. In this role, you will set up and operate processing equipment, support experiments, collect samples, and help research teams turn new ideas into scalable manufacturing processes. This position plays a hands‑on role in developing new nutrition products and processes while keeping trials safe, accurate, and moving efficiently from experimentation toward commercialization.

At Leprino, starting hourly compensation for this role typically ranges between $24.31 and $26.34. This position has an annual target bonus of 3.5%.

What You’ll Do:

• Set up, operate, and clean pilot-scale filtration, evaporation, drying, UHT, and reaction equipment.
• Support nutrition trials that help Leprino develop new products, processes, and equipment for future manufacturing use.
• Prepare experiments by setting up equipment, unloading materials, and coordinating trial requirements with research scientists.
• Operate pumps, valves, piping, filtration systems, dryers, and related processing equipment during scheduled trials.
• Monitor operating conditions and adjust equipment to maintain product specifications throughout each experiment.
• Troubleshoot equipment and process issues, helping trials stay on schedule and produce accurate results.
• Collect samples and record production data, operating conditions, and trial information accurately.
• Label, package, and prepare finished nutrition products for storage following established procedures.
• Complete production logs and follow trial plans to provide reliable information for research and development teams.
• Clean and sanitize processing equipment using clean-in-place (CIP), clean-out-of-place (COP), manual, and scheduled sanitation methods.
• Follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), and established food safety requirements.

You Have At Least (Required Qualifications):

• A high school diploma or GED.
• A working knowledge of standard manufacturing equipment, including pumps, valves, piping, or similar mechanical systems.
• A basic mechanical aptitude for operating, adjusting, and troubleshooting processing equipment.

We Hope You Also Have (Preferred Qualifications):

• Experience working in food, dairy, beverage, nutritional ingredient, pharmaceutical, or other sanitary manufacturing operations.
• Experience operating filtration, evaporation, drying, UHT, or similar processing equipment.
• Experience with CIP, COP, or other sanitary equipment cleaning systems.
• Experience supporting pilot plant, research and development, product development, or small-batch production trials.

Leprino believes in equal employment opportunity and make employment decisions based on each individual’s unique talents, experience, skills, and knowledge; we do not discriminate on the basis of any personal characteristics. We know we are better together and are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive culture in which all employees can thrive.

Offering You In Return:

A chance to be part of a global team of individuals passionate about producing and delivering high-quality products that help feed and nourish families around the world. Leprino could not be where it is today without our incredible employees. That is why we share in our success together by rewarding you for your hard work. Hiring great people who are in it for the long run is our goal. Through competitive salaries and bonuses, life, medical/dental/vision coverage, voluntary benefits, employee assistance programs, wellness incentives, tuition assistance, vacation, ten paid holidays, sick time, paid parental leave, annual merit increases, as well as the LFC Profit-Sharing & 401(k) plan. Your impact will be noticed and rewarded, as you seek to further our company, our customers, and one another.

Our Story:

Leprino’s history dates back to the 1950s, when Jim Leprino first started making small batches of mozzarella for local markets and eateries in the Little Italy neighborhood of Denver. We’ve grown a bit since then. Today, Leprino is the world’s largest manufacturer of mozzarella and lactose, and a leading producer of whey protein. Still owned by the Leprino family, our sights are set to be the “World’s Best Dairy Food and Ingredient Company.” From a small corner grocery store we have grown to over 5,500 employees throughout the globe. Will you join us on our journey?

Leprino uses Psychemedics for a 90-day hair follicle drug test as a pre-employment screening tool and also participates in E-Verify. Some positions at the Denver corporate office may require Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) based on role and location.Leprinosupports a drug-free workplace and is an EEO / Aff­ective Action EmployerM / F / Disability / Veteran.