Principal Process Engineer – Scale-Up & Commercialization

Altria Group, Inc.; Richmond (VA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 173,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule (in person 3 days/week

Hybrid/remote options on selected days

13 paid holidays

Floating holidays

15 days paid time off

37.5‑hour workweek

401(k) matching

Deferred Profit Sharing

Professional development stipends

Student loan repayment assistance

Conference attendance

Job summary

Altria Group, Inc. in Richmond, VA seeks a Principal Process Engineer to lead process development, scale‑up, and technology transfer for smokeable products.

You will guide cross‑functional teams across product design, tobacco processing, leaf blending, quality, regulatory, and operations to enable successful commercialization and ongoing improvement. The role emphasizes data‑driven decisions, application of process synthesis, and robust control strategies to meet quality, regulatory, and

Qualifications

• BS in an Engineering domain and a minimum of 5-10 years of relevant experience (Chemical or Mechanical Engineering preferred)
• Strong background in application and execution of process and general engineering design principles. Direct experience in project management for planning, designing, executing, and developing new or existing processes from these principles required.
• Deep understanding of process synthesis from analysis of mass & energy balances, transport phenomena, thermodynamics, process controls, and their application to the selection and specification of equipment & systems for unit operations
• Strong cause‑effect analytical and troubleshooting abilities
• Proficient in design of experiments to evaluate and document processes
• Working knowledge of Quality by Design, including Good Manufacturing Practices or related quality requirements & control principles to ensure product quality
• Primarily day‑shift, however the incumbent will need to be flexible to provide support to other shifts as needed
• This position may involve 10‑15% travel and extended time in manufacturing, pilot, and lab environments that require the use of PPE.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross‑functional product and manufacturing initiatives spanning Product Design, Tobacco Processing, Leaf Blending, Quality, Regulatory, and Manufacturing Operations to enable commercialization of new smokeable products and implement product or process changes across the portfolio.
• Serve as a technical lead for complex programs, influencing decisions across matrixed teams and providing data‑driven recommendations to senior leaders regarding process capability, product performance, risk mitigation, and commercialization readiness.
• Establish and maintain deep technical expertise in the relationship between tobacco processing parameters, material properties, product design attributes, and consumer‑relevant performance characteristics to ensure products consistently meet quality, regulatory, and manufacturing requirements.
• Define critical process parameters, critical quality attributes, and process control strategies that enable robust product performance across development, scale‑up, and commercial manufacturing environments.
• Lead process development, scale‑up, and technology transfer activities from pilot environments to commercial manufacturing, utilizing statistical analysis, process modeling, and experimental design to rationalize trade‑offs, minimize risk and accelerate commercialization timelines.
• Develop manufacturing readiness strategies and verification plans that ensure product specifications, process capability targets, and operational requirements are achieved during commercial implementation. Translate product and process knowledge to recommend process optimization and continuous improvement
• Utilize product and process knowledge to lead the resolution of manufacturing non‑conformances

Skills

Process engineering

Project management

Design of experiments

Troubleshooting

Quality by Design

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Job description

Altria Group, Inc. in Richmond, VA seeks a Principal Process Engineer to lead process development, scale‑up, and technology transfer for smokeable products.

You will guide cross‑functional teams across product design, tobacco processing, leaf blending, quality, regulatory, and operations to enable successful commercialization and ongoing improvement. The role emphasizes data‑driven decisions, application of process synthesis, and robust control strategies to meet quality, regulatory, and