Process Engineer

KIK Consumer Products; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

KIK Consumer Products in Chicago, IL is hiring a Process Engineer to provide technical leadership across manufacturing and packaging operations. The role focuses on production reliability, equipment performance, and process optimization, from concept through startup and handoff.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in GMP-regulated manufacturing, strong troubleshooting skills, and experience with capital projects, automation, and safety compliance.

Qualifications

• Five or more years of engineering experience in FMCG or GMP-regulated manufacturing environments.
• Experience providing technical leadership across manufacturing and packaging operations.
• Strong troubleshooting skills for mechanical, electrical, and control issues.
• Experience managing capital projects from concept through startup and handoff.
• Working knowledge of automated systems and process control (PLCs, HMIs, instrumentation).
• Ability to interpret mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, and technical documentation.

Responsibilities

• Provide engineering support for manufacturing, packaging, utilities, automation, and facility systems to maximize safety, reliability, and performance.
• Troubleshoot issues to minimize downtime and optimize production.
• Lead capital projects from concept through commissioning, including budgeting, scheduling, and contractor coordination.
• Support plant reliability initiatives through RCA and preventive/predictive maintenance optimization.
• Maintain and support plant automation systems (PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, sensors).
• Ensure compliance with GMP, quality, safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement focused on uptime, throughput, and cost reductions using data-driven methods.
• Mentor plant personnel and collaborate across departments; act as backup Maintenance leadership as needed.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Electrical engineering

Process optimization

Capital project management

Troubleshooting

PLC/SCADA/Automation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Tools

PLC programming

CMMS

P&IDs

Job description

We Create Products and Brands That People Trust to Clean, Sanitize, and Protect Their Homes and Pools

When you join KIK Consumer Products, you’re joining a team that cares about the work we do and about each other. We bring exceptional brands and products to consumers that help them protect the health and wellness of their families and the cleanliness of their homes and pools. We are committed to building a culture of performance driven by accountability, collaboration, and agility that enables timely fact-based decision-making and exceptional execution with unwavering ethics. As one of North America’s largest independent manufacturers of consumer products, KIK helps a large portfolio of brands and retailers bring their products to life.

Your Role at KIK

We are seeking a Process Engineer (Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with occasional weekend support during startups, shutdowns, and planned project work) to provide technical leadership and hands-on engineering support across all manufacturing and packaging operations at our Chicago, IL facility, a fast-moving consumer goods plant operating under GMP standards. In this role, you will drive production reliability, equipment performance, and process optimization while leading capital project execution from concept through startup and operational handoff.

You will serve as a key technical resource for our Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Safety, and Leadership teams. You will be equally comfortable troubleshooting a packaging line during a breakdown, managing a capital installation, or leading a root cause analysis through to closure. Success in this role calls for a balance of engineering knowledge, practical manufacturing experience, mechanical aptitude, process control understanding, and visible leadership on the plant floor.

This position has a base annual salary range of $100,000.00 to $120,000.00 based upon several factors including your relevant skills and experience.

What You’ll Do

• Provide engineering support for manufacturing, packaging, utilities, automation, and facility systems to maximize safety, reliability, and operational performance.

• Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, controls, and process issues to minimize downtime, improve equipment reliability, and optimize production.

• Lead capital projects from concept through commissioning, including scope development, budgeting, scheduling, contractor coordination, FAT/SAT, startup, and operational handoff.

• Support plant reliability initiatives through root cause analysis (RCA), failure elimination, preventive and predictive maintenance optimization, and equipment maintainability improvements.

• Maintain and support plant automation systems, including PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, instrumentation, sensors, and networked control systems.

• Ensure engineering activities comply with GMP, quality, safety, and regulatory requirements, including engineering change management, CAPA support, and audit readiness.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on equipment uptime, throughput, labor efficiency, waste reduction, and conversion cost improvements using data-driven methodologies.

• Provide technical leadership by mentoring plant personnel, collaborating across Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and Supply Chain, participating in daily operational reviews, and serving as backup Maintenance leadership as required.

What You’ll Bring

• High School Diploma or equivalent (required). Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Chemical or Manufacturing Engineering (preferred) an equivalent combination of education and directly related engineering experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.

• Five or more years of engineering experience in FMCG, food, beverage, pharmaceutical, chemical, or other GMP-regulated manufacturing environments.

• Demonstrated experience supporting high-speed manufacturing and packaging operations with hands-on equipment and process troubleshooting.

• Working knowledge of industrial automation, including PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, instrumentation, and process control systems.

• Experience managing capital projects, including equipment specification, installation, commissioning, and startup.

• Ability to interpret mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, P&IDs, OEM manuals, and technical documentation.

• Knowledge of reliability engineering principles, preventive and predictive maintenance practices, CMMS systems, and root cause analysis methodologies.

• Strong project management, organizational, analytical, and communication skills, with proficiency in Microsoft Office and industrial reporting systems.

• Experience in chemical manufacturing, liquid processing, or high-speed packaging preferred.

• Experience in Industrial Safety Management preferred.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• Ability to work in an industrial manufacturing environment, including standing and walking for extended periods.

• Frequent bending, reaching, and climbing stairs and ladders to access equipment, platforms, and elevated work areas.

• Ability to lift, push, pull, and carry up to 50 lbs. occasionally, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Exposure to fumes, odors, noise, and varying temperatures in both indoor and outdoor areas.

• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves, and protective clothing.

What You Will Get

KIK offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits including health, wellness, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance. You can plan for your future with KIK’s retirement savings options including employer match. KIK also recognizes the importance of continuing education and offers Education Assistance to our employees to encourage continued personal development and growth.

About KIK

We create the products and brands that people trust to clean, sanitize, and protect their homes and pools. We are one of North America’s largest independent consumer product manufacturers with 16 North American manufacturing facilities. We also operate globally in Canada, Europe, and Australia. We are known for our portfolio of notable brands including Spic and Span® and Comet® cleaning products, Clorox® Pool&Spa™ (under license), BioGuard®, and Natural Chemistry® pool chemicals. We are also the #1 producer in North America of store-brand (“private label”) bleach and a leading private-label provider of laundry detergent and additives, dishwashing products, general-purpose cleaning, and other home care products.

Our global team of over 2,300 employees drives our capabilities in product development, product formulation, strategic sourcing, manufacturing, packaging design, brand marketing, project management, quality assurance, compliance, distribution, and logistics.

Our organization is constantly evolving and is driven by a set of “One KIK” values – a dedication to following through on commitments in a customer-focused, profit-motivated way; while never compromising on safety, ethics, or integrity.

Equal Employment Opportunity

KIK is an Equal Employment Opportunity / Aff.. (text continues unchanged)

KIK is also committed to providing reasonable accommodation for applicants and employees with protected disabilities to the extent required by applicable laws. If you require reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application, or interview process, or to perform the essential functions of the job, please contact Human Resources immediately.

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