Process Engineer

LeoForce; Scottsbluff (NE); On-site; USD 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Less than 5% travel

Job summary

LeoForce in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, is seeking a Process Engineer to join our sugar-processing operation. Mid-level candidates will manage safety leadership, troubleshoot processes, and drive continuous improvement across the plant floor.

The role emphasizes root-cause analysis, SPC, and Lean Six Sigma principles to enhance safety, throughput, and quality while collaborating with operators, supervisors, and management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering required.
• Mechanical or Chemical Engineering preferred.
• 3–5 years in industrial manufacturing or process engineering.
• Experience improving safety, throughput, or quality in manufacturing.
• Strong root-cause analysis and corrective-action skills.
• Ability to analyze downtime, process limits, and data.
• Familiarity with KPIs, SPC, and continuous improvement.
• Willingness to learn Lean Six Sigma and apply it.
• Able to work with operators, supervisors, and management.
• Proficient with Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Responsibilities

• Lead safety leadership and reinforce safe practices.
• Support engineering issues in the sugar-processing operation.
• Lead root cause investigations on throughput and downtime.
• Develop and implement preventive and corrective actions.
• Direct shift-processing personnel to optimize performance.
• Communicate process changes between shifts with supervision.
• Train staff in process controls and SPC.
• Analyze production data and performance reports.
• Use KPIs and CI methods to boost safety, quality and efficiency.
• Research technologies to improve plant performance.
• Spend significant time on the production floor troubleshooting.
• Assist with employee relations under the bargaining agreement.
• Hold teams accountable to operating standards.
• Model safety, integrity, openness, teamwork and social responsibility.

Skills

Industrial manufacturing

Process troubleshooting

Root cause analysis

Statistical process control

Lean Six Sigma

Cross-functional collaboration

Data analysis

Process improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Mechanical or Chemical Engineering degree preferred

Tools

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

Process Engineer

Job Description

Experience: Mid Level

Salary: $75,000 - $100,000 per year

Key Responsibilities and Duties

• Serve as a visible safety leader and reinforce safe working practices throughout the facility
• Support technical and engineering issues across the sugar-processing operation and molasses de-sugarization facility
• Lead root cause investigations involving throughput constraints, mechanical downtime, process instability, and quality variances
• Develop and implement preventive and corrective actions that permanently resolve recurring process issues
• Plan, organize, and direct shift-processing personnel to optimize sugar beet processing performance
• Partner with shift supervisors to communicate process changes and operating requirements between shifts
• Train and support employees in process controls and statistical process control
• Compile and analyze production data, operating trends, and performance reports
• Use KPIs and continuous-improvement methods to increase safety, quality, throughput, and operating efficiency
• Research emerging technologies and industry practices that can improve plant performance
• Spend significant time on the production floor engaging employees, troubleshooting problems, and supporting operations
• Help administer the collective bargaining agreement and address employee grievances when necessary
• Hold employees and teams accountable for established operating and performance standards
• Model the organization’s core values of safety, integrity, openness and trust, teamwork, entrepreneurship, and social responsibility

Qualifications Needed

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering or Chemical Engineering degree preferred
• Industrial manufacturing or process-engineering experience; three to five years preferred, although strong early-career engineers may be considered
• Experience improving safety, productivity, throughput, efficiency, or product quality in a manufacturing environment
• Strong background in process troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and corrective-action implementation
• Ability to analyze mechanical downtime, process limitations, quality variances, and production data
• Experience with KPIs, statistical process control, or continuous-improvement methodologies
• Willingness to learn and apply Lean Six Sigma principles
• Ability to work directly with operators, hourly employees, shift supervisors, and senior management
• Proficiency with Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Willingness to spend significant time on the manufacturing floor
• Ability to travel less than 5%

A bit about us

Founded more than 120 years ago and based in Scottsbluff, with additional operations throughout Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana, we are a grower-owned agricultural cooperative producing sugar from locally grown sugar beets. Our Scottsbluff facility processes sugar beets and molasses through a complex industrial operation where safety, reliability, product quality, and continuous improvement are central to our success. The cooperative traces its roots to 1901, while the Scottsbluff operation dates to 1910.

Why join us?

• High-Impact Engineering Role: Directly improve plant safety, throughput, quality, efficiency, and equipment reliability
• Hands-On Environment: Work alongside operators, supervisors, maintenance personnel, and plant leadership
• Technical Ownership: Help solve complex processing problems throughout the factory and molasses de-sugarization facility
• Career Development: Expand your knowledge of sugar processing, statistical process control, Lean Six Sigma, and root cause analysis
• Collaborative Plant Culture: Partner across shifts and departments to implement sustainable process improvements
• Comprehensive Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, retirement plan, and paid time off
• Limited Travel: Less than 5%