Process Engineer

FRESHPACK; Town of Monticello (WI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

KPI bonus up to 10%

Paid weekly (Friday)

Medical, dental, vision, lifeinsurance

401(k) program

Referral program

Job summary

Freshpack in Wisconsin is seeking a Process Engineer to lead continuous improvement, optimize manufacturing lines, and support new product introductions. You will work with Production, Quality, and Maintenance to drive safety, quality, yield, and efficiency.

The role emphasizes data-driven problem solving, process documentation, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver measurable improvements and sustain long-term performance. A strong foundation in engineering and Lean/Six Sigma is valued.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field.
• 3–5 years in manufacturing engineering.
• Experience with continuous improvement; Lean/Six Sigma preferred.
• Food manufacturing/packaging experience preferred.
• GMP, HACCP, SQF knowledge preferred.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and data interpretation skills.
• Proficient in Excel and data analysis tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead continuous improvement projects focusing on safety, quality, throughput, yield, and labor efficiency.
• Analyze production data to identify opportunities and trends.
• Develop and sustain process improvements using structured problem-solving.
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions.
• Drive waste reduction and yield improvement.
• Establish performance standards and monitor process capability.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to sustain improvements.
• Support new product introductions and scale-up activities.
• Lead manufacturing trials, process validation, and initial production runs.
• Create process parameters, work instructions, and SOPs.
• Monitor KPIs (OEE, throughput, yield, downtime, labor efficiency) and support troubleshooting.
• Assist with equipment selection, installation, and startup with process input.

Skills

Strong analytical & problem-solving

Excellent communication

Excel & data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Description

Looking for the opportunity to turn ideas into process improvements that make a real impact? At Freshpack, you'll collaborate across teams to optimize operations, lead continuous improvement initiatives, and help bring innovative solutions from concept to production.

We have an opening for a Process Engineer to join our team. The Process Engineer is responsible for identifying and implementing manufacturing improvements that drive safety, quality, efficiency, yield, and profitability. This role partners closely with Production, Quality, and Maintenance to optimize existing processes, support new product commercialization, analyze production performance, and drive continuous improvement initiatives throughout the facility.

Freshpack is a custom cheese packaging company that develops and innovates cheese products and packaging. Our products can be found in all 50 states and in most major retailers. Over the past 25 years, our team has grown from 15 to 280+ employees. It is an exciting time to join our team, as we are poised for substantial growth over the next 3-5 years.

Responsibilities

Continuous Improvement

• Lead continuous improvement projects focused on safety, quality, throughput, yield, and labor efficiency.
• Analyze production, quality, and downtime data to identify improvement opportunities and performance trends.
• Develop, implement, and sustain process improvements using structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions for production, quality, and process-related issues.
• Drive waste reduction and yield improvement efforts, including trim reduction, overpack control, and floor loss reduction.
• Establish performance standards and support continuous monitoring of process capability and operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement and sustain operational improvements.

New Product Development

• Support new product introductions and process scale-up activities.
• Lead manufacturing trials, process validation projects, and initial production runs.
• Develop process parameters, work instructions, and operational standards for new products.
• Identify and resolve manufacturability challenges during commercialization.

Production Support

• Create and maintain process documentation, standard operating procedures, and work instructions.
• Monitor key manufacturing KPIs including OEE, throughput, yield, downtime, and labor efficiency.
• Recommend and implement corrective actions to improve process performance.
• Support production teams in troubleshooting process-related issues.
• Partner with Maintenance and Engineering to improve equipment reliability and operational effectiveness.
• Support equipment selection, installation, and startup activities by providing process expertise and operational requirements.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering discipline or related field required.
• 3-5 years of engineering experience in a manufacturing environment required.
• Experience leading or supporting continuous improvement, process optimization, or manufacturing excellence initiatives preferred.
• Experience in food manufacturing, dairy processing, packaging, or consumer packaged goods environments strongly preferred.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement training preferred.
• Knowledge of food safety systems, GMPs, HACCP, and SQF requirements preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret manufacturing data.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and data analysis tools.
• Understanding of statistical analysis, process capability, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

• Typical work schedule: M-F during standard business hours.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to walk or stand for long periods of time while on production floor and warehouse.

Benefits

• Annual KPI bonus opportunity of up to 10% of base salary, paid quarterly.
• Medical, dental, vision, company-provided life insurance & more!
• Referral program
• 401(k) program
• Pay for Performance program
• Get paid every Friday!