Process Engineer II (Capital Projects)

Leprino Foods; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 104,000 - 119,000; Full time

Job summary

Leprino Foods in Denver seeks a Process Engineer II to own large, high-complexity capital projects and drive process design decisions across our cheese and nutrition manufacturing network.

You will partner with equipment partners, design teams, and contractors to bring major systems online, with full accountability from design through commissioning. Expect travel up to 70% and a 10% target bonus in addition to base pay.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, or closely related).
• 6+ years in food or dairy manufacturing, process engineering, and capital project execution.
• Ownership of large, complex capital projects including scope, budget, and schedule.
• Strong fundamentals in mass balance, thermal/fluid systems, CIP, and hygienic layouts.
• Experience developing and reviewing P&IDs, equipment specs, layouts, and commissioning plans.
• Ability to work with equipment suppliers and contractors as a technical peer.
• Willingness to travel up to 70% for project execution.

Responsibilities

• Own and deliver large capital projects from early design through start-up.
• Lead process design for cheese and nutrition systems, ensuring scalability and operability.
• Partner with equipment manufacturers and engineering firms to co-design systems.
• Serve as technical authority balancing cost, schedule, operability, safety, and performance.
• Translate business needs into process concepts, mass balances, P&IDs, and commissioning strategies.
• Support installation, commissioning, and start-up with planned site presence.
• Collaborate with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, and Plant Engineering to integrate into operations.
• Contribute to Leprino’s process and construction standards.

Skills

Capital projects

Process design

Cross-functional collaboration

Vendor coordination

Commissioning

P&IDs

Budget & scheduling

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, or closely related discipline)

Tools

P&IDs

Equipment specifications

Layouts

Commissioning plans

Job description

Within our Corporate Project Engineering team located in Denver - Leprino is seeking a Process Engineer II to own large, high-complexity capital projects and lead process design decisions across our cheese and nutrition manufacturing network. This role carries full accountability for scope, technical direction, and execution from early design through commissioning, working directly with plant teams, equipment partners, and general contractors to bring major systems online.

At Leprino, starting compensation for this role typically ranges between $104,000 and $119,000. This position has an annual target bonus of 10%.

What You’ll Do:

• Own and deliver large, cross-functional capital projects, typically ranging from $15M up to $50M, from early design through start-up.
• Lead process design for both cheese and nutrition manufacturing systems, ensuring designs are scalable, operable, and grounded in plant reality.
• Partner with equipment manufacturers and engineering firms to co-design and co-develop systems, including proprietary solutions where required.
• Serve as the technical authority on assigned projects, balancing cost, schedule, operability, safety, and long-term performance.
• Translate business needs into process concepts, layouts, mass balances, P&IDs, and commissioning strategies.
• Support installation, commissioning, and start-up activities with intentional, planned site presence.
• Collaborate closely with Operations Support, Quality, Maintenance, and Plant Engineering to ensure designs integrate cleanly into existing operations.
• Contribute to the development and evolution of Leprino’s process and construction standards.

You Have At Least (Required Qualifications):

• A Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, or closely related discipline).
• 6+ years of experience in food or dairy manufacturing, process engineering, and capital project execution.
• Demonstrated ownership of large, complex capital projects, including responsibility for scope, budget, schedule, and technical outcomes.
• Strong process engineering fundamentals, including mass balance development, thermal and fluid systems, CIP design, and hygienic system layout.
• Experience developing and reviewing P&IDs, equipment specifications, layouts, and commissioning plans.
• The ability to work confidently with equipment suppliers and contractors as a technical peer.
• Willingness to travel up to 70% in support of project execution, with travel planned in advance and typically occurring in short, mid-week blocks.

We Hope You Also Have (Preferred Qualifications):

• Experience across both cheese and nutrition processes, or the technical range to operate effectively in both.
• Background working with OEMs such as GEA, Tetra Pak, Alfa Laval, SPX, or similar food processing partners.
• Familiarity with dairy and food manufacturing standards, including USDA Dairy and 3-A Sanitary Design.
• Experience supporting commissioning and start-up of new or expanded processing lines.
• Comfort operating in environments where design decisions carry material operational and financial impact.

At Leprino, we believe 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.