Process Engineer II - Dairy Capital Projects Lead

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

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.