Research & Development Process Engineer, Pet Food Innovation

The J.M. Smucker Co.; Akron (OH); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The J.M. Smucker Co. invites applications for an R&D Process Engineer in Pet Food Innovation at our Orrville, OH facility. You will design and run trials for processing innovations, scale up successful concepts, and help bring new pet food products to market with strong cross-functional collaboration.

You will lead DOE studies, mentor lab staff, and drive continuous improvements across extrusion, thermal processing, and validation activities, including capital projects and vendor coordination.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is required.
• Hands-on extrusion and process optimization experience.
• Experience leading pilot plant, scale-up, and commercialization trials.
• Knowledge of ingredient functionality, food safety, and process validation.
• Experience using DOE and statistical tools to improve process performance.
• Proven success leading cross-functional projects and driving technical solutions.

Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and interpret trials for food processing innovations.
• Lead scale-up and commercialization of new products and technologies.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship across labs and trainings.
• Collaborate to identify opportunities for process improvements and meet business goals.
• Assist in die/manifold design and learn CAD tools.
• Analyze processing data to establish specs and guide decisions.
• Drive continuous improvement and manage capital projects and vendor relations.
• Lead DOE efforts and encourage cross-functional contributions.
• Manage projects independently with up to 30% travel.
• Develop SME-level capability over five years.

Skills

Food extrusion

Process optimization

Pilot plant experience

Scale-up

DOE

Cross-functional leadership

Food safety

Process validation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, or a related field

Tools

JMP

Minitab

Aspen

Job description

Your Opportunity as the R&D Process Engineer, Pet Food Innovation

Help shape the future of pet nutrition through science, innovation, and cutting-edge processing technology. Be at the forefront of developing and commercializing next-generation pet food and treat products, transforming ideas into scalable manufacturing solutions. From extrusion and thermal processing to pilot trials and plant commercialization, you’ll partner closely with Operations, Engineering, and Product Development teams to solve complex challenges, optimize processes, and bring innovative products to life. If you’re energized by hands‑on experimentation, data‑driven problem solving, and seeing your work make an impact on a large scale, this is an exciting opportunity to build deep technical expertise while helping deliver high‑quality products that pets love and pet parents trust.

Location: Orrville, OH

*Competitive relocation package is available for qualifying candidates.

Work Arrangements: Hybrid, 60% in office with varying travel up to 30% annually

In this role you will:

• Design, execute, and interpret trials for food processing innovations, facilitating knowledge sharing and collaboration among teams.

• Lead the successful scale-up and commercialization of new products and technologies by fostering teamwork and effective communication demonstration of CQV tools and principles.

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship, guiding lab activities, supporting onboarding, and developing technical training programs for team members at all levels.

• Collaborate across departments to identify opportunities for process improvements, solve technical challenges, and ensure alignment with business goals.

• Participate in die and manifold design, applying or learning CAD tools.

• Analyze processing data using advanced modeling and simulation tools to establish specifications and guide team decision‑making.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and support organizational change management, ensuring all stakeholders are engaged and informed throughout transitions. Manage capital projects including equipment installation, layout planning, and vendor coordination, while leading project teams and maintaining collaborative vendor relationships.

• Lead Design of Experiments (DOE) efforts, encouraging creative problem‑solving and cross functional contributions to system and process enhancements.

• Operate independently and efficiently, managing projects with minimal supervision, while promoting an inclusive and cooperative team environment, including up to 30% seasonal travel as needed.

• Engage in structured development to build SME‑level capability over the next five years, including extended learning.

What we are looking for:

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, or a related field.

• 5+ years of experience in food and/or pet food manufacturing.

• Hands‑on experience with food extrusion and process optimization.

• Experience leading pilot plant, scale‑up, and commercialization trials.

• Knowledge of ingredient functionality, food safety, and process validation.

• Experience using DOE and statistical tools (JMP, Minitab, Aspen, etc.) to improve process performance.

• Proven success leading cross‑functional projects and driving technical solutions.

Additional skills and experience that we think would make someone successful in this role:

• Experience in pet food, pet treats, animal nutrition, snacks, or cereal extrusion.

• Expertise in extrusion processing, including formulation, process settings, die design, and product quality optimization.

• Experience with thermal processing systems (retorts, hydrostats, continuous sterilization).

• Demonstrated success commercializing new products and technologies.

• Experience leading capital projects, equipment start‑ups, and process improvements.

• Track record of delivering productivity gains, cost savings, or quality improvements through process innovation.

TheRight Placefor You

We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs, and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs.

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We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status.