Senior Dairy Processing Engineer

fairlife LLC; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 135,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

401(k) with employer match

Paid Time Off

Parental leave & adoption assistance

Tuition reimbursement

Wellness reimbursement

Job summary

fairlife, LLC in Chicago, IL seeks a Sr. Dairy Processing Engineer with deep expertise in dairy processing, ultrafiltration, HTST/HHST/UHT, and end-to-end milk operations.

You will lead process design, scale-up, and troubleshooting while partnering with Operations, Manufacturing, and Quality to optimize product quality and efficiency. The role combines hands-on engineering authority with cross-functional collaboration, data-driven decision making, and leadership of a small team as growth

Qualifications

• MS in Dairy Science, Food Engineering, Food Science, Chemical Engineering, or closely related field with a focus on dairy processing and/or thermal processing.
• 5-10 years of progressive experience in fluid dairy processing from pilot to commercial manufacturing.
• Demonstrated expertise in HTST/HHST/UHT processing and milk unit operations including aseptic packaging.

Responsibilities

• Manufacturing technical leadership, operational support and troubleshooting.
• Define critical process parameters and lead pilot and commercial-scale plant trials.
• Own process capability improvements and provide input to capital projects.

Skills

HTST/HHST/UHT processing

Ultrafiltration

Milk unit operations

Process troubleshooting

Pilot-to-plant scale-up

Cross-functional collaboration

Data-driven decisions

Regulatory awareness

Capital projects

Education

MS in Dairy Science or related field

Job description

fairlife, LLC is a Chicago-based nutrition company that creates great-tasting, nutrition-rich and dairy products to nourish consumers.

With over $3B in annual retail sales, fairlife's portfolio of delicious, lactose-free, real dairy products includes: fairlife ultra-filtered milk; Core Power High Protein Shakes, a sports nutrition drink to support post-workout recovery; fairlife nutrition plan, a nutrition shake to support the journey to better health.

A wholly owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola company, fairlife, LLC has been recognized by both Fast Company and Nielsen for its industry leading innovation.

To learn more about fairlife and its complete line of products, please visit fairlife.com.

job purpose

The Sr. Dairy ProcessingEngineerwill come in withdeep technical expertise in fluid milk membrane separations (especially ultrafiltration), thermal processing (HTST/HHST/UHT), and end-to-end milk unit operations-from raw milk receiving through packaging. This role is a hands‑on technical authority who will be integral to process technology innovation as well as troubleshooting manufacturing issues, optimizing process capabilities and product quality, supporting pilot-to-plant scale-up, and serving as a trusted partner to Operations, Manufacturing, and Quality.

responsibilities

Manufacturing technical leadership, Operational Support and Troubleshooting

• Serve as a go‑to technical expert for fluid milk separation, standardization, homogenization, pasteurization systems (HTST/HHST/UHT), and packaging performance.
• Diagnose and resolve process and product issues.
• Partner with Operations/Manufacturing/Quality to drive safe, compliant, and reliable production and troubleshoot process deviations, and identify root causes for quality issues.

Process design, scale-up, and optimization

• Define critical process parameters, key performance indicators, and control plans.
• Design, coordinate, and execute pilot and commercial‑scale plant trials.
• Own process capability improvements and provide technical input to capital projects and equipment selection.
• Provide subject‑matter expertise on OEM platforms and engineering approaches.

Technical Advocacy

• Proactively identify opportunities for process optimization that improve efficiency, sustainability, yield or product shelf‑life.
• Lead initiatives and manage stakeholders across Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain.

Milk chemistry, physical chemistry, and product quality

• Apply deep knowledge of milk composition and how processing impacts chemistry, physical properties, and functional performance of milk and its components.
• Partner with Product Development and Operations on formulation/processing choices for fluid dairy products, including shakes and other forms (sensory, taste, texture, stability, shelf‑life).

Analytics & data-driven decision making

• Define plans and execute and interpret analytical testing results tied to processing and shelf‑life: milk composition chemistry, rheology, chromatographic/volatile profiling and other relevant analytical methods.
• Establish and improve SOPs, troubleshooting playbooks, and process data reviews

People leadership

• Individual contributor to start. Will build and develop a team of 1-4 (e.g., process engineers, dairy scientists, technicians).
• Build strong cross‑functional relationships and communicate clearly from plant floor to leadership level.

skills/qualifications required

• MS in Dairy Science, Food Engineering, Food Science, Chemical Engineering, or closely related field with a focus on dairy processing and/or thermal processing.
• 5-10 years of progressive experience in fluid dairy processing spanning pilot through commercial manufacturing.
• Demonstrated expertise in:
  • HTST/HHST and/or UHT processing of fluid milk (and/or cream) and practical plant troubleshooting.
  • End-to-end milk unit operations: raw receiving clarification/separation standardization homogenization pasteurization/aseptic processing packaging.
  • Ultrafiltration of milk and/or dairy membrane separations (MF/UF/NF/RO familiarity as a plus).
• Strong technical competence in dairy physical chemistry and processing impacts on proteins/fats/enzymes.
• Proven ability to partner with Operations/Manufacturing/Quality in a high-accountability environment.
• Experience with aseptic systems and packaging interactions (commercial aseptic operations strongly preferred).
• Track record of leading cross‑functional root‑cause investigations (e.g., flavor defects, oxidation, shelf‑life failures, stability issues).
• Experience in capital projects preferred.
• Familiarity with regulatory expectations and operator training frameworks for pasteurization systems preferred.

how fairlife nourishes you

At fairlife, we believe in better - and that includes how we support our people. We offer a comprehensive suite of benefits and wellbeing resources designed to support you physically, emotionally, socially, and financially, both in and out of work.

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, effective day one!
• Supplemental health plans (hospital indemnity, accident, and critical illness insurance)
• Paid Time Off to recharge and support work‑life balance
• Paid parental leave & adoption assistance (up to $10,000)
• Parental support & family care benefits, including childcare resources and lactation support
• 401(k) to support retirement planning with up to 9% in employer match
• Wellness reimbursement (up to $500 for qualified wellbeing expenses)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for emotional wellbeing and work‑life support
• Company‑paid life insurance and short‑term disability
• Employer HSA funding (for HDHP participants)
• Tuition reimbursement (up to $10,000) and student loan repayment ($200/month)
• Learning & development programs to unlock your full potential
• Rewards & recognition, matching gifts, free product, and Business Resource Groups

fairlife'snour!shprogram is designed to meet you where you are - supporting your individual wellbeing journey while enabling you to do your best work every day.

position location

Chicago, IL

reports to

Sr. Director, R&D

travel requirements

40-50% travel to our plants

exempt/nonexempt

Exempt

*Base pay offered may vary depending on geography, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. A full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position, is offered.

Base pay range

$135,000—$165,000 USD

fairlife, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. All qualified applicants and employees will be given equal opportunity. Selection decisions are based on job-related factors.

In addition to its nondiscrimination commitment, the Company will also provide reasonable accommodation of qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on the Company. If you have a disability and would like to request accommodation in order to apply for a position with us, please email [e-mail].