Senior Process Engineer

Conagra Brands; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 82,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) matching

Stock purchase plan

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Parental leave

Flexible work schedules

Volunteer opportunities

Foodies Welcome.

Job summary

Conagra Brands seeks a process development leader to own critical development efforts from concept to commercialization in a manufacturing setting. You will drive innovation, design experiments, and translate insights into scalable processes for priority brands and facilities.

You will lead cross-functional teams, develop cost estimates for pilots and commercial scales, and maintain rigorous documentation. Exceptional communication and problem-solving are essential for success in this role.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline preferred.
• Knowledge of unit operations, processing equipment, and process scale-up principles.
• Experience applying project management practices and collaborating across cross-functional teams.
• Strategic mindset with strong analytical, problem-solving, and cost optimization skills.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and learning new technologies, processes, and systems.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and influencing skills.
• Self-starter with proficiency in MS Word, Excel, Visio, and PowerPoint; familiarity with Minitab and process database management systems preferred.
• Experience leading innovation, commercialization, or continuous improvement initiatives in a manufacturing environment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead process development and cross-functional activities on projects, particularly initiatives involving innovation and new technologies.
• Develop cost estimates and capital requests for pilot, trial, and commercial-scale activities.
• Apply scale-up principles for unit operations commonly used within the food industry.
• Design and execute experiments using Design of Experiments methodologies where appropriate.
• Evaluate project profitability drivers and identify opportunities for cost optimization.
• Maintain accurate and complete records of experimental results, process development activities, and design work.
• Analyze data, draw conclusions, and prepare reports and presentations to communicate recommendations and results.
• Leverage internal and external resources to evaluate alternatives, solve technical challenges, and implement effective solutions.
• Conduct literature reviews and develop summaries, conclusions, and technical insight documents.
• Create and maintain process engineering playbooks, white papers, and technical knowledge resources while transferring learnings to manufacturing facilities when appropriate.
• Develop and apply project management practices to support successful project execution.
• Act as a change agent by championing innovative ideas with meaningful business potential and gaining organizational alignment.
• Support the development of process innovation pipelines through subject matter expertise and creative problem solving.
• Collect, analyze, and present process data to guide decision-making and direct project team efforts.

Skills

Process development

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical thinking

Project management

Communication skills

MS Office

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

Minitab

Process databases

Visio

Job description

Reporting to the Operations Manager, you will serve as the primary owner of process development for priority businesses and brands, leading major initiatives from concept through commercialization. You will focus on understanding the science behind critical process transformations and translating those insights into performance-based specifications that enable optimized system design. You will leverage process engineering expertise, external and internal resources, and a results-oriented approach to drive innovation, commercialization success, and continuous improvement. This position may include direct people leadership responsibilities.

A Taste of Your Responsibilities

• Lead process development and cross-functional activities on projects, particularly initiatives involving innovation and new technologies.
• Develop cost estimates and capital requests for pilot, trial, and commercial-scale activities.
• Apply scale-up principles for unit operations commonly used within the food industry.
• Design and execute experiments using Design of Experiments methodologies where appropriate.
• Evaluate project profitability drivers and identify opportunities for cost optimization.
• Maintain accurate and complete records of experimental results, process development activities, and design work.
• Analyze data, draw conclusions, and prepare reports and presentations to communicate recommendations and results.
• Leverage internal and external resources to evaluate alternatives, solve technical challenges, and implement effective solutions.
• Conduct literature reviews and develop summaries, conclusions, and technical insight documents.
• Create and maintain process engineering playbooks, white papers, and technical knowledge resources while transferring learnings to manufacturing facilities when appropriate.
• Develop and apply project management practices to support successful project execution.
• Act as a change agent by championing innovative ideas with meaningful business potential and gaining organizational alignment.
• Support the development of process innovation pipelines through subject matter expertise and creative problem solving.
• Collect, analyze, and present process data to guide decision-making and direct project team efforts.

Ingredients Required for Your Success

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Food Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline preferred.
• Knowledge of unit operations, processing equipment, and process scale-up principles.
• Experience applying project management practices and collaborating across cross-functional teams.
• Strategic mindset with strong analytical, problem-solving, and cost optimization skills.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and learning new technologies, processes, and systems.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and influencing skills.
• Self-starter with proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Visio, and PowerPoint; familiarity with Minitab and process database management systems preferred.
• Experience leading innovation, commercialization, or continuous improvement initiatives in a manufacturing environment preferred.

Physical Requirements

More information about essential tasks and the facility will be shared during the hiring process.

This role may require you to be in our manufacturing facilities. When visiting these sites, the physical requirements below may apply:

• You may be required to walk around the facility, climb stairs/ladders, kneel, or perform repetitive tasks that require hand-eye coordination.
• You may be required to lift or carry materials that can vary in weight and size.
• This is a manufacturing environment with large, moving equipment. Noise levels can be high, and temperatures may vary.

#LI-Onsite #LI-MSL #LI-EB1

Compensation

Annual Base Salary: $82,000.00 - $110,000.00

The annual salary listed above is the expected offering for this position. An employee’s actual annual salary will be based on but not limited to: location, relevant experience/level and skillset, while balancing internal Conagra employees’ equity. Conagra Brands will comply with applicable law regarding minimum salaries for exempt employees.

Our Benefits

We care about your total well-being and will support you with the following, subject to your location and role:

• Health: Comprehensive healthcare plans, wellness incentive program, mental wellbeing support and fitness reimbursement
• Wealth: Great pay, bonus incentive opportunity, matching 401(k) and stock purchase plan
• Growth: Career development opportunities, employee resource groups, on-demand learning and tuition reimbursement
• Balance: Paid-time off, parental leave, flexible work-schedules (subject to your location and role) and volunteer opportunities

Foodies Welcome.

Conagra Brands is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, leave status, disability, veteran status, genetic information and/or any other characteristic or status protected by national, federal, state or local law. Reasonable accommodation may be made upon request.

Our Company

At Conagra Brands, we have a rich heritage of making great food. We aspire to have the most impactful, energized and inclusive culture in food. As a member of our 18,000+ person team across 40+ locations, you are empowered to reach your potential, make an impact and own your career. We're in the business of building champions – within our people and our iconic brands like Birds Eye®, Slim Jim® and Reddi-Wip®.

Conagra Brands is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, leave status, disability, veteran status, genetic information and/or any other characteristic or status protected by national, federal, state or local law. Reasonable accommodation may be made upon request.