Senior Process Engineer

Nestlé; Solon (OH); On-site; USD 97,000 - 133,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k with company match

Healthcare coverage

Performance-based incentives

Job summary

Nestlé’s Research & Development Center in Solon, Ohio, is seeking a Sr Specialist Process Engineer to drive the conceptualization, design, prototyping, and piloting of new frozen food manufacturing solutions. You will deliver scalable processes, ensure product quality, and improve cost and efficiency across the Frozen network.

You will lead cross-functional teams, validate automated manufacturing solutions, and facilitate plant trials while meeting food safety and cybersecurity requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years of process engineering experience in frozen foods or related industries.
• Experience scaling from pilot to commercial manufacturing.
• Willingness to travel up to 30%.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of mixing, cooking, assembly, and freezing processes for frozen foods.
• Scale processes from pilot to full-scale manufacturing with quality and throughput in mind.
• Collaborate with OEMs and internal teams to deploy robust processing solutions.
• Drive continuous improvement using data analytics and process insights.

Skills

Process engineering

Data analysis

Cross-functional leadership

Troubleshooting

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical or Industrial Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

FlexSim

AutoDesk 3D

Job description

Nestlé’s Research & Development Center is our regional powerhouse driving innovation in food, beverage, and pharmaceutical science. Backed by our global Nestlé R&D organization, we lead breakthrough discoveries that are both good for consumers and the planet. Our team of experts range from product developers to engineers, working across our portfolio of food, beverage, infant nutrition, and health science to create leading-edge products and services. As part of our organization, you will use your entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to excellence to unlock the power of food and provide premium value.

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.

Position Summary

We are seeking an innovative and forward-thinking Sr Specialist Process Engineer to drive the conceptualization, design, prototyping, and piloting of new manufacturing solutions for the Frozen Food Division. In this role, you will serve as the technical expert responsible for developing frozen food manufacturing technologies, ensuring that both new and existing processes can be successfully implemented at full scale to improve cost, quality, safety, and operational efficiency across the Frozen network. There are 2 Process Engineer openings. One for Pizza and one for Meals.

Key Responsibilities

• Be a leader in the implementation of the Nestle R&D Engineering in the definition of standards, best practices and continuous improvement.
• Develop, validate, and optimize mixing, cooking, assembly, mechanical, and freezing processes related to all aspects of frozen food production.
• Codify and formalize proven solutions into Frozen Food standards to enable effective deployment, competency building and replication across factories.
• Scale processes from proof of concept and pilot runs to full factory implementation, ensuring throughput, quality, consistency, and repeatability.
• Lead troubleshooting and root cause analysis to resolve processing issues and eliminate variability.
• Develop automated manufacturing solutions that improve labor efficiency, process consistency, product quality and scalability across the Frozen network.
• Partner with automation and controls specialists to ensure processing systems integrate with plant PLC/SCADA and DMO platforms.
• Support development of process simulations and digital twins to optimise throughput and operational efficiencies.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using data analytics, advanced modelling, and process insights.
• Execute plant trials, commissioning activities and capability studies, ensuring processes are validated and ready for scale‑up.
• Collaborate with OEMs and internal stakeholders to deliver robust, scalable processing solutions.
• Work with R&D teams to conduct pilot plant trials that ensure superior product quality and alignment with product requirements.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, industrial safety and cybersecurity requirements.

Leadership Expectations

• Influence cross‑functional teams through deep technical expertise and sound engineering judgement.
• Provides coaching and mentorship to Factory Engineers and Project Teams.
• Strong problem‑solving, communication and cross‑functional leadership skills.
• Collaborate effectively with R&D, Corporate Engineering, Frozen Operations, TAG, Quality and Manufacturing Excellence to achieve aligned business outcomes.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s required in Mechanical, Electrical Engineering Industrial Engineering or related field. Masters preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in process engineering within frozen foods or process‑related industries.
• Experience scaling processes from pilot to commercial manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of cooking, blending, freezing technologies, filling and relevant unit operations.
• Experience with simulation tools (FlexSim or equivalent) preferred.
• Experience with AutoDesk 3D design preferred.
• Ability to travel up to 30%

Salary: $97,294.50 to $133,112 per year

Bonus Eligibility: 7%

The pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Final compensation may vary based on factors including but not limited to knowledge, skills and abilities as well as geographic location. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at top of range.

Nestlé offers performance‑based incentives and a competitive total rewards package, which includes a 401k with company match, healthcare coverage and a broad range of other benefits. Incentives and/or benefit packages may vary depending on the position. Learn more at https://www.nestlejobs.com/nestle-in-the-us-benefits

It is our business imperative to remain a very inclusive workplace.

To our veterans and separated service members, you're at the forefront of our minds as we recruit top talent to join Nestlé. The skills you've gained while serving our country, such as flexibility, agility and leadership, are much like the skills that will make you successful in this role. In addition, with our commitment to an inclusive work environment, we recognise the exceptional engagement and innovation displayed by individuals with disabilities. Nestlé seeks such skilled and qualified individuals to share our mission where you’ll join a cohort of others who have chosen to call Nestlé home.

The Nestlé Companies are equal employment opportunity employers. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Prior to the next step in the recruiting process, we welcome you to inform us confidentially if you may require any special accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment experience. Contact us at [e-mail] or please dial 711 and provide this number to the operator: 1-800-321-6467.

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.

Review our applicant privacy notice before applying at https://www.nestlejobs.com/privacy.

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