Senior Process Engineer — Dairy Capital Projects Lead

Leprino; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 122,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Leprino seeks a Senior Process Engineer to own large, high-complexity capital projects and lead process design decisions across our cheese and nutrition manufacturing network.

You will manage scope, technical direction, and execution from design through commissioning, partnering with plant teams and contractors to bring major systems online. This role requires 8+ years in dairy/process engineering and travel up to 70%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, or related).
• 8+ years in food or dairy manufacturing, process engineering, and capital project execution.
• Ownership of large, complex capital projects with scope, budget, and schedule responsibility.
• Strong fundamentals: mass balance, thermal and fluid systems, CIP design, hygienic layout.
• Experience developing/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% with planned schedules.

Responsibilities

• Own and deliver large, cross-functional capital projects from design through start-up.
• Lead process design for cheese and nutrition manufacturing systems.
• Co-design and co-develop systems with equipment manufacturers and partners.
• Serve as technical authority balancing cost, schedule, operability, and safety.
• Translate business needs into process concepts, layouts, mass balances, P&IDs, and commissioning strategies.
• Support installation, commissioning, and start-up with site presence.
• Collaborate with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, and Plant Engineering.
• Contribute to Leprino’s process and construction standards.

Skills

Process engineering fundamentals

Mass balances

CIP design

Hygienic layout

P&IDs development

Vendor collaboration

Project ownership

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Chemical/Mechanical or related)

Tools

P&ID tooling

Job description

Leprino seeks a Senior Process Engineer to own large, high-complexity capital projects and lead process design decisions across our cheese and nutrition manufacturing network.

You will manage scope, technical direction, and execution from design through commissioning, partnering with plant teams and contractors to bring major systems online. This role requires 8+ years in dairy/process engineering and travel up to 70%.