Staff Process CI Engineer

Remote Queer; United States; Hybrid; USD 119,000 - 149,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellbeing: Medical, dental, &

Vision coverage

401(k) match

Paid time off

Job summary

The Hershey Company is seeking a Staff Process CI Engineer to advance its enterprise continuous improvement program. You will identify and lead optimization opportunities across confectionery manufacturing networks, improving cost, capacity, quality, safety, and supply continuity.

You will collaborate with R&D, Engineering, Finance, Quality and Regulatory Compliance, Manufacturing, and Marketing, while mentoring technicians and professionals on project teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master's degree in Food, Chemical, Mechanical, or Biological Engineering, or another relevant technical field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in food science, engineering, or related field; confectionery/manufacturing preferred.
• Experience in process engineering, project management, troubleshooting, optimization, validation, and implementation.
• Knowledge of food-manufacturing systems, unit operations, sanitary design, process piping, valves, automation, instrumentation, QA, and GMP.
• Six Sigma Green Belt required; Black Belt preferred. Lean and TPM knowledge.
• Strong project planning, prioritization, communication, and cross-functional collaboration; ability to work independently with changing priorities.
• Ability to support up to 70% travel and work in regulated environments with food allergens while following site requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex product and process optimization projects, from opportunity identification and technical design through installation, startup, commissioning, training, and performance stabilization.
• Apply food science, confectionery manufacturing knowledge, process engineering, and structured problem solving to recipe, ingredient, equipment, and process improvements.
• Plan and execute proof‑of‑principle tests, bench and pilot work, scale‑up, manufacturing trials, sensory testing, and product‑sample generation.
• Develop specifications, formulations, project scope, schedules, cost estimates, process‑flow diagrams, and piping and instrumentation diagrams.
• Evaluate technical and financial feasibility, interpret results, manage risks and resources, and recommend whether projects should proceed, change, or stop.
• Coordinate supplier evaluation, installation, validation, documentation, training, and transition to plant operating teams so improvements are sustained.
• Lead focused‑improvement and root‑cause problem‑solving efforts using Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, and practical engineering judgment.
• Collaborate with R&D, Engineering, Finance, Quality and Regulatory Compliance, Manufacturing, and Marketing, while mentoring technicians and professionals assigned to projects.

Skills

Process engineering

Project management

Troubleshooting

Optimization

Manufacturing validation

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma Green Belt

GMP

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Travel up to 70%

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Food, Chemical, Mechanical or Biological Engineering

Job description

Location: Hershey, PA preferred, open to remote

Up to 70% Travel

Why Hershey

At The Hershey Company, we make more moments of goodness through some of the world’s most iconic brands, including Hershey’s, Reese’s, Kit Kat®, Jolly Rancher, Twizzlers, Dot’s Pretzels, Lesser Evil and more. Our team supports a global portfolio of over 90 brands, creating opportunities to shape strategies and drive impact across a breadth of businesses that few companies can offer. While many organizations focus on a handful of brands, Hershey provides exposure to a diverse portfolio of category-leading brands enjoyed by consumers around the world. What truly sets us apart is our legacy. Inspired by Milton Hershey’s belief that business should create opportunity for others, we have been making a positive impact for more than a century through our commitment to communities, philanthropy, and our longstanding partnership with Milton Hershey School. When you join Hershey, you become part of a company where purpose, growth, and making a difference are woven into how we do business every day.

How will you fit in the big picture?

As a Staff Process CI Engineer within Enterprise Continuous Improvement, you will help advance Hershey’s multi-year improvement plan by identifying, developing, and implementing product and process optimization opportunities across the manufacturing network. You will lead or support complex initiatives spanning Hershey’s Global Confectionery and Salty Business Units, improving cost, capacity, quality, safety, and supply continuity. This role manages work from concept through sustainable plant handoff and partners with plant teams, engineers, contractors, suppliers, and cross‑functional stakeholders.

What will you do?

• Lead complex product and process optimization projects, from opportunity identification and technical design through installation, startup, commissioning, training, and performance stabilization.
• Apply food science, confectionery manufacturing knowledge, process engineering, and structured problem solving to recipe, ingredient, equipment, and process improvements.
• Plan and execute proof‑of‑principle tests, bench and pilot work, scale‑up, manufacturing trials, sensory testing, and product‑sample generation.
• Develop specifications, formulations, project scope, schedules, cost estimates, process‑flow diagrams, and piping and instrumentation diagrams.
• Evaluate technical and financial feasibility, interpret results, manage risks and resources, and recommend whether projects should proceed, change, or stop.
• Coordinate supplier evaluation, installation, validation, documentation, training, and transition to plant operating teams so improvements are sustained.
• Lead focused‑improvement and root‑cause problem‑solving efforts using Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, and practical engineering judgment.
• Collaborate with R&D, Engineering, Finance, Quality and Regulatory Compliance, Manufacturing, and Marketing, while mentoring technicians and professionals assigned to projects.

Minimum Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s or master's degree in Food, Chemical, Mechanical, or Biological Engineering, or another relevant technical field.

Experience: Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in food science, engineering, or a related field. Confectionery and manufacturing plant experience are strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated experience in process engineering, process design, project management, troubleshooting, optimization, manufacturing validation, and implementation.
• Knowledge of food‑manufacturing systems, unit operations, sanitary design, process piping, valves, automation, instrumentation, quality assurance, and Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Six Sigma Green Belt required; Six Sigma Black Belt preferred. Working knowledge of Lean manufacturing and TPM.
• Strong project planning, prioritization, communication, and cross‑functional collaboration skills; ability to work independently in a flexible environment with changing priorities.
• Ability to support unusual or extended work hours when project delivery requires it, travel up to 70%, and work in manufacturing environments with regulated food allergens while following all food‑safety and site requirements.

Benefits and Perks

At Hershey, we offer competitive pay and a comprehensive total rewards package designed to support your wellbeing, financial security, and life outside of work.

• Health & Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus wellness programs that support your physical and mental health begin on Day 1.
• Financial Security: Competitive pay, annual incentive opportunities, and a 401(k) with company match
• Time Off & Flexibility: Paid time off, company holidays, and flexible ways of working where applicable
• Growth & Development: Career development programs, learning opportunities, and internal mobility

Benefits may vary based on role, location, and eligibility.

The anticipated base salary range for this role is $118,880 to $148,600 per year. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of job‑related factors, including, but not limited to, experience, skill set, education, and training. In addition to a market-competitive base salary, our Total Rewards package includes performance‑based incentives and a comprehensive, competitive benefits package designed to support overall physical, mental, and financial well‑being (as applicable). Learn more about Hershey’s benefits and all the resources Hershey provides to support our employees’ physical, emotional, and financial well‑being by visiting the Hershey Digital Employee Experience at www.askHRbenefits.hersheys.com

The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The policy of The Hershey Company is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual's race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other categories protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Minority/Female/Disabled/Protected Veterans. You may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our online application process as a result of a disability.
You can request an accommodation via phone or email. To request an accommodation via phone, please call [phone] and leave a voicemail with your contact information. You may also email a request for accommodation to [e-mail]. Please be sure to include "Accommodation Needed" in the subject line. This will ensure that your email is routed to the appropriate contact who will handle your request.