Staff Process CI Engineer - Confectionery Optimization

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

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.