At Bluegrass Ingredients, we believe exceptional products start with exceptional people. As a growing ingredient manufacturer, we are building a team of agile thinkers, problem solvers, and doers who take pride in quality, collaboration, and continuous improvement. We are committed to creating an environment where employees feel supported and valued. If you are looking for a company where your work matters, Bluegrass Ingredients may be the right place for you. About the Role The Process Engineer role will apply engineering principles, food science expertise, and regulatory knowledge to design, commission, optimize, and maintain food products and manufacturing processes. The role is responsible for ensuring and continuously improving safety, quality, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance across production systems. This position also requires availability for on-call support as needed, travel to manufacturing locations to provide technical and operational support, and the flexibility to work outside normal business hours, including evenings, weekends, and varying shifts, as business needs require.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The primary responsibilities include, but not limited to:
- Process Design & Development: Create and improve food processing systems, equipment, and workflows to enhance product consistency, reduce waste, and improve efficiency.
- Implementation: Implement/Commission new products, production lines, equipment, and operating systems.
- Optimization: Analyze and refine current and new production processes to maximize output, minimize costs, and meet quality standards.
- Quality & Safety Control: Implement and monitor quality control procedures, ensuring compliance with food safety regulations and hygiene standards.
- Equipment Design & Maintenance: Develop, select, and assist in training regarding maintaining new machinery for food processing, packaging, and preservation.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensure adherence to FDA, USDA, and other relevant food safety and sanitation regulations.
- Collaboration: Work with BGI and Customer Technical, R&D, Quality Assurance and Production Teams to solve manufacturing issues, commissioning new items, and implementing new technologies.
- Documentation: Record process details for future reference, maintenance, and continuous improvement.
- Innovation & Research: Explore new techniques, preservation methods, ingredients and sustainable practices (e.g., high-pressure processing, waste reduction).
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:
- PRODUCTION / SERVICE
- Call in and follow up on the prompt issuance and completion of work orders.
- Work with maintenance on a preventative maintenance program
- Help to minimize downtime
- Troubleshoot to improve overall efficiency.
- Review production records to assist with starting production parameters on products to maximize throughputs minimizing down time.
- Communicate with operations on specific dryer set up on new and existing products.
- Review production lines to get a better understanding of each BGI manufacturing line.
- Visit with customers assisting with trouble shooting of BGI products in their production systems.
- QUALITY
- Maintain customer satisfaction at all levels, and a good working relationship with suppliers, employees, and customers,
- Maintain a high level of appearance and pride within the department.
- Play an active role in inspecting, reviewing, and follow up on all plant and department audits.
- Responsible for identifying and addressing any food safety hazards.
- Responsible for attending all required safety and food safety training.
- Participate in product tasting and cuttings to gain understanding of the gold standard of each product.
- EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
- Promote GMP compliance and a positive, collaborative work environment.
- Communicate effectively with employees, supervisors, and leadership regarding operational and employee-related matters.
- Monitor employee performance, engagement, and development, providing coaching and support as needed.
- Address concerns promptly, partnering with Human Resources when appropriate.
- Maintain confidentiality, professionalism, and positive cross-functional relationships.
- Follow through on commitments and provide timely, accurate information to stakeholders
- ABILITY TO WORK WITH PEOPLE
- Must be punctual, prepared, and respectful of others.
- Must internally work well with all departments.
- Set realistic time frames on projects and follow them through.
- Be a self-starter/motivator
- Must be willing to accept company and department changes by adapting to new procedures and ultimate solutions for a continuous improvement of operations.
- SAFETY
- Be an active participant in loss control and food safety.
- Actively participate in the HAZMAT team and training, at a minimum for the operations level.
- Promote safety, support, help solve, and understand all company safety policies and practices.
- On a daily basis monitor plant conditions to create and maintain a “safe working environment”.
- Conscientiously look for solutions and root causes to first reports of injury and near misses
- Make recommendations for possible engineering controls or any other way to prevent future incidents.
- Enforce all safety policies fair and consistently; investigate fact not fault.
- Update, monitor, and keep current all LOTO, confined space, forklift, and other safety programs.
- Oversee for proper completion of all work comp reports that occur during this shift, investigate, and be the person in charge of taking the employee to the hospital, if needed.
- Be able to prioritize and timely process work orders as they relate to safety concerns.
QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION, AND WORK EXPERIENCE:
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Science or Engineering such as Food Science, Chemical, Mechanical, or related.
- Years of Experience: Prefer 5 or more years of experience with food manufacturing systems. Combination of work and education may be considered.
- Technical Skills: Proficiency in process design, formula, and production software, modeling tools (e.g., CFD), and knowledge of unit operations like pasteurization, drying, freezing, fermentation, and packaging.
- Analytical & Problem-Solving: Ability to troubleshoot manufacturing issues and optimize workflows.
- Regulatory Knowledge: Strong understanding of food safety laws, quality standards, and sanitation protocols.
- Travel: Must be able to travel to regional or affiliated manufacturing locations to provide support and subject matter expertise.
The process engineer must understand (GMP) good manufacturing practices, (HACCP) hazard analysis critical control points, must work well with individuals, must be a team player at all levels of the organization, and must be willing to accept, at the operations level, a main role on the company emergency response team. Prior management experience is preferred, but not required, depending on other qualifications. Workplace That Invests in You Your wellbeing matters. That’s why we offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits program designed to support you and your family, including:
- Generous employer-subsidized medical, dental, & vision benefits, effective the first of the month following hire
- Company paid income protection benefits such as Life Insurance and Short-Term Disability Benefits
- Company-Paid AirEvac Membership
- Long-Term Disability
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for confidential counseling, financial guidance, and personal support services
- 401(k) retirement plan with company match
- Subsidized vending and on-site conveniences
- Paid time off, sick time, and Holiday Pay