Process Development Engineer - Pet R&D

Business Unit Overview

Headquartered in Lakeville, Minn., Post Consumer Brands, a business unit of Post Holdings, Inc., is dedicated to providing people and their pets with delicious food choices for every taste and budget. The company's portfolio includes beloved brands such as Honey Bunches of Oats, PEBBLES, Grape-Nuts and Malt-O-Meal cereal and Peter Pan peanut butter, as well as Rachael Ray Nutrish, Kibbles 'n Bits and 9Lives dog and cat food. Post also provides private label solutions to customers in pet food, cereal, nut butters and granola. As a company committed to high standards of quality and to our values, we are driven by one idea: To make lives better by making delicious food accessible for all. For more information about our brands, visit www.postconsumerbrands.com and follow us on LinkedIn or Facebook for the latest news.

Location Description

Post Consumer Brands corporate headquarters in Lakeville, Minnesota, is about 20 miles south of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Lakeville has all the benefits of smaller town living with access to everything a large metropolitan area has to offer. Join more than 400 team members collaborating on the two-building campus to help put breakfast on the tables of millions of consumers in North America.

Responsibilities

Process Development Engineer - Pet R&D

Lakeville, MN

Post Consumer Brands

Shape the Future of Pet Nutrition

At Post Consumer Brands, we're passionate about creating innovative, high-quality products that enrich the lives of pets and their families. As we continue to expand our Pet business, we are seeking a Process Development Engineer - Pet R&D to join our Research & Development team.

In this role, you will drive process innovation from concept through commercialization, developing and implementing manufacturing technologies that enable breakthrough pet food and treat products. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to bring new products to market, improve manufacturing processes, deliver cost savings, and support the continued growth of our Pet portfolio.

If you are an engineer who enjoys solving complex technical challenges, working directly in manufacturing environments, and turning innovative ideas into commercial reality, we want to hear from you.

What You'll Do

Process Development & Commercialization

• Lead and support the development, scale-up, and commercialization of Innovation, Renovation, and Value Engineering initiatives.
• Develop, optimize, and implement proprietary process technologies and equipment that support Post's innovation roadmap.
• Drive process development activities from concept through commercialization for new pet food and snack products.
• Ensure all process solutions meet quality, cost, capacity, product development, and marketing requirements.

Manufacturing & Technology Leadership

• Lead commissioning activities and support Operations in the qualification and startup of new products, equipment, and process technologies.
• Identify and implement improvements to existing manufacturing processes and technologies.
• Develop and maintain manufacturing specifications, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and technical documentation.
• Partner with manufacturing facilities, co-manufacturers, equipment suppliers, and service providers to achieve project objectives.

Engineering & Technical Excellence

• Apply core engineering principles including:
• Mass and energy balances
• Heat transfer
• Process flow diagrams
• Designed experimentation (DOE)
• Statistical analysis and data interpretation
• Design and execute experiments at supplier locations, pilot facilities, and manufacturing plants.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret data from suppliers, operations, customers, and consumers.
• Validate process improvements and corrective actions to ensure desired performance and business outcomes are achieved.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with R&D, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Procurement, Marketing, and external partners.
• Evaluate legal, environmental, and intellectual property considerations associated with new technologies and processes.
• Effectively communicate technical findings, project status, risks, and recommendations to stakeholders across the organization.

Qualifications

What You'll Bring

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering required.
• Chemical Engineering preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in Research & Development, Process Development, Manufacturing Engineering, or related technical roles.
• Experience supporting product commercialization and scale-up activities preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in pet food processing and manufacturing.
• Knowledge of extrusion technology and/or retorted food processing.
• Experience working in food, pet food, consumer packaged goods, or related manufacturing industries.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities.
• Demonstrated innovation, creativity, and technical curiosity.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Strong project management and organizational capabilities.
• Ability to influence and work effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Skilled at building consensus and driving projects to successful completion.
• Results-oriented with a continuous improvement mindset.

Travel Requirements

• Travel may be 40-50% initially during onboarding and project integration.
• Ongoing travel expected to be up to 30%.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to work in plant, laboratory, pilot plant, and office environments.

Why Join Post?

At Post Consumer Brands, you'll have the opportunity to work on innovative products, collaborate with talented teams, and make a meaningful impact on a growing pet business. You'll help bring new ideas to life while developing technologies that improve product quality, operational performance, and value for consumers.

Ready to help shape the future of pet nutrition? Apply today and join the team behind some of the industry's most trusted brands.

Post Consumer Brands is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and experiences.

The pay range for this position is $70,386 - $98,541 per year.