Process development engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Job Title: Process Engineer

Job Description

The Process Engineer designs and develops fluid process systems ranging from individual equipment, such as CIP skids, to complete production lines and full plant layouts for food and beverage applications. This role supports projects from initial concept through process design, equipment sizing and specification, procurement, installation, and start-up and commissioning. The Process Engineer collaborates closely with internal teams, contractors, consultants, vendors, and customers to ensure technically sound, efficient, and compliant solutions that meet performance, quality, and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Design and lay out fluid process systems, including batching, processing, packaging, CIP/COP, pasteurization, filtration, and heat exchanger applications.
• Develop and engineer steam, condensate, glycol, tower water, and city water systems, including calculating and verifying cooling and heating loads.
• Select appropriate pumps, valves, and related components for each application, ensuring proper functionality, reliability, and sanitary design where required.
• Apply a solid understanding of instrumentation and controls to support process design and system integration.
• Develop mass balances and use them to validate process design and equipment sizing.
• Create process flow diagrams (PFDs), piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), utility and equipment matrices, project timelines, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and performance specifications for process equipment.
• Prepare and manage Requests for Quotation (RFQs) for process equipment and services, and evaluate vendor proposals.
• Identify and analyze process improvement opportunities, then develop and implement action plans to improve efficiency, throughput, and reliability.
• Collaborate and interact with equipment vendors to clarify specifications, review designs, and support equipment fabrication and installation.
• Work within established engineering policies and procedures to ensure consistent, high-quality treatment of customers and adherence to industry standards.
• Travel to customer facilities to gather project information, perform site assessments, support design and installation activities, and respond to customer needs.
• Requisition or purchase essential parts, materials, and equipment required to execute projects.
• Manage or supervise field personnel performing work at customer plants, ensuring safety, quality, and adherence to project plans and schedules.
• Support capital projects by participating in or leading the design and construction of process lines, including quoting, procurement, installation, and commissioning of equipment.
• Contribute to project management activities by coordinating schedules, communicating status, and aligning with cross-functional engineering disciplines such as mechanical, structural, electrical, and fabrication/installation.
• Where needed, consult with customers on plant piping issues, efficiency challenges, and line layout optimization, and provide practical, quoted solutions and project coordination.

Essential Skills

• Approximately 8+ years of experience in process engineering or a closely related field, preferably within food, beverage, or dairy processing environments.
• Demonstrated experience with fluid flow and fluid processing systems in manufacturing settings.
• Strong knowledge of batching, processing, packaging, CIP/COP, pasteurization, filtration, and heat exchanger systems.
• Understanding of thermal dynamics and heat transfer, including experience with heating and cooling system design and related engineering calculations.
• Experience designing steam, condensate, glycol, tower water, and city water systems, including sizing for cooling and heating loads.
• Proficiency in 2D AutoCAD for generating P&IDs and conceptual layouts from scratch, including isometric drawings.
• Experience with 3D modeling for process and piping design, preferably using Plant 3D or similar tools.
• Experience in dairy or aseptic processing, including familiarity with mix-proof valve clusters and their operation.
• Hands-on capital project experience, including designing and constructing process lines, quoting, procurement, installation, and commissioning of equipment.
• Ability to develop mass balances and translate them into robust process designs.
• Proficiency in creating PFDs, P&IDs, utility and equipment matrices, SOPs, timelines, and performance specifications for process equipment.
• Knowledge of USDA and FDA regulatory requirements and guidelines, including Dairy 3A standards.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (4-year degree) or 5–10 years of directly related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proficiency with internet-based tools and the Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel, Project, and Outlook.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong teamwork skills, including active listening, approachability, collaboration, and constructive participation in cross-functional teams.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills, demonstrating professionalism, respect, positivity, and an enthusiastic, customer-focused approach.
• Valid . driver’s license to support travel to customer locations.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Supervisory or team leadership experience in engineering or field installation environments is preferred.
• Experience designing and troubleshooting mix-proof valve clusters and complex sanitary valve manifolds.
• Experience in consulting with plants on piping problems, efficiency issues, and line layout challenges, and providing practical, implementable solutions.
• Experience in project coordination and engineering within food and beverage or dairy manufacturing environments.
• Exposure to or experience with SolidWorks or other 3D CAD tools for equipment or system design.
• Familiarity with process improvement methodologies and a track record of identifying and implementing improvements in manufacturing processes.
• Comfort working within multiple engineering disciplines (mechanical, process, structural, electrical) and coordinating with fabrication and installation teams.
• Ability to adapt quickly to changing project priorities and timelines, including travel with relatively short notice.
• Interest in contributing to a growing organization with significant expansion goals and potential future leadership opportunities, such as broader engineering leadership roles.

Work Environment

The role operates in a hybrid work environment, typically allowing two days per week to work from home, depending on travel commitments and in-person meetings at the office. The organization maintains a collaborative culture with multiple internal engineering disciplines, including mechanical, process, structural, electrical, and a dedicated fabrication and installation team under a project management umbrella. The company is established and growth-oriented, with several decades of experience and a focused plan to scale both revenue and engineering headcount over the next few years. Travel is an integral part of the position, averaging about 40% of the time and primarily within the United States, with a focus on the Midwest. Trips may range from one to five days depending on project phase and scope, and are typically arranged with at least a week or more of notice when possible. Employees use rental cars and flights for travel, and are generally home on weekends. The Process Engineer spends time in both office and plant environments, working with process equipment, piping systems, and automation, and collaborating closely with customers on facility and infrastructure upgrades, automation projects, and documentation improvements. The culture emphasizes professional growth, exposure to a wide variety of food and beverage processes and products, and alignment with performance-based incentives that are being structured around key performance indicators and overall business performance.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Chicago, IL.

The pay range for this position is $52.88 - $64.90/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully remote position.

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 12, 2026.