R&D Process Engineer I

For 75 years, Bob Evans Farms has delivered delicious, quick-to-table, farm-inspired food that makes mealtime a little bit easier and a lot more delicious. We’re proud to be the #1-selling refrigerated dinner sides, including many varieties of feel-good favorites such as mashed potatoes and macaroni & cheese. We’re also a leading producer and distributor of sausage and bacon products, potato products, and egg products including liquid eggs. Our brand portfolio includes Bob Evans, Simply Potatoes, Egg Beaters and Owens Sausage. Bob Evans Farms is based in Columbus, Ohio.

In September of 2017, Bob Evans Farms was acquired by Post Holdings, Inc. and is part of the Refrigerated Retail division.Other divisions of Post include Post Consumer Brands (Cereal), Weetabix (Cereal – UK), Michael Foods (Foodservice), and 8th Avenue Food & Provisions (Private Label).Post has aggressive growth plans for BEF, highlighted by the recent deployment of capital to support innovation, marketing and manufacturing.

Position Overview:
This position is responsible for the engineering for all new products starting with the product development phase through pilot testing and finishing with full commercial launch in a manufacturing plant. They work directly with our product development scientists, in our world class R&D Center,
specifying the processing and packaging methods for both new and existing food products. They also work closely with the capital project engineers and the manufacturing groups at our plant locations. The position will also provide process / packaging engineering support for several manufacturing locations.

This is a unique opportunity in a large multi-location organization with exposure to many different food processes including liquid pasteurization, baking, drying, freezing, and others.

Accountabilities:
• Provide engineering guidance to R&D partners.
• Utilize experience and knowledge to drive Safety, Quality, and Efficiency throughout the process / packaging development.
• Specify processing methods and equipment requirements for new products.
• Specify packaging methods and equipment requirements for new products.
• Development bench, pilot plant, manufacturing plant test plans.
• Write the Manufacturing Specifications for all new products.
• Act as primary liaison between the R&D group and the Supply Chain group during commercialization.
• Lead process capability studies for new product launches and existing items.
• Provide technical support for cost saving initiatives, product quality issues, innovation & new technology, and customer requests.
• All other duties as assigned.

Experience and Education:

Education Level:
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience required.

Experience:
• Minimum of 5-7 years of process engineering experience preferably in the food & beverage industry.
• Knowledge and experience with product development and large-scale commercialization.
• Food processing knowledge is strongly preferred.
• Experience working in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with food traceability requirements and execution, including finished product forward and backward traces, as well as ingredient and food packaging traces.
• Knowledge and experience with Oracle ERP systems preferred.
• Experience with Good Manufacturing Practices and Quality Management systems.
• Experience in a manufacturing facility including production and quality.
• Consumer Packaged Goods industry experience preferred