Process Engineer

The Process Engineer designs and lays out fluid process systems ranging from individual equipment, such as CIP skids, to complete production lines and full plants within the food and beverage industry. 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 clients to ensure technically sound, efficient, and compliant process solutions that meet project objectives and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Design and lay out fluid process systems for food and beverage applications, including single pieces of equipment, individual lines, and complete plant processes.
• Develop process designs for batching, processing, packaging, CIP/COP, pasteurization, filtration, and heat exchange systems.
• Design and size steam, condensate, glycol, tower water, and city water systems, including calculation of cooling and heating loads.
• Select and specify appropriate pumps, valves, and associated components for each application, with a strong focus on fluid and food movement, including mix-proof valve clusters where applicable.
• Apply a solid understanding of instrumentation and controls to ensure accurate measurement, monitoring, and control of process systems.
• Develop detailed mass balances to support process design and validation.
• Create and maintain 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, supporting capital project budgeting and vendor selection.
• Identify process improvement opportunities, analyze root causes, and implement action plans to enhance efficiency, reliability, and product quality.
• Collaborate and negotiate with equipment vendors to evaluate technical solutions, obtain proposals, and ensure equipment meets design and regulatory requirements.
• Work within established engineering policies and procedures to deliver high-quality service and solutions to customers.
• Travel to customer facilities to gather project information, conduct site assessments, maintain client relationships, and respond to customer needs throughout the project lifecycle.
• Requisition or purchase essential parts, materials, and equipment required for project execution.
• Manage or directly supervise field personnel performing work at customer plants, ensuring safety, quality, and adherence to project specifications and schedules.
• Support capital projects from quoting and procurement through installation, commissioning, and handover to operations.
• Coordinate with internal mechanical, structural, electrical, fabrication, installation, and project management teams to ensure integrated, multi-disciplinary project delivery.
• Consult with clients on plant issues such as piping problems, efficiency challenges, and line layout constraints, and provide engineered, quoted solutions and project coordination as needed.

• Approximately 8 or more years of experience in process engineering, with a strong background in fluid processing.
• Experience in regulated food and beverage environments, preferably dairy or pasteurization processes.
• Proficiency in designing systems involving batching, processing, packaging, CIP/COP, pasteurization, filtration, and heat exchangers.
• Ability to design steam, condensate, glycol, tower water, and city water systems, including calculation and evaluation of heating and cooling loads.
• Strong understanding of fluid and food movement, including pump and valve selection and system design for sanitary applications.
• Experience with thermal dynamics and heat transfer, including designing and engineering heating and cooling systems and related process equipment.
• Hands-on experience with 2D AutoCAD for plant layouts and P&IDs, including isometric drawings.
• 3D modeling experience for P&IDs and process layouts, preferably using Plant 3D or similar tools.
• Demonstrated capital project experience, including quoting, procurement, installation, and commissioning of equipment.
• Knowledge of USDA and FDA regulatory requirements and guidelines relevant to food and beverage processing.
• Familiarity with Dairy 3A standards and related sanitary design guidelines.
• Ability to develop mass balances, PFDs, P&IDs, utility and equipment matrices, timelines, SOPs, and performance specifications.
• Experience preparing Requests for Quotation (RFQs) and working with equipment vendors.
• Strong project management capabilities, including planning, coordination, and follow-through across multiple stakeholders.
• Proficiency with internet tools and Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Project, and Outlook.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with clients, vendors, and internal teams.
• Strong teamwork skills, including active listening, approachability, constructive questioning, and collaborative participation.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills, demonstrating professionalism, respect, positivity, and an enthusiastic, outgoing approach.
• Valid US driver’s license to support travel to customer sites.

• Bachelor’s degree (4-year) in Engineering, or 5–10 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Supervisory or team leadership experience is preferred, particularly in managing field personnel or project teams.
• Experience in the dairy industry or other highly regulated food and beverage sectors.
• Exposure to mix-proof valve cluster design and other advanced sanitary valve systems.
• Experience walking into existing plants, diagnosing piping and efficiency issues, evaluating line layouts, and providing consultative, engineered solutions.
• background in process improvement initiatives, including identifying inefficiencies and implementing engineering changes.
• Experience with additional design tools such as SolidWorks is beneficial.
• Familiarity with engineering in multi-disciplinary environments, including mechanical, process, structural, electrical, and fabrication/installation disciplines.
• Comfort working in a growing organization where processes, leadership structures, and incentive programs are evolving.
• Interest in long-term growth opportunities, including potential progression as the engineering team expands.

This role operates in a hybrid work environment, combining office, home, and customer-site settings. The typical schedule allows for working from home approximately two days per week, coordinated with travel requirements and in-person meetings at the office. The position involves frequent travel, averaging around 40% of the time, primarily within the United States and especially throughout the Midwest. Trips may range from single-day visits to multi-day stays of 3–5 days, depending on project phase and scope, with travel generally planned with at least about a week’s notice when possible. Travel typically involves rental cars and domestic flights, and you are normally home on weekends. You will collaborate with a close-knit team of around a few dozen professionals across mechanical, process, structural, electrical, fabrication, installation, and project management disciplines in a company with several decades of history and a strong growth trajectory. The environment offers exposure to a diverse range of food and beverage processes and products, significant capital project activity, and ongoing facility and automation upgrades across the industry. The culture emphasizes teamwork, professional communication, and cross-functional collaboration, with evolving leadership opportunities and performance-based bonus structures under development for full-time employees.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Madison, WI.

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 2, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.

Salary : $53 - $65