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Process Engineer

The J.M. Smucker Co.
Columbus, GA Full Time
POSTED ON 8/6/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 9/4/2026
Your Opportunity as a Process Engineer

The Process Engineer will be responsible for designing, implementing, and optimizing production processes to improve efficiency, reduce waste, increase throughput, and improve product quality. Ensuring that products meet quality and safety standards, as well as collaborating with other departments to troubleshoot issues and implement best practices.

Location: 1969 Victory Dr, Columbus, GA 31901 (Hostess Manufacturing Plant)

Work Arrangements: 100% on-site. Monday – Friday, 6am-4pm Flexibility required. Willingness to work off shift (including nights, weekends, and/or holidays) and flow to the work as needed

In This Role You Will

  • Develop technical mastery of the core production processes to deliver critical results
  • Identify process improvements while interfacing with department managers and technicians to deliver effective initiatives
  • Partner with technicians on corrective actions, implementations, and own and sustain results
  • Model key safety and quality expectations related to plant operations and measure impact on process
  • Implement Lean Manufacturing concepts in support of our High-Performance Organization (HPO) culture
  • Leverage effective continuous improvement and problem-solving tools (why-why, fishbone, failure analysis, etc.) to address root cause
  • Support startups for new product initiatives and capital projects
  • Lead material and packaging improvements which could include managing material changes, qualifying alternate materials, delivering material cost savings, or participating in new product launches
  • Collect, analyze, and utilize data to design and execute improvements
  • Improve performance and drive loss optimization
  • Leverage your engineering expertise to make a meaningful impact on the process and packaging systems within our manufacturing facilities.
  • Analyze operations to improve throughput and yield, while building the capabilities of the plant teams.
  • Continue to grow your skill sets through cross functional collaboration and direct floor exposure in our manufacturing plants.
  • Launch your career into future roles across Operations and Supply Chain by building a strong foundation in how our products are made and how our work system functions.

Minimum Requirements

What We are Looking For:

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering
  • Problem solving and troubleshooting experience to identify root cause
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills
  • Possess a “learner mindset” – always striving to learn more
  • Willingness to work off shift hours and flow to the work as needed

Additional skills and experience that we think would make someone successful in this role:

  • Engineering focused experience, this could include internship and/or co-op experience
  • Strong analytical skills to drive statistically based decision making
  • Project management experience
  • Willingness to travel for Factory Acceptance Tests (travel may include domestic or international travel, typically 1-2 times per year)

Work Environment: This job operates in a manufacturing environment. The noise level in the work environment and manufacturing sites can be high.

Physical Demands

  • Regularly required to talk and hear.
  • Frequently required to stand; walk; use hands and fingers to handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
  • Occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
  • Able to lift objects up to 50 pounds frequently.
  • May push and pull heavy trash carts, dough carts, portable equipment, and catch pans.
  • Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

The Right Place for You

We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs, and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs.

Stay connected with us on LinkedIn® 

We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status.

Salary.com Estimation for Process Engineer in Columbus, GA
$76,476 to $88,573
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